Government is seeking to leverage South Africa’s platinum group metal (PGM) reserves to support the development of hydrogen technologies, particularly electrolysers, with pilot deployments in public-sector infrastructure.
This was stated by Mlungisi Cele, Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, in a keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation at the recent South African National Energy Development Institute conference.
“South Africa holds approximately 75% of global PGM reserves, which are critical for hydrogen electrolyser technologies used to produce green hydrogen,” Cele said.
Electrolyser development using PGMs is being advanced through the Hydrogen South Africa programme, which aims to support the scale-up of low-emission hydrogen production and position South Africa within the global hydrogen value chain.
Government’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap sets targets for 2030, including the deployment of 100 hydrogen-fuelled buses and trucks, 20 hydrogen-powered forklifts and at least five hydrogen refuelling stations.
Alongside technology development, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation has supported pilot hydrogen fuel cell deployments in public-sector infrastructure. These include 5 kW systems installed at disaster management centres, schools and community facilities as well as units deployed at a military hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic to support critical energy supply.
“These deployments demonstrate the practical application of hydrogen technologies in public infrastructure,” Cele said, adding that the projects serve as testing platforms for emerging energy technologies.
The department has also supported earlier demonstration projects, including the conversion of diesel-powered forklifts and battery-powered vehicles to hydrogen fuel cell systems, as part of efforts to advance hydrogen mobility applications.
According to Cele, these initiatives are part of South Africa’s broader effort to support industrial competitiveness and long-term economic opportunities in the energy sector.
