African hydrogen: Just energy transition or renewed energy colonialism?

The continent could see billions of dollars in GDP from hydrogen development over the coming decades. But a recent report argues the rush to develop projects for export to Europe will outsource negative impacts of development to the Global South

Africa is increasingly gaining ground as a major hydrogen production centre, with strong potential for exports to Europe. But while governments and developers claim that green hydrogen will boost African economies and facilitate a just energy transition—where countries most at risk of climate change benefit from the solutions—critics warn this drive for African hydrogen could ultimately represent a new version of energy colonialism. Africa’s total announced electrolyser pipeline capacity has reached 114GW, 70GW of which is in the sub-Saharan region, according to consultancy Rystad Energy. Mauritania covers 50pc of this announced capacity, followed by South Africa and Namibia. While FID has b