South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions are becoming less about producing another energy source and more about building an industrial base around it.

Speaking at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said government views green hydrogen as part of a broader industrialisation agenda, alongside sustainable aviation fuel, green chemicals, green shipping fuels, advanced manufacturing and new export industries.

For South Africa’s supply-chain industry, that distinction matters.

The opportunity is not simply to produce hydrogen and send it overseas. It is to develop the infrastructure, manufacturing capacity and supporting industries needed to produce, move and use it.

Building an Industry Around Hydrogen

Green hydrogen does not exist in isolation. Producing it at scale requires renewable energy, specialised equipment, infrastructure and facilities capable of handling the resulting products.

That creates potential demand across a much wider industrial network.

South Africa will need companies that can supply equipment and components, develop and maintain production facilities, provide storage and transportation solutions, and support the conversion of hydrogen into products such as green ammonia and sustainable fuels.

The more of that value chain that can be developed locally, the greater the potential economic impact.

This is central to the government’s stated industrialisation approach. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s green hydrogen strategy positions hydrogen alongside other industries that could help South Africa move further up the value chain and export more value rather than raw resources.

Investment is Beginning to Move

There are already signs that the infrastructure behind the sector is starting to take shape.

Through the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan programme management office at the Industrial Development Corporation, government has identified 24 strategic integrated projects, several of which have already reached the pre-feasibility stage. The projects are backed by €40 million from Germany’s KfW Development Bank.

In August, Climate Fund Managers closed the first R3 billion of the South Africa Green Hydrogen Fund. A further R628 million in grants has also been made available through the European Union’s Global Gateway programme.

Of that funding, R490 million is intended to leverage investment in hydrogen infrastructure, with government projecting that it could mobilise a further R10 billion. Another R138 million is intended to help Transnet green its own operations.

These investments matter because an industrial supply chain cannot develop around projects that remain disconnected from the infrastructure needed to support them.

Six Projects Move the Sector Closer to Implementation

The scale of the opportunity is becoming clearer as government moves its first six priority projects forward.

Announced on 15 September, the first wave covers several parts of the green hydrogen value chain, including sustainable aviation fuel, green ammonia, lower-emissions iron and steel, green methanol and domestic hydrogen demand.

The Phelan Green Group electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel project in Saldanha Bay has reached a final investment decision after securing an off-take agreement and a $100 million equity commitment. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with first exports targeted for the first quarter of 2029.

The other five projects are at different stages of development. The Coega Green Ammonia Project has completed early preparatory work but requires further commercial, technical and financing work before reaching a final investment decision. The Saldanha Hydrogen Direct Reduced Iron Project is at pre-feasibility stage, while the Prieska Power Reserve is at development stage.

The Green e-Fuels Producers Green Methanol Corridor is at pre-feasibility stage and is targeting European demand, while Green Hydrogen Solutions, which is focused primarily on South African demand, has completed front-end engineering design.

The significance for supply chains is that these projects extend beyond hydrogen production itself. Government says the wider green hydrogen economy should support industries including fertiliser, green iron and steel, sustainable fuels, equipment, engineering and related services. The full announcement on South Africa’s first six priority green hydrogen projects provides more detail on their respective stages.

That means a successful hydrogen economy could require an entire network of businesses and infrastructure around it.

Coega Could Provide a Glimpse of What Comes Next

One project that illustrates this approach is the Coega Green Ammonia Project, which government has identified as South Africa’s lighthouse green hydrogen project.

Through the Critical Infrastructure Programme Fund, the dtic is supporting Hive Hydrogen in developing the project. Hive Hydrogen has completed financial due diligence, unlocking R12.5 million of an initial R25 million in project-development funding, with a further R25 million funding application expected at financial close.

The importance of projects such as this extends beyond the production facility itself.

A large-scale green ammonia operation requires connections to energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, storage, transport and ultimately domestic or international customers. Each connection creates another part of the supply chain that needs to function effectively.

The Opportunity Goes Beyond Exports

South Africa has significant potential to become an exporter of green hydrogen-related products, but an export strategy on its own would leave much of the potential value outside the country.

The broader industrialisation approach creates another possibility.

Green hydrogen could support the development of industries that manufacture equipment, process raw materials, produce chemicals and fuels, and provide specialised technical and logistics services.

