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- Sasol has signed a memorandum of agreement for a feasibility study to explore a green hydrogen project in Boegoebaai in the Northern Cape.
- It is envisioned that Boegoebaai could be an export hub for green hydrogen and ammonia.
- The study, announced at the 2021 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium SA, is expected to take 24 months.
Sasol has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Northern Cape Development Agency for a feasibility study to explore a green hydrogen project in Boegoebaai in the province.
Sasol's executive vice-president for energy, Priscillah Mabelane, made the announcement on Wednesday, during the 2021 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium SA.
It is envisioned that Boegoebaai could be an export hub for green hydrogen and ammonia. The study could take approximately 24 months. Its outcomes would determine the next steps, Mabelane explained.
The project would be located at the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, Sasol indicated in a separate statement.
"The project has the potential to produce 400 kilotons of hydrogen per annum, which will require renewable energy in the order of 9 GW," Mabelane said.
The project could create up to 6 000 direct jobs as well as further indirect jobs across the ecosystem, she added.
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"We are very excited to be leading this feasibility study as part of unlocking South Africa's ambition to be a global green hydrogen export player, with the potential for sustainable aviation fuels in future," she said.
Sasol aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Apart from actively reducing emissions by incorporating renewables in its energy mix or implementing more energy efficient operations - it also sees green hydrogen playing an important role to achieve its net zero by 2050 goal, Mabelane explained.
Sasol had been engaging with a number of players in the industry and government to develop a green hydrogen economy in South Africa. It has also announced projects in this vein through partnerships with the Central Energy Fund and Toyota South Africa, among others.
It also has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Gauteng provincial government, to leverage several special economic zones - earmarked as enablers to unlock the country's green hydrogen market - particularly through mobility and aviation. Sasol has partnered with the Industrial Corporation to provide joint funding for the feasibility study.
Mabelane said that Sasol's Fischer-Tropsch technologies plays to the strength of being a leader in sustainable aviation fuels production.
*This story was updated on Thursday, 7 October to reflect that green hydrogen project in Boegoebaai would require renewable energy in the order of 9GW and not 900 GW as previously reflected.
