South Africa’s planned US$5.8 billion Coega green ammonia project has selected Danish energy company as its technology partner, in a major step forward for one of Africa’s largest green hydrogen-linked investments.
The project, located at the Port of Ngqura in Gqeberha on South Africa’s eastern coast, aims to produce about one million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2029 using renewable energy from solar and wind farms.
Developers Hive Energy, a British firm holding a 75 percent stake, and South African company Built Africa, which owns the remaining 25 percent, said Topsoe will supply solid oxide electrolyser technology and other key equipment for the facility.
The electrolyser systems will use renewable electricity to produce hydrogen, which will then be converted into ammonia for use in fertilizer and industrial chemical production.
Project partners said the technology will significantly improve efficiency and reduce capital costs. Hive Energy chief executive Giles Redpath said the use of Topsoe’s technology would cut renewable energy-related capital expenditure by more than €0.5 billion.
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The Coega development is expected to be powered by about 1,430 megawatts of solar energy and 1,499 megawatts of wind capacity, making it one of the largest renewable energy-to-hydrogen projects on the continent.
Engineering studies are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, while a final investment decision is expected in the third quarter of 2027.
If fully developed, the project would position South Africa among a small group of countries globally attempting to scale industrial green ammonia production for export markets.
The project forms part of South Africa’s broader energy transition agenda under the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, which aims to mobilise about $83 billion between 2023 and 2027 to support a shift away from coal and toward cleaner energy sources.
Officials have designated Coega as a flagship energy transition site, reflecting its strategic importance in the country’s long-term industrial and climate goals.
South Africa is also developing several other hydrogen and ammonia projects, including studies by at the Boegoebaai site in the Northern Cape, which is being considered as a future hydrogen export hub.
Additional projects are planned along the Atlantic coast between Saldanha and Namakwa, where researchers are exploring large-scale electrolyser capacity to support hydrogen production for export markets.
Across Africa, countries including,, and are also advancing green hydrogen strategies aimed at supplying European and Asian demand.
However, analysts warn that despite growing ambition, financing remains a major constraint for the sector.
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The International Energy Agency has noted that only a small share of announced green hydrogen projects across Africa have reached final investment decisions, reflecting challenges in securing long-term offtake agreements and large-scale financing.
In many cases, projects remain at early development stages despite strong policy support and international interest.
Critics also highlight a broader structural tension: while large export-oriented hydrogen projects expand, more than 600 million people across Africa still lack access to electricity.
Still, supporters argue that green hydrogen and ammonia projects could help drive industrialisation, create jobs and position Africa as a key player in global clean energy supply chains if financing and infrastructure gaps are addressed.
The Coega project is widely seen as a test case for whether large-scale green hydrogen investments in Africa can move from announcement to execution at commercial scale.
