Green hydrogen: African countries on the watch list

Several African nations are keen to develop green hydrogen economies, targeting domestic use and export to global markets. Here’s a country-by-country deep dive.

Across Africa, nations endowed with abundant solar and wind resources are transitioning from hydrogen aspirations to tangible action. Governments are deploying comprehensive policies, carving out incentives, attracting multibillion-dollar investments, and forging global partnerships to transform their economies and secure export markets. 

Algeria 

Algeria is finalising its national hydrogen blueprint and has expressed commitment to developing green hydrogen through the SoutH2 Corridor project. The government also signed a Declaration of Intent with Germany in early 2024 to co-operate on a 50MW green hydrogen pilot plant by national oil company Sonatrach in Arzew. 

Egypt 

Egypt released its National Hydrogen Strategy in 2022, focusing on leveraging its renewable-rich Suez Canal zone for hydrogen and green ammonia production. The government has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Siemens, Masdar, BP, and ACWA Power to develop pilot plants and export facilities; however, Greenpeace has flagged environmental concerns related to large-scale land use.

Mauritania 

Mauritania became the world’s first nation to enact a dedicated hydrogen code in 2024, offering comprehensive incentives to accelerate production. Three major private-public projects are underway: 

1. Project Aman (CWP Global with BP and TotalEnergies): 30GW renewables and 1.7 Mtpa H2 and 10 Mtpa ammonia; $40 billion in investment; partnered with ArcelorMittal for green steel integrated production. 

2. Project Nour (Chariot and TotalEnergies): initial 3GW fleet yielding 150,000 tpa H2 and growing to 10GW by 2030. 3. Megaton Moon (GreenGo Energy): phased deployment through 2029–2033 culminating in 339,000 tpa ammonia capacity.

 Morocco 

The Moroccan government adopted its National Hydrogen Strategy in 2021. It attracted a €300 million (approximately $346 million) German pledge to support Power-to-X facilities, and TotalEnergies is developing a 10GW green hydrogen plus ammonia plant in Guelmim-Oued Noun. This project, backed by TotalEnergies, TE H2, CIP, and A.P. Møller, is expected to produce about 200,000 tpa of green ammonia sourced from desalinated seawater.

In March 2025, six additional green hydrogen projects in Morocco received national approval, with total investments reaching approximately $32.8 billion. Consortium members include Ortus, Acciona, Nordex, ACWA, and Chinese investors. 

Namibia 

In response to the Government of Namibia’s 2022 green hydrogen roadmap, the SDG Namibia One Fund, with a €1 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) target, was established as a blended-finance vehicle mobilising public equity, grant funding, and institutional investment. This fund, structured by Climate Fund Managers, 

Invest International and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, launched with a €40 million (approximately $46 million) grant from the Dutch government and later received a €25 million (approximately $28 million) EU contribution. 

Public-private synergies were cemented when the Namibian government exercised its option to hold a 24% equity share in the Hyphen Tsau Khaeb project through SDG Namibia One. With Hyphen comprising ENERTRAG and Nicholas Holdings, the undertaking features 7GW of renewables, 3GW of electrolyser capacity, and two million tonnes per annum of green ammonia production. 

Supported by $10 billion in projected capital outlays, construction is estimated to generate 15,000 jobs and 3,000 permanent positions, with Namibian operators expected to fill 90% of the roles. Beyond pure hydrogen, the SDG fund is financing Namibia’s first large-scale green iron plant in partnership with HyIron, aiming to decarbonise steel output via hydrogen-based reduction. 

This Oshivela Project will avoid 3.6 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and secure 900 permanent jobs and 6,000 temporary positions during its expansion.

South Africa

In 2021, South Africa launched its Hydrogen Society Roadmap, followed by the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy in 2022, targeting 500,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by 2030 and developing 10GW of electrolysis capacity (15GW by 2040). To catalyse investment, the government introduced 150% tax deductions for qualifying expenditures on hydrogen and electric vehicles, effective March 2026.

International investment is already arriving in the form of €32 million (R628 million or approximately $36 million) through two EU grants: €7.8 million (approximately $9 million) to upgrade Transnet logistics infrastructure and €27.6 million (approximately $31 million) to support development across the hydrogen value chain.

These grants are part of the broader €4.7 billion (approximately $5,4 billion) Global Gateway initiative unveiled at the 2025 EU-South Africa summit to drive clean energy, vaccine manufacturing, and hydrogen investments.

South Africa’s project pipeline includes the Coal CO₂ -X RDI programme that seeks to repurpose coal byproducts in industrial boilers and a sustainable aviation fuel initiative led by Sasol and Linde under Germany’s H2Global scheme.

The state-backed SA-H2 fund, created in 2023 with Dutch and Danish government support and managed by Climate Fund Managers, aims to mobilise $1 billion to boost domestic hydrogen infrastructure.

Tunisia 

Tunisia validated green hydrogen targets in its updated NDC and finalised the H2 Notos MoU in May 2024 with TotalEnergies/EREN (TE H2) and Austrian utility VERBUND. The consortium plans an initial 200,000 tpa electrolyser and desalination facility, with expansion to one million tpa by 2030. The initiative envisions exporting hydrogen via the proposed SoutH2 Corridor to Europe. 

Of interest Hydrogen corridor momentum: North Africa key to Europe

Emerging African nations also on the hydrogen radar 

Beyond these frontliners, several countries are crafting green hydrogen policies and launching exploratory projects. Cameroon’s revised NDC integrates hydrogen to diversify power and cleantech industries. Kenya issued its Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap in September 2023, followed by guiding frameworks in 2024 in partnership with the European Investment Bank and HDF Energy. 

Angola is planning a green ammonia export facility targeting Germany and articulated through public-private agreements leveraging hydropower resources. Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Uganda, and Zimbabwe have initiated MoUs and feasibility studies to evaluate hydrogen export capacity. 

Development banks, EU, US, Gulf, and private investors are showing interest to back Africa’s efforts with billions in financial and technical support. Looking to 2030 and beyond, Africa could deploy tens of gigawatts of clean energy capacity, producing millions of tonnes of green hydrogen and ammonia annually. 

These initiatives promise not only decarbonisation trajectories for Africa but also export pathways that feed Europe’s burgeoning demand, while supporting local industrialisation and sustainable growth.

 

Cover photo:  artefacti©123rf