South Africa is making the most of the available opportunities to drive industrialisation through global decarbonisation efforts, says Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau.
Tau on Wednesday led a team of officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) to a joint briefing session of Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Trade and Industry and Science, Technology and Innovation. The aim of the session was to engage on South Africa’s Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy and the White Paper on Electric Vehicles.
Tau told the Members of the Portfolio Committee that South Africa has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emission, as envisaged in the national Just Energy Transition. Above its own contributions to reduce emissions, South Africa has partnered with the rest of the world to decarbonise.
Tau said South Africa has to decarbonise its own economy but also position itself to commercially benefit from the global shift to greener technologies.
“Green hydrogen presents an opportunity to export natural resources such as sunshine and wind, which South Africa has in abundance.
“The global demand for green hydrogen presents ample industrialisation opportunities not only for South Africa but for other African countries, so we need to collaborate and integrate efforts to drive the industrialisation agenda for the continent as a whole.
“The speed with which we move will determine whether we are able to take full advantage of the transition or we are left behind,” he said.
Linked to decarbonisation efforts is the worldwide move to electric vehicles, which Tau described as advancing at a fast pace.
Through the White Paper on Electric Vehicles and support for the automotives industry, South Africa is embracing the transition and adapting its Automotive Strategy to current global trends.
The White Paper on Electric Vehicles outlines a commitment to ensuring that the transition is not just about decarbonisation but is also leveraged for growth by deepening the automotive value chain, fostering local industry growth, and aligning with economic priorities, the approach aims to be pro-growth and pro-investment.
Regarding the carbon intensity of the South African economy, Tau indicated that government is cognisant of the fact that some of the measures, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism introduced by the European Union, do require that the country challenge them at the level of the World Trade Organisation, as they likely to have a negative impact on economic growth efforts. – SAnews.gov.za
