The Global African Hydrogen Summit 2024 is set to be a landmark event in the development of Africa’s hydrogen economy. Hosted in Namibia, this three-day summit will bring together key stakeholders from across Africa and around the world, including government leaders, industry experts, investors, and innovators.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!We had the privilege of an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mr. Tiago Marques, the Head of Content for the upcoming Global African Hydrogen Summit 2024. Mr. Marques shed light on the summit’s ambitious agenda, which aims to address critical issues surrounding Africa’s emerging hydrogen sector. The event will focus on ensuring equitable development across the continent, promoting local content and capacity building initiatives, attracting fair investments, and establishing robust regulatory frameworks. These key themes underscore the summit’s commitment to fostering a hydrogen economy that benefits African nations and communities while positioning the continent as a significant player in the global clean energy landscape.
Q.-Given the historical exploitation of Africa’s hydrocarbon resources by Western countries and foreign companies, what measures are being put in place to prevent a similar scenario from unfolding in the emerging hydrogen economy, particularly in Namibia and surrounding areas?
A.-Governments, businesses and civil society all have a role to play and a responsibility. They also all need a seat at the table if an equitable, just and inclusive hydrogen economy is to be realised in Africa.
The hydrogen sector in Africa is nascent and so it is critical that the opportunity is clearly communicated to all stakeholders, now, and whilst the industry is still in its infancy. That way an inclusive economy can grow and flourish with prosperity being transparently and fairly transferred and shared by all.
Environmental concerns are critical, particularly in Namibia and across the continent. Stringent measures are being implemented and put in place to ensure ESG considerations are the core of hydrogen projects.
The Summit will platform specific sessions that will address these issues, not only from a regulation and policy perspective, but also looking at critical issues such as water management, given that Namibia and South Africa face water consumption challenges, and hydrogen projects require a lot of water for production.
In addition to African nations, countries from all around the world, including South East Asia, the EU, the Middle East and North America who are leading hydrogen development will be participating. The Summit will hear best practices from across the globe and from across the industry. Only through collaboration and partnerships will hydrogen be a success. We will hear lessons learned and pitfalls to avoid and constructive ways in which move forward. The Summit gathers the full support from the Government of Namibia who are hosting the event, the Ministry of Mines and Energy are our official endorser and our strategic partner is NIPDB.
On the other hand, we will also welcome the private sector, local communities and businesses as well as the education, vocational and academia sectors. Only by gathering all these actors within a single space will we ensure that partnerships for propensity are forged in order to propel the hydrogen industry forward in an inclusive way and create opportunities for all.
Q.-How is the Global African Hydrogen Summit ensuring that local content and capacity-building are at the forefront of the hydrogen development plans for Namibia and neighbouring countries? What specific initiatives or programs are being discussed to empower local communities, businesses, and skilled workers?
A.-Local content and capacity-building are at the heart of what we do as an organisation across Africa, and there is no greater example of this than in Nigeria where over 20+ years dmg have been able to establish a local incorporation (dmg Nigeria events), and develop a local team through empowerment and knowledge transfer to deliver world class events in country including NOG Energy Week and Practical Nigeria Content Forum. Therefore, mirroring this critical theme in our content and programmes from an industry perspective across all of our Africa based events spanning Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique and this year Namibia, is of the utmost priority.
Following many months of due diligence and research with a comprehensive and diverse range of stakeholders from across the Namibian and African energy sector, we have woven into this year’s Summit programme key local content nuances and that will speak to governmental, business, and societal priorities. On the one hand the Summit will platform several initiatives where local content and capacity building take centre stage. For example there is a CPD accredited Pre – Summit Masterclass purely focused on local content opportunities. In addition, there is a local content Spotlight Session on the main Strategic Conference plenary where we have invited countries from all over the world, including South Korea, Oman, Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands, the EU, and others to share their experiences, best practices and know how on building an inclusive industry for the benefit of local communities, businesses, and the youth.
On the other hand, and on the subject of youth participation, we are working closely with universities, particularly UNAM, to ensure students also play a role. We will be running a two-day Youth Programme with over 100 students in addition to hosting the University Poster Contest, inviting submissions from all over the country (and abroad). The Summit will also host an MSME Zone within the International Exhibition affording some complimentary spaces, providing indigenous companies the platform and opportunity to showcase their products, services and capacity.
Q.- Financing and investment are crucial for the successful development of hydrogen projects. How can Namibia and other African countries attract investment while ensuring that the terms and conditions are fair, transparent, and beneficial to local economies and communities?
A.-For many African countries, hydrogen offers a major opportunity to sustainably harness existing resources to meet the growing demand for energy that will advance economic development, map a sustainable path to a net zero future, and eliminate energy poverty across the continent. The banks and financiers are a critical stakeholder, especially considering that the hydrogen sector will require $2.9 trillion of cumulative capital expenditure between 2022 and 2050 (according to a recent McKinsey projection), most of which will need to be deployed to developing green energy sources. In order to invest and finance hydrogen projects in Africa the finance community will require robust partnerships, fair regulatory and policy frameworks and to see a strong demand creation and offtakers for hydrogen supply, not only from Africa, but globally.
