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The African Hydrogen Partnership Trade Association has joined the African Energy Week 2023 conference as a partner.

Africa is well positioned to become the next global hydrogen hub owing to its abundant renewable energy resources, attractive fiscal policies and development potential. Countries to the likes of Mauritania, Namibia and South Africa are already making great strides in this area, collaborating with global partners in the development of billion-dollar projects. Supporting these hydrogen endeavors are organizations such as the African Hydrogen Partnership Trade Association (AHP), the only continent-wide African non-profit umbrella association solely dedicated to the development of green and natural hydrogen.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is proud to announce that AHP has joined the continent’s biggest energy event, African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 – scheduled for October 16-20 in Cape Town – as a partner. The partnership is a testament to both AHP’s commitment to unlocking business and project opportunities across Africa’s hydrogen sector as well as to AEW 2023’s objective to make energy poverty history through sustainable energy solutions.

Africa’s energy industry is currently at a crossroads. Efforts to transition to a cleaner energy future are met with the need to significantly advance investments in energy needed for electrification and industrialization. Africa’s energy crisis, therefore, requires innovative solutions and green hydrogen has emerged as the best approach to achieve both goals.

Despite representing a relatively new market in Africa, continental players are rapidly investing in projects under efforts to capitalize on resources and regulatory incentives. In Namibia, for example, the Government and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy signed a deal for next phase of a $10 billion green hydrogen project in May 2023. Located in the Namib Desert’s Tsau//Khaeb National Park, the project will produce up to two million tons of green ammonia a year.

In Mauritania, several projects are underway including the 1.7 million ton per annum (mtpa) Aman project; the 1.2 mtpa Nour Electrolyzer project; and the 1.3 mtpa Masdar-Inifinity-Conjuncta project. In South Africa, a 780,000 tons per annum green ammonia plant is underway while in Egypt, 21 green energy projects are in the pipeline including sizeable green hydrogen developments. Morocco, Djibouti and other countries are also pursuing green hydrogen investments.

Stepping into this picture, AHP works to support, promote and accelerate the deployment of green and natural hydrogen in Africa as well as fuel cell technology and access to energy. The organization aligns the hydrogen, renewable and finance industries towards a common goal of project development and has an overarching mission to lay the foundation for establishing hydrogen economies and societies in Africa. AHP members include some of the players driving large-scale energy, mining and green hydrogen developments in Africa. These include HDF Energy, Anglo American, Ivoire Hydrogene, and many more. By facilitating the exchange of ideas on economics, technical and workforce; communicating with government, private players; and representing the African industry to global partners, AHP is committed to a sustainable future in Africa.

During the AEW 2023 conference, AHP will share its strategic insights into Africa’s green hydrogen future, engaging with delegates on critical topics such as financing challenges, best policy practices, energy mix integration and long-term priorities. AEW 2023 takes place under the mission to make energy poverty history by 2030, and through the partnership with AHP, the continent’s green hydrogen aspirations are poised to translate into tangible developments.

“As African countries work towards bringing large-scale green hydrogen projects online, organizations such as AHP will play an instrumental role in supporting development, engaging with global partners and consolidating Africa’s position as the next global hydrogen hub. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future and Africa will be a global driver,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

The AHP’s partnership with AEW 2023 underscores the organization’s commitment to alleviating energy poverty and driving Africa’s energy transition. AHP representatives will take an active role in the conference program while engaging with a multitude of regional and global stakeholders.

AEW is the AEC’s annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 will unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors to discuss and maximize opportunities within the continent’s entire energy industry. For more information about AEW 2023, visit https://aecweek.com.