Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to help “turbocharge” investments in South African infrastructure, calling out green hydrogen opportunities in particular.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting London in a two-day state visit. This is the first state visit for King Charles III.
Sunak said South Africa was already the UK’s largest trading partner in Africa. “We have ambitious plans to turbocharge infrastructure investment and economic growth together,” he said.
The prime minister went on to say he would welcome Ramaphosa, with discussions on how to “deepen the partnership between our two great nations and capitalise on shared opportunities”.
A statement said the two countries were launching the next phase of their infrastructure partnership. This would offer “increased access to UK companies to projects worth up to £5.37bn over the next three years”.
The UK government would provide new grant funded technical assistance for South Africa’s green hydrogen, it said. The aim is to unlock “opportunities and boost skills in this key sector”.
TODAY: His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa is on a State Visit in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the invitation of His Majesty, King Charles III. #SAinUK 🇿🇦🇬🇧#BetterAfricaBetterWorld 🌍 pic.twitter.com/PdmYnwbgiv
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 22, 2022
Mineral plans
The two countries will announce today a new partnership on minerals for clean energy technologies. Southern Africa is the world’s leading source of “vital minerals used in clean technology”, the statement said. This will come under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), launched at COP26.
This includes platinum group metals and iridium, for hydrogen production, and vanadium and manganese, for battery storage.
The UK can offer global mining company expertise and financial services, the statement said. This would help drive production of these minerals in a “sustainable and responsible” way.
“Today we’re moving into a new era of our dynamic trade relationship with South Africa, with exciting collaboration on infrastructure, clean technology, and renewable energy sources,” said Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said.
“These new opportunities will unlock trade and investment for businesses from the Eastern Cape to East Anglia and boost growth, create jobs and future-proof our economies against a changing world.”