Q.- Policy and regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in shaping the hydrogen industry. What policy recommendations or best practices are being discussed at the Summit to ensure that Namibia and other African nations can develop robust and equitable regulatory environments for the hydrogen sector?
A.-African countries are setting their sights on clean hydrogen. In the global drive to develop and commercialise clean hydrogen, Africa is on equal footing with developed economies. Governments around the world are promoting projects for domestic and export markets of clean hydrogen, with billions of dollars expected to be invested over the next few years, as well as taking steps to build robust internal regulations and policies which foster an enabling environment for hydrogen investments. For many African countries, the question is not about reducing their carbon footprint but rather to sustainably harness their existing resources to meet the growing demand for energy that will advance economic development, map a sustainable path to a net zero future and eliminate energy poverty across the continent. This can only be achieved through collaboration and cooperation at a continental and global level. Regulations and policies must be harmonised in order to ensure the sector thrives. Cumbersome regulations and opaque policies will ultimately translate into disruption and uncertainty.
The Summit has dedicated sessions that will constructively review regulations and policies with African governments and global experts. These focal points will be essential in assessing best practices to support African countries accelerate and harmonise the adoption of favourable regulations and policies that will help to debottleneck project progress and release critical capital.
Q.-Technology transfer and knowledge-sharing are essential for building local expertise and capacity. How is the Summit facilitating the exchange of technology and knowledge between African countries and international partners, while safeguarding against the monopolization of intellectual property by foreign entities?
A.-The International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated the key pillars of decarbonising the global energy system is energy efficiency; behavioural change; electrification; renewables; hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels; and carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS).
In addition to the projected volume of emissions reduction hydrogen is expected to facilitate, hydrogen is positioned to play a significant role in the energy transition due to emerging capabilities to produce clean hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels as well as increasing hydrogen demand. In addition to being a critical cornerstone of the energy transition hydrogen’s global deployment requires huge technology advancements in order to be deployed on a global scale. These technology advancements also open the opportunity for knowledge and technology transfer from companies and countries at the forefront of hydrogen to the African continent. The Summit will platform several initiatives where technology transfer and knowledge-sharing will be presented. For example there is another CPD accredited Pre – Summit Masterclass purely focused on macro trends and the transferable opportunities especially within emerging technologies. In addition, there is a Spotlight Session on the main Strategic Conference plenary where pioneering pan African initiatives (spanning multiple sectors) will be showcased as inspiration to those starting to lead the charge in Namibia.
The Summit’s International Exhibition will also play host to a Startup H2ub aggregating the most innovative startups and entrepreneurial companies in the hydrogen sphere to share their stories, technologies and insights to the next generation of energy industry leaders.
Q.- Namibia and South Africa have significant potential to become leaders in the hydrogen economy. What role can these countries play in shaping the narrative and driving the conversation around the development of a sustainable and equitable hydrogen industry in Africa?
A.-In the global drive to develop and commercialise clean hydrogen, Africa has many advantages. These include abundant potential wind and solar resources, where especially in the north, west and southwest of the continent it could become highly competitive in supplying clean hydrogen for local and global consumption.
Namibia has the potential to become energy self-sufficient via renewables and could become a net exporter of power to the rest of Southern African Region. Power Africa, a U.S. Government-led partnership of over 170 public and private sectors partners, is working with the governments of Namibia and Botswana to develop a mega solar power project. This mega solar project could add between 300-500 MW of solar capacity in Namibia by 2024 to meet expected domestic demand for energy and up to 3000 MW of new solar capacity by 2030 to transform Namibia into a net energy exporter. Namibia is also working on establishing a green hydrogen industry and expects to attract more than USD 6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) based on its green ammonia and green hydrogen production potential. Namibia has a wealth of natural resources including uranium, diamonds, gold, zinc, lithium, cobalt and copper, which are the primary sources of foreign exchange earnings. According to the World Nuclear Association, Namibia is the world’s fourth largest producer of uranium oxide. There are opportunities for companies that provide equipment and services to mining operators.
South Africa has the potential to be a leader in electrolyser supply with green hydrogen production being a game changer for decarbonisation of hard to abate sectors but also to embark on a green industrial revolution. The programme will welcome specific spotlights on Namibia and South Africa and explore how both countries can collaborate to maximise the resources on both sides. Many of these will be shared, both infrastructure, finance, policy regulations and harmonisation, investments and others. We will be also welcoming companies from South Africa, having just confirmed Dr. Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive, ESKOM as a speaker amongst many others.
Q.-Infrastructure development is a crucial aspect of the hydrogen economy. How can Namibia and surrounding countries ensure that the infrastructure projects, such as production facilities and transportation networks, are designed and implemented in a way that maximizes local participation and ownership?
