The two-day 2026 Africa Green Hydrogen Summit opened on the 15th in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. South African President Ramaphosa called on African countries to seize the historic opportunity of green hydrogen energy development and strengthen practical cooperation to achieve energy security, promote the decarbonization process, and promote sustainable development. Ramaphosa said in an opening address read on behalf of the country's Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kosienjo Ramahaupa, that Africa is rich in renewable energy, water resources and key minerals, and is fully equipped to become an important hub for the global green hydrogen energy industry. The development of green hydrogen energy is not only related to investment and the layout of emerging industries, but also helps to reduce energy poverty in Africa, create jobs, and promote a just energy transition. Africa should seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and step up the pace of action to be at the forefront of transformative industrial development. Ramaphosa stressed that Africa should not only be a supplier of renewable energy, minerals and hydrogen products, but should also participate in the entire value chain. He called on technology partners to build manufacturing, training and research capabilities in Africa and expand local procurement, manufacturing, employment and skills transfer. Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will launch the first batch of 6 green hydrogen energy projects under the National Green Hydrogen Energy Plan. Among them, the electric sustainable aviation fuel project in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape is expected to begin construction in the first quarter of 2027, and the first batch of electric sustainable aviation fuel will be exported in the first quarter of 2029. The predecessor of the African Green Hydrogen Summit was the South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, which began in 2022, and the scope of the summit was extended to the whole of Africa starting in 2025. During the conference, government officials, energy experts, industry leaders, decision makers and investors gathered to discuss the future development of Africa's green hydrogen energy industry.

The two-day 2026 Africa Green Hydrogen Summit opened on the 15th in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. South African President Ramaphosa called on African countries to seize the historic opportunity of green hydrogen energy development and strengthen practical cooperation to achieve energy security, promote the decarbonization process, and promote sustainable development. Ramaphosa said in an opening address read on behalf of the country's Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kosienjo Ramahaupa, that Africa is rich in renewable energy, water resources and key minerals, and is fully equipped to become an important hub for the global green hydrogen energy industry. The development of green hydrogen energy is not only related to investment and the layout of emerging industries, but also helps to reduce energy poverty in Africa, create jobs, and promote a just energy transition. Africa should seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and step up the pace of action to be at the forefront of transformative industrial development. Ramaphosa stressed that Africa should not only be a supplier of renewable energy, minerals and hydrogen products, but should also participate in the entire value chain. He called on technology partners to build manufacturing, training and research capabilities in Africa and expand local procurement, manufacturing, employment and skills transfer. Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will launch the first batch of 6 green hydrogen energy projects under the National Green Hydrogen Energy Plan. Among them, the electric sustainable aviation fuel project in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape is expected to begin construction in the first quarter of 2027, and the first batch of electric sustainable aviation fuel will be exported in the first quarter of 2029. The predecessor of the African Green Hydrogen Summit was the South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, which began in 2022, and the scope of the summit was extended to the whole of Africa starting in 2025. During the conference, government officials, energy experts, industry leaders, decision makers and investors gathered to discuss the future development of Africa's green hydrogen energy industry.