CAPE TOWN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Green Hydrogen Summit 2026 opened in Cape Town on Tuesday, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for faster implementation and stronger practical cooperation to turn the continent's green hydrogen potential into industrial growth, energy security and sustainable development.
The two-day summit, held under the theme "Moving Africa's Green Hydrogen Sector from PowerPoint to Gigawatts," brings together more than 1,000 delegates from 17 countries, including government officials, investors, energy experts and industry leaders.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Ramaphosa said Africa is well positioned to become a major global hub for green hydrogen, citing its abundant renewable energy and water resources and vast reserves of critical minerals.
"Green hydrogen sits at the intersection of two of the defining imperatives of our time: firstly, to strengthen energy resilience and security, and, secondly, to grow inclusive, low-carbon economies," Ramaphosa noted.
The president also called for greater practical cooperation among African countries on standards, certification, infrastructure corridors and project preparation, while urging technology partners to establish manufacturing, training and research capacity on the continent.
"Africa should not simply be seen as a market for imported equipment," he said, calling for African participation across the value chain as owners, manufacturers, technology partners, producers and markets.
He also urged African development finance institutions to increase project-preparation funding and provide financing instruments suited to first-of-a-kind projects, while calling on prospective buyers to turn non-binding interest into credible long-term offtake agreements.
South Africa has launched the first wave of six priority green hydrogen projects, the president said, noting that the Saldanha Bay electro-sustainable aviation fuel project led by Phelan Green Group has reached a final investment decision, with construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
A second wave of projects will follow, Ramaphosa said, bringing further credible projects into the portfolio. ■