That could create a more complex industrial ecosystem in which companies supply one another rather than simply extracting resources and shipping them elsewhere.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called for greater local procurement, manufacturing, employment and skills transfer, arguing that Africa should participate across the hydrogen value chain as an owner, manufacturer, technology partner and producer. His announcement on the first wave of green hydrogen projects sets out the government’s position on local participation in the sector.

Government says South Africa’s industrial transition pathways point to tens of thousands of additional jobs and billions of rand in economic activity over the years ahead. These are projections rather than outcomes, but they highlight the scale of the ambition.

The Supply Chain Will Determine How Much Value Stays Here

Turning that ambition into an industrial reality will require more than funding individual hydrogen projects.

Renewable energy needs to reach production facilities. Equipment needs to be manufactured or imported and delivered. Hydrogen and its derivatives need to be stored and transported. Ports and export infrastructure need to handle new products. Manufacturers need reliable access to energy and inputs, while customers need a dependable route to market.

That makes coordination critical.

South Africa’s green hydrogen opportunity is therefore also a supply-chain opportunity. The country is not simply deciding whether it can produce green hydrogen. It is beginning to build the network of industries and infrastructure that could determine how much value that hydrogen creates before it leaves the country.

The success of the sector may ultimately be measured not by how much hydrogen South Africa produces, but by how much industrial activity develops around it.

Transnet has reported a stronger financial and operational performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, with increased rail volumes, higher revenue and renewed progress on South Africa’s freight logistics reform programme.

In its annual results media statement, released on 10 September, the state-owned freight and logistics company reported revenue of R88.6 billion, a 7.1% increase on the previous year. Transnet also recorded a R4.6 billion profit, compared with a loss of R1.9 billion in the previous financial year.

The results suggest that some of the interventions introduced to improve the reliability of South Africa’s freight network are beginning to produce measurable gains. However, Transnet also acknowledged that significant operational and financial challenges remain.

Rail Volumes Show Signs of Recovery

Rail volumes increased by 4.9% to 167.9 million tonnes during the reporting period. Transnet attributed the improvement to focused interventions aimed at strengthening network reliability, improving maintenance execution and increasing asset availability. Pipeline volumes also increased during the year.

For customers relying on rail to move bulk commodities, minerals, manufactured goods and other freight, improved reliability can have an impact well beyond Transnet’s own results. More dependable rail services can support better production planning, reduce the need for alternative transport arrangements and improve the movement of goods between industrial areas, ports and export markets.

The company said that customers and industry stakeholders had begun to recognise improvements in rail performance and service delivery. It also noted positive feedback from the citrus sector regarding port operations and their contribution to improved export performance.

Despite this progress, Transnet’s operating environment remained difficult. The company identified derailments, rail network and rolling stock constraints, security incidents, equipment and power disruptions, adverse weather, resource shortages, community unrest and customer-related demand challenges among the issues affecting performance. The rail and port businesses were also impacted by R658 million in take-or-pay penalty adjustments.

Reinvent for Growth Remains Central to Recovery

Transnet’s recovery programme continues to be guided by its Reinvent for Growth strategy. The company said the strategy had supported targeted interventions focused on maintenance, asset reliability, operational discipline, technical capability, procurement and supply-chain efficiency.

These measures contributed to higher rail volumes, stronger cash generation and improved customer confidence, according to the statement. The broader objective is to create a more reliable and competitive freight system capable of supporting South Africa’s economic growth.

The challenge now is to ensure that these improvements are sustained. Freight customers require more than occasional operational gains. They need predictable services, consistent turnaround times and the confidence to plan production, inventory and exports around the available network.

Private Investment Changes the Port Landscape

One of the most significant developments during the year was the implementation of Transnet’s Private Sector Participation strategy through the Durban Gateway Terminal transaction.

Transnet disposed of a 49.999% interest in Durban Gateway Terminal to International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) for R10.5 billion, with the transaction taking effect on 1 January 2026. The deal generated a reported profit on disposal of R12.5 billion, including a related fair-value adjustment.

Transnet retains a 50.001% shareholding in the terminal, while management control has transferred to ICTSI. The company described the transaction as an important step towards attracting private investment, improving operational performance and supporting the modernisation of South Africa’s port infrastructure.

The transaction also reflects a wider shift in the way the country is approaching freight logistics reform. Public infrastructure remains central to the system, but private-sector participation is increasingly being positioned as a way to bring in capital, technical expertise and operational capacity.

