Platingruppenmetalle, grüne Wasserstoffproduktion und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika

South Africa holds approximately 80% of global Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), which are essential catalysts for PEM electrolysers and fuel cells used in green hydrogen production. While this provides a strategic opportunity for re-industrialisation and decarbonisation, the transition faces severe constraints, including an outdated electricity grid, water scarcity in high-resource areas, and a significant skills gap. The shift also threatens the coal and internal combustion engine automotive sectors, risking large-scale job losses in regions like Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. Geopolitically, South Africa must navigate competition between China and Western powers, particularly as the US has withdrawn support for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The paper argues that for the transition to be 'just', the government must integrate mineral beneficiation with social safeguards, regional SADC integration, and comprehensive workforce reskilling.

• South Africa possesses a dominant global position in the materials necessary for green hydrogen, holding approximately 80% of the world's Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), which are critical catalysts for both the production of hydrogen via PEM electrolysers and its reconversion into electricity via fuel cells.
• The transition to a green hydrogen economy poses significant risks to existing industrial pillars. The automotive sector, which contributes 4.3% to GDP and employs over 110,000 people, faces disruption as the EU and US phase out internal combustion engines by 2030. Simultaneously, the coal sector, providing 83% of electricity, faces the closure of an estimated 15 mines by 2030 and 23 more by 2040, threatening high-paying jobs in regions already experiencing 33-42% unemployment.
• Severe infrastructural deficits hinder the scaling of green hydrogen. The electricity grid is outdated and designed for coal-centric flows from Mpumalanga, preventing the efficient transmission of renewable energy from the Northern and Western Cape to industrial hubs. Additionally, the high water requirements for electrolysis conflict with South Africa's water geography, as the driest provinces are often the most suitable for renewable energy generation.
• Financial and geopolitical instability threaten the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). While the EU has recommitted to the initiative, the United States has withdrawn its support following the election of Donald Trump. Furthermore, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) could expose over 50% of South Africa's export value to carbon tax levies, putting an estimated US$ 50 billion at risk.
• There is a critical gap in the specialized skills required for a high-technology hydrogen industry. While 27 occupational qualifications have been identified as essential, work-based learning remains limited. The government is attempting to address this through the Department of Science and Innovation's Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) programme and collaborations with universities to promote platinum beneficiation for catalysts.
• The development of green hydrogen risks replicating historical extractive harms, including environmental degradation and the violation of community rights. In Limpopo, PGM mines have been accused of forced removals and the desecration of ancestral graves, leading to a lack of 'social licence to operate' and frequent protests over unfair labour arrangements.

APA

Mkodzongi, G., & Luthango, S. (2026). Platingruppenmetalle, grüne Wasserstoffproduktion und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/platingruppenmetalle-grune-wasserstoffproduktion-und-wirtschaftliche-entwicklung-in-sudafrika

Chicago

Mkodzongi, Grasian, and Sikho Luthango. Platingruppenmetalle, grüne Wasserstoffproduktion und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2026. https://afripoli.org/de/platingruppenmetalle-grune-wasserstoffproduktion-und-wirtschaftliche-entwicklung-in-sudafrika.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mkodzongi |first1=Grasian |last2=Luthango |first2=Sikho |title=Platingruppenmetalle, grüne Wasserstoffproduktion und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=19 January 2026 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/platingruppenmetalle-grune-wasserstoffproduktion-und-wirtschaftliche-entwicklung-in-sudafrika |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mkodzongi2026platingruppenmetalle, author = {Mkodzongi, Grasian and Luthango, Sikho}, title = {{Platingruppenmetalle, grüne Wasserstoffproduktion und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/platingruppenmetalle-grune-wasserstoffproduktion-und-wirtschaftliche-entwicklung-in-sudafrika}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }