Every Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript:

Kamwendo: A green hydrogen power plant is to be built in Namibia with strong European financial support.

Creamer: Yes, Namibians have beaten us to the draw here. They have got a financial close early next year for the hydrogen plant, a green hydrogen plant at Swakopmund. That will back up the massive solar projects that they are doing feasibility studies on now, which will cost about R2-trillion. But beating everyone in Africa this week, Egypt commissioned their first green hydrogen plant.

Then, up in Kenya, the Kenyans signed with the Australians for renewable energy and a green hydrogen plant. We know Zambia is working now on sun and wind and water energy. So, I think that we are finding ourselves slightly behind although at the 8th Bi-Annual CSIR Conference, hydrogen was top of the agenda.

Kamwendo: France and Germany this week extended an extra R10-billion in financing to support South Africa’s transition from coal.

Creamer: When we look at the money that they are providing, it is concessional finance, so it is giveaway finance. There is also grant in that. That means a grant is free and for nothing. So, it is really an outreach to help us to change from coal.

We know that the Komati Power Station, which is the first transitioning power station, should have closed 20 years ago. It is no good keeping these old power stations open, they cost a fortune. To get the outdated replacement parts that you need costs you an arm and a leg. So, it is tremendous that we are being funded with ultra-cheap money to move into renewable energy and green hydrogen. We’re able to do so at giveaway cost.

Kamwendo: The Mapungubwe Institute wants investment in renewable energy and communities in areas transitioning out of coal.

Creamer: The Mapungubwe Institute is right there. It has been researching the green hydrogen, researching renewables. It is saying, investment is needed for outgoing coal and for incoming renewables, but it is also needed for impacted communities and we must make sure that we sustain the livelihoods of all those people in the communities affected, to a point where they are absolutely enhanced with a lot of required skills to take us into this new era of wonderful green energy, which can give us energy independence.

Kamwendo: Thanks very much. Martin Creamer is publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly.