Africa plans to kick off the construction of 41 green hydrogen projects by 2030, according to the Energy Industries Council (EIC), a global energy trade body.
The sector faces significant obstacles, including securing buyers, creating regulatory frameworks, and building necessary infrastructure.
North African nations such as Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco possess abundant sunshine year-round, offering strong potential for investments in green hydrogen production and export facilities, as noted in the Africa OPEX report 2025.
The report did not disclose financial details of specific projects or total estimated investments in the sector.
Located near Europe, countries in North Africa are aligning with Germany, Austria, and Italy to convert 3,300 km of existing gas infrastructure to import 4 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
Despite promising prospects, no commercial-scale hydrogen project has reached a final investment decision, stated Neil Golding, EIC’s Director of Market Intelligence.
Namibia and South Africa are leveraging European Union (EU) grants to advance hydrogen projects throughout the supply chain, indicating optimism for the sector’s growth.
The high initial costs of green hydrogen projects highlight the need for international partnerships and funding solutions.
Europe’s REPowerEU Plan, which seeks to reduce dependence on Russian gas, aims to import 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen from Africa annually, signaling ongoing efforts.
Expanding hydrogen production in Africa will require focused funding and collaborative efforts, the EIC emphasized.
African Energy Council