Eastern Cape Bets Big On Green Hydrogen As Three Capes Join Hands
By The Coastal Reporter
16 September 2026 · 4 min read
Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Minister of Electricity Sputla Ramokgopa together with the other participants at the summit
Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane unveiled a potential groundbreaking strategy to position the province, in collaboration with its northern and western neighbours, as preferred global exporters of green hydrogen and producers of clean maritime fuel.
Known as the Eastern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy, it includes a concept named the Three Capes Partnership, aimed at combining resources from the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape to offer the international green energy market a competitive value proposition in the south.
Mabuyane made the announcement at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit 2026 in Cape Town on Tuesday (15 September), describing the initiative as a catalyst for industrialisation, economic growth and long-term competitiveness.
The Eastern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy was approved by the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Council for resourcing and implementation in order to position the province favourably to build a competitive green hydrogen economy while supporting the continued competitiveness of existing industries.
“It gives us a roadmap to attract investment, deepen value chains, support localisation and skills development, and ensure that our existing automotive, manufacturing and export industries remain competitive as global markets transition to lower-carbon production.
“Green hydrogen production, export and utilisation represent both a substantial economic opportunity and a strategic priority for the Eastern Cape,” Premier Mabuyane said.
The fourth annual summit, held over two days at the Century City Conference Centre brought together representatives from seventeen countries, researchers, strategic decision makers, the private sector and investors, among others.
The Strategy responds to a major shift in the global economy. Governments and industries are working to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, while climate-related trade measures are increasing pressure on exporters to lower the carbon intensity of goods and production processes.
Green hydrogen and its derivatives can support the decarbonisation of sectors that are difficult to electrify directly, including steel, chemicals, fertilisers, aviation, shipping and heavy transport.
The Eastern Cape enters this transition with significant advantages. The province has strong wind and solar resources, established industrial and logistics platforms, the Coega Special Economic Zone, the East London Industrial Development Zone, the Port of Ngqura and the Port of East London.
