Green hydrogen took centre stage at talks between South Africa and European Union investors, as government stepped up efforts to position the country as a global clean energy hub.
Opportunities for investment in green hydrogen production were highlighted at the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership Dialogue.
The EU believes South Africa’s abundant wind and solar resources position it as one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of green hydrogen, with a target of producing 500,000 tonnes a year by 2030.
The European Union said that South Africa has some of the world’s best wind and solar resources, giving it a competitive advantage in producing green hydrogen for both domestic use and export.
The discussions also focused on developing local value chains around critical minerals such as platinum group metals, which are essential for hydrogen technologies, while creating jobs and supporting industrial growth.
The talks form part of efforts to attract long-term investment that will help drive South Africa’s energy transition and strengthen trade ties with the European Union.
South Africa is the European Union’s first Clean Trade and Investment Partnership partner and its largest investment partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
Trade between the two partners reached €45bn in 2025, while the European Union accounts for more than 40% of foreign direct investment in South Africa.
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