A.-Infrastructure development, maximisation and resource sharing are the top of the Summit and the global hydrogen economy’s agenda. To capture the opportunity, enabling policy developments will be needed to incentivise investment as well as Catalyse collaborative R&D innovation initiatives for sustainable, competitive technologies suited to the capabilities of the country, to build the required infrastructure to support hydrogen production, storage, transport, distribution and refuelling. In addition, mobilisation of skilled the specialised workforce and supportive technology infrastructure will be needed to scale and mature a local hydrogen value chain.
Nations from across Africa who are building these integrated hydrogen economies into their energy mix, including South Africa (which has several common projects, infrastructure and resource sharing opportunities with Namibia) as well as Mauritania, Morocco, Kenya, Egypt, Djibouti, in addition to global players such as the Netherlands, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, India and the USA.
Q.-Skilled workforce development is a critical enabler for the successful implementation of hydrogen technologies. What efforts are being made to build local capacity and expertise in Namibia and the region, particularly in areas such as engineering, project management, and technical operations?
A.-A skilled workforce is essential for the ultimate success of hydrogen, not only in Africa but globally. At a time where the energy sector is going through a huge transformation, both in re-training and re-skilling, as well as challenges in attracting new talent, these issues are of utmost importance for governments and companies if they are to deliver on the socio-economic benefits that hydrogen projects could afford. The industry will need to stimulate job creation for socio-economic growth, which is also one of the Summit’s key pillars. Namibia is very committed to ensure training and knowledge development are part of the next phase of projects. The Summit will bring together global private sector companies looking for partnerships together with African governments, businesses, SMEs and youth. The Summit will host a Youth Programme devised in partnership with the University of Namibia as well as dedicated zones in the Exhibition for MSMEs and Startups. This will provide inclusive opportunities for African businesses and citizens to gain knowledge, a deepen their understanding of the opportunities that the hydrogen industry has to offer to strike partnerships for socio-economic growth.
Q.- As the energy transition progresses, there is a growing emphasis on ensuring a just and equitable transition. How is the Global African Hydrogen Summit addressing issues of social and environmental sustainability, particularly in the context of Namibia and the surrounding region?
A.-The African green energy opportunity represents a major opportunity for socio economic growth and jobs creation. Stakeholders across the public and private sectors, both domestically and across the continent, will have a critical role to play in transitioning Africa along its sustainable energy pathway.
In its inaugural edition, hosted in Namibia, the dynamic three-day Global African Hydrogen Summit will convene energy industry business leaders, heads of state, project developers, investors, thought leaders and technology innovators from across Africa and around the globe to drive progress and advance Africa’s role in the global hydrogen economy. Collaboration across policy, investment and industry will be needed to maximise the hydrogen opportunity in Africa as well as hydrogen’s projected impact on delivering the sustainable and equitable energy transition the world needs. The Summit is a global platform for collaboration and partnership that aims to unlock the full potential of the hydrogen opportunity in Africa and harness its projected impact on achieving a sustainable and equitable energy transition globally.
Q.-Finally, what is your vision for a successful and equitable hydrogen economy in Namibia and Africa as a whole, where the benefits are shared among local communities, businesses, and governments, while fostering sustainable development and energy security?
A.-A successful and equitable hydrogen economy needs to be inclusive and to foster collaboration from all stakeholders including governments, businesses, local communities, academia and youth. Across three dynamic days, the Global African Hydrogen Summit is set to make history by bringing together visionaries, leaders, and experts from every corner of the globe, from heads of state and government agencies to industry titans, project developers, investors, thought leaders, and technologists – the Summit is where the world’s hydrogen industry convenes in Africa.
Namibia will be the epicentre of electrifying discussions, breakthrough collaborations, and pioneering advancements in the emerging hydrogen value chain. The Summit will focus on the global role Africa expects to play in the hydrogen market. More than an event, it is a movement to propel Africa to the forefront of the global hydrogen revolution.
Convening The Global Hydrogen Industry in Namibia
In its inaugural edition to be hosted in Namibia, the pioneering three-day Global African Hydrogen Summit will convene heads of state, government agencies, industry business leaders, project developers, investors, thought leaders, technologists and end users from across Africa and around the globe to drive partnerships for and critical investments and financing into bankable green energy projects of strategic and national importance across Africa, spanning hydrogen, renewables, agriculture, mining, power, infrastructure, transportation, mobility and hard to abate sectors.
As a pioneering and innovative investment platform, the Global African Hydrogen Summit will provide a variety of engagement opportunities including educative masterclasses, high level leadership dialogues, a world class strategic conference, project investment roundtables, and an international exhibition and innovation zone.
Participation is expected from across the global energy value chain including:
● 2+ heads of state
● 20+ African & Global ministers
● 40+ bankable African green energy projects
● 2,000+ attendees
● 700+ conference delegates
● 125+ international exhibitors
● 115+ expert industry speakers
● 100+ youth participants
● 65+ countries represented from around the globe
● 7+ Green Energy Awards
www.globalafricanhydrogensummit.com
