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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen elevated South Africa's R105-billion Nelson Mandela Bay green-hydrogen-to-green ammonia project to a new high when she singled it out for special mention in announcing a massive rise in funding for the South Africa-European Union Just Energy Transition Partnership.
The new nigh-€12-billion package is a streak ahead of the €4.7-billion Global Gateway figure, which was celebrated at the EU-SA Summit in Cape Town in March.
The EU, which is working hand-in-hand with to Global Citizen, also used the Brussels event to announce a big new €618-million Team Europe package to support power grid modernisation for renewable electrification.
In March, South Africa's world-leading platinum group metals (PGMs) endowment received a major boost when Von der Leyen pointed out that South Africa hosts raw materials that are critical for electrolysers, including 91% of the world's PGM reserves, and you have a rising industry to produce clean hydrogen and strong export ambitions."
Now, seven months later, Von der Leyen expressed delight at the huge step up of funding by EU member states for South Africa's Just Energy Transition. "We can now take almost €12-billion to our Just Energy Transition Partnership," she said turning to South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, "and we can support our ambition to become a true global leader in clean energy.
"We need the member states, we need our partners, and we also need the private sector, the business community to come in with the knowledge and the global capabilities, and I'm thinking here, for example, of the Coega Green Ammonia project in Nelson Mandela Bay.
"With it, South Africa is on its way to becoming a global shipping hub as green ammonia becomes a clean maritime fuel of choice, and with this investment comes an enormous opportunity. This is unfolding for South Africa. This green ammonia story is just one of many success stories that we have and now with the new investment, we have the means to write many more success stories," Von der Leyen pointed out.
Hive Hydrogen South Africa is the developer of the green fuel project being developed in the Eastern Cape and present to hear Von der Leyen's laudatory comments first-hand was Hive Hydrogen chairperson Thulani Gcabashe, a former Eskom CEO, whose Built Africa Group focuses on developing renewables projects in South Africa under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
Directing her comments toRamaphosa, Von der Leyen added: "Dear Cyril, my friend, it's wonderful to see you again now in Brussels, so soon after New York, at the United Nations General Assembly, because today we truly have good news to share." (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)
"In March, we made a strong call to invest in renewables, both in and with South Africa, because the logic is that there are natural resources in abundance in South Africa, which also has the skills, and the business case is clear.
"Important to note is that South Africa is not only transforming itself but it's becoming a clean energy pioneer for the entire continent of Africa," Von der Leyen reported while drawing attention to the scaling-up continental renewables campaign initiated by
Global Citizen against the background of 600-million people in Africa still have no access to electricity.
Partnering with international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and being backed by the International Energy Agency is Global Gateway, which will culminate with a major pledging event at the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November.
The Global Gateway campaign focuses on connectivity infrastructure - both physical and digital - and on uplifting the local pharmaceutical industry.
"The campaign is now entering...