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Minister Ramokgopa: Africa Has the Potential to Exceed Its Energy Demands
Africa can produce more energy than necessary within the next 30 years if it takes full advantage of its abundant natural resources. As per SANews, Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, made this statement during a keynote address on Green Hydrogen at the Africa Energy Week held in Cape Town.
“We need to have a Pan African view in the exploitation of this energy carrier, and our view is that by 2040 Africa can produce up to 50 times more energy from renewables than the world’s estimated demand. This is as a result of our location advantages. I think we have some of the radiation levels of any parts of the world, and we also have some of the best wind speeds along the coastal areas,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the importance of Africa providing its “interpretation” of what a just energy transition constitutes. He stressed that a Just Energy Transition with African characteristics should focus on universal access, exploiting critical minerals crucial for green hydrogen development, and realising its potential.
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“We can see that by smelting African iron ore locally, we are likely going to create many needed jobs and develop the skills required to support that transition. This, in addition to broadening the industrial base, will provide people with high-quality jobs. All this is part of the decarbonisation agenda,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the impact of green hydrogen production on South Africa’s water resources, Ramokgopa highlighted the ability of coastal countries to use seawater for green hydrogen production, thereby eliminating the strain it might otherwise place on limited freshwater resources.
The Minister explained that Sub-Saharan Africa’s resources can “produce anything between 5000 and 13,000 million tonnes per year” of green hydrogen, which could come at about $2 per kilogram by 2050, making it financially competitive compared to other energy sources.
He also noted that this could significantly contribute up to $20 billion to the national revenue funds of many African countries. These funds could assist in expanding social infrastructure, improving the quality of life for people, and setting Africa on a path to substantial growth in the future.
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Picture: X / TsakaneKhamban
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