The Department of Electricity and Energy reports that Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa led a South African delegation to the South Africa–China Electricity and Energy Conference in Beijing. The delegation included Premiers, industry leaders and Development Finance Institutions.
Official communications from the Department framed the engagement as an effort to bridge the gap between policy and reality by aligning collective resources to accelerate delivery of South Africa’s energy pipeline and turn strategy into action.
The mission brought together national and provincial leadership under the banner of Team South Africa.
Premiers from Limpopo, the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape participated alongside the Minister. The Department highlighted the value of coordinating provincial infrastructure pipelines with international technology partners to support energy security and industrialisation goals.
A key development announced by the Department was a collaboration between Sasol and Envision. Minister Ramokgopa, together with the Premiers, witnessed the commissioning of Envision to design a green hydrogen system for Sasol’s Sasolburg operations.
According to the official statement, the project explores the integration of renewable energy, battery storage and electrolyser technologies to produce cost-efficient green hydrogen.
The system holds potential to support eMethanol production and, in future, sustainable aviation fuel. The Department described this as a major milestone for South Africa’s green energy future and a vital step in the country’s industrialisation agenda.
It noted that the collaboration demonstrates how existing industrial assets can be evolved toward lower-carbon solutions that support future energy value chains. The initiative is supported by Development Finance Institutions.
The Department also recorded bilateral engagements during the mission. Minister Ramokgopa held talks with Mr Qiao Xubin, Chairman of China Energy International Group Co Ltd. The two sides exchanged views on deepening collaboration in support of South Africa’s energy transition and a sustainable energy future.
Additional activities included exploration of innovations in mobility and smart technology at facilities in Beijing, presented by the Department as part of government’s active pursuit of cutting-edge technologies to accelerate industrialisation, investment and sustainable economic growth.
Throughout its updates, the Department of Electricity and Energy emphasised the shift from planning to implementation.
The mission was presented as evidence of coordinated government action focused on practical delivery, industrial development and long-term energy security.
