South Africa’s call for investment in renewable energy at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

SOUTH Africa utilised last week's Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to showcase the African continent's energy generation opportunities and position itself as a future energy exporter.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

President Cyril Ramaphosa participated in the summit’s heads of State panel and spoke extensively about Africa's significant opportunities in energy generation, highlighting the continent's potential to contribute to the global energy landscape.

“We have one of the greatest endowments in the world – the sun, the wind, and our mighty rivers. So, a combination of all three, as well as our minerals, gives rise to those opportunities where we can generate energy,” he said.

He noted that Africa's 600 million people who still lack energy present an opportunity to leverage the continent's mineral resources, rather than viewing it as a challenge.

“Instead of exporting rock, soil, and stones, we should now beneficiate, add value to our minerals so that they are properly utilised in the energy generation,” Ramaphosa said.

He stressed that Africa, with its abundant solar and wind resources, is ideally positioned to become a hub for green hydrogen production, leveraging its renewable energy potential to drive sustainable development.