Infrastructure Investment Remains a Priority

Transnet invested R23.3 billion during the year in infrastructure, equipment renewal and operational improvements. The programme focused on the rail network, port performance, asset reliability and operational efficiency.

A further R14.8 billion in grant funding approved by National Treasury through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure is expected to support strategic rail and port projects. Transnet said the funding should assist infrastructure development, improve network performance and reduce future funding requirements.

For the freight industry, the value of this investment will ultimately be measured through practical outcomes: fewer disruptions, improved equipment availability, stronger port productivity and more consistent cargo flows.

Rail Reform Moves Towards Implementation

Transnet also reported progress on the structural reforms affecting South Africa’s freight rail system.

The accounting separation of Transnet Freight Rail into the Transnet Freight Rail Operating Company and the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager has been completed. The infrastructure manager is expected to play an increasingly important role in network quality, infrastructure management and reliability.

The company has also concluded rail access agreements with 11 train operating companies. The first private operators are expected to begin services during the 2026/27 financial year.

The introduction of third-party operators is intended to increase network utilisation, expand customer access and support additional freight volumes. Its success, however, will depend on the condition and capacity of the rail network, the effectiveness of access arrangements and the ability to coordinate different operators across shared infrastructure.

The Recovery is Underway, But the Pressure Remains

Transnet’s latest results point to progress, particularly in rail volumes, revenue generation and the implementation of freight reforms. Yet the company’s own statement makes clear that the recovery is taking place against a backdrop of equipment constraints, infrastructure challenges, security concerns and uneven demand.

The focus for the year ahead will be on improving operational reliability, increasing freight volumes, strengthening customer confidence and creating a safer and more efficient operating environment. Transnet also expects further progress in private rail participation and strategic infrastructure projects.

For South Africa’s logistics industry, the key question is whether these improvements can develop into a consistent change in the way goods move through the country. A stronger Transnet could reduce pressure on road freight, support exporters and improve the competitiveness of local industries. But that will depend on turning financial recovery and reform commitments into reliable day-to-day freight services.

Read the full Transnet annual results media statement (10 September)

The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) and the Road Freight Association (RFA) were present during the recent interaction between Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT) and relevant stakeholders and organisations that have operations or members processing cargo through the terminal.

Representatives of DGT and International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) were candid and open regarding challenges experienced – as well as what had been achieved in the period that Transnet had signed the agreement with ICSTI.

Whilst there are challenges, the terminal was functioning well – given the challenges experienced, and both DGT and ICTSI listened to comments from all present and noted that two processes were in place to address the operations at DGT. 

One was short term: this included the waiving of all terminal storage charges whilst the current set of challenges were experienced, and secondly, there was an accelerated programme to keep the various pieces of machinery operating at the best levels of safety and functionality, as was possible. Gensets had been brought in to deal with power disruptions.

In addition, DGT acknowledged the problems with the slot booking system and already had developed a solution to vastly improve the process – this was to be shared with all shareholders in due course for comment and implementation.

DGT also brought Transnet into the meeting to address certain aspects that had placed pressure on operational efficiencies.

Long-term plans: the Terminal requires significant refurbishment and upgrading / modernising to compete with the options of other ports on the Southern African continent. Much of the equipment needed has been ordered – but there are lengthy lead times in the delivery of the equipment.

“There are immediate short-term options – such as reducing the pressure on the terminal whilst upgrades and interventions are applied. Perhaps Transnet can lower container movement tariffs (from other ports) for a period, whilst DGT is brought to the level of efficiency required. As we have noted – transporters are carrying the costs of inefficiencies,” said Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the RFA. “Fleets are standing without bookings while fixed costs run, drivers are queuing on Bayhead Road, and every standing hour ends up in the price of goods. Slot releases must match real capacity, and truck staging must be fast-tracked now. Without trucks, South Africa stops.”

“SAFLA is delighted at the waiving of storage charges whilst the current set of challenges are being experienced,” said Dave Logan of SAFLA. “This will meaningfully ease the burden on freight forwarders and their clients, and we welcome this gesture of good faith from DGT and ICTSI.”

SAFLA and the RFA stand ready to contribute member evidence and practitioner expertise to a joint recovery task team alongside DGT, Transnet, government and other industry bodies.