South African ports plan their hydrogen roadmap

The RFI assesses market interest in developing, designing, constructing, financing, operating and maintaining an import and export terminal for hydrogen initiatives.

This includes green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and or grey hydrogen at the ports of Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth and Saldanha.

“The introduction of this initiative is part of TNPA’s strategic projects that enable Just Transition, making it a step closer to enabling greener shipping and decarbonization of the company’s marine fleet in order to remain globally competitive,” said Amanda Makgoga, TNPA sector specialist, renewable energy.

Hydrogen roadmap

TNPA’s project is in line with the Hydrogen Society Roadmap for South Africa, approved by Cabinet in 2021.

It also supports the National Development Plan 2030, which advocates for increased investment in an energy sector that is both economically inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Such projects could help put South Africa on the map of project developers as an investment destination of choice, especially as an energy hub.

Back in July, TNPA achieved another milestone in its ambitions to become a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen.

It said that a state owned logistics company has identified three consortia that will present proposals for a new port and railway infrastructure for manganese ore and green hydrogen exports.

There are three competing groups to submit proposals for the design, funding and construction of the planned deepwater port of Boegoebaai and its associated rail links. The estimated project cost is $785 million during the first phase.

Responses must be submitted to TNPA by no later than 16h00 on 31 January 2024.