IN-LINE with eThekwini Municipality’s continued efforts to explore the hydrogen economy in South Africa, eThekwini mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda announced the launch of the eThekwini Regional Hydrogen Strategy during the second day of the eThekwini Energy Transformation Summit that took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on March 2.

eThekwini is the first city in South Africa to develop a world-class hydrogen strategy. The strategy outlines the exciting potential that lies in building a future hydrogen economy that can deliver, beyond clean energy and fuels, a holistic city resilience built on circular economy principles.

Mayor Kaunda said the municipality has already identified three hydrogen hubs (namely Durban Port, Richard’s Bay, and Cato Ridge Dry Port), and each hub serves to meet demand and supply for conventional fuels.

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“The supply-chain infrastructure for hydrogen projects already exists in Durban and Richard’s Bay, however, more repurposing must happen to ensure projects reach commercial operation. Low-carbon hydrogen is catalytic for the transformation of eThekwini’s energy landscape by reducing heavy dependence on domestically produced and imported fossil fuels, in exchange for reliance on domestically sourced renewable energy and a circular economy,” said Mayor Kaunda.

He said this document won’t gather dust on the shelves of City Hall but is a practical strategy derived from circular-economy approaches to outline supply-chain infrastructure projects in the hydrogen economy.

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“Our regional hydrogen strategy could unlock $23b (R421b) of private investment in the long term. Approximately $10b (R199.5b) is estimated for infrastructure investment by 2030. Up to 260 000 construction jobs and 11 000 permanent jobs could be created by 2030. By 2050, the hydrogen economy could create approximately 392 786 construction jobs and 24 671 permanent jobs in the eThekwini and Richard’s Bay regions,” added Mayor Kaunda.

Mayor Kaunda told delegates that the City welcomes the interventions by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Central Energy Fund and the province’s turnaround plan to repurpose the SAPREF refinery. He urged investors to work with government to restructure the gas industry in the province and that the turnaround plan would require all stakeholders to assess the possibility of stranded assets and job losses in the south of Durban.

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