By Akani Nkuna
Chairperson of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) board, David Masondo, has said that Cape Town’s HyPlat facility will expedite South Africa’s ambitions in the advancement of hydrogen technology manufacturing and further enhance the development of specialised technical skills whilst strengthening the country’s position in global clean-energy value chains.
Masondo outlined that the facility’s proximity to research institutions, logistics infrastructure, and SA’s platinum mining ecosystem positioned the HyPlat to speedily advance the country’s hydrogen industrialisation endeavours that facilitate localisation, industrialisation, and export-led growth.
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“Investments such as Bambili Energy demonstrate how patient capital is driving industrialisation, adding value to our minerals, such as platinum, while enhancing energy security and supporting decarbonisation through hydrogen energy,” he said.
“This represents critical South African innovation, deepens industrial capacity, and creates new opportunities in sectors that will shape the future global economy.”
Masondo undertook an oversight visit to the facility at Bambili Energy, Cape Town, on Thursday, as part of an ongoing oversight programme to highlight how pension capital is spent to support the country’s long-term economic development.
PIC is a shareholder at the company after acquiring 15% shareholding in 2023 under the mandate of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI).
HyPlat sits at the centre of Bambili Energy’s hydrogen technology platform, manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Incubated through South Africa’s Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) programme and spun out of the University of Cape Town, it is the country’s first MEA manufacturer exporting high-value platinum-based technology to Europe.
Hydrogen technologies are increasingly recognised globally as a strategic sector driving economic growth, which Masondo said that investment in the sector aims to support SA’s long-standing objective of mineral beneficiation “by transforming locally sourced platinum-group metals (PGMs) into advanced manufactured products rather than exporting raw materials.”
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It also seeks to strengthen domestic demands whilst supporting future demands for one of the country’s most strategic key resources, according to Masondo.
Upon completion, the facility is expected to employ 1200 people, nearly 3 times what it currently employs, 440, during the construction phase.
“Importantly, Bambili Energy has already partnered with the University of Pretoria to develop specialised fuel cell skills, producing 30 qualified fuel cell technicians, with further technology transfer expected as manufacturing expands. Their training program has received QCTO approval,” Masonda said.
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