Regional Focus: Limpopo Powering ahead

Limpopo is rich in agricultural and mining resources and is linked to the Maputo Development Corridor through the Phalaborwa Spatial Development Initiative, a network of road and rail corridors connecting to the major seaports which will open up Limpopo and surrounding regions for trade and investment. This is complimented by the presence of airports in major centres of the province including Ellisras, Makhado, Musina, Phalaborwa, Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou and Bela-Bela as well as the Gateway International airport in Polokwane.

As a result of financial incentives for investors from national government, the province has established TIL (Trade Investment Limpopo) which offers a wide range of services to entrepreneurs and investors interested in setting up businesses - including acquisitions, green field investments, joint ventures with local partners, cross holdings of equity between an overseas and local partner or collaborative agreements in the field such as research and development, transfer of technology or sales and distribution.- www.limpopo.gov.za

HYDROGEN VALLEY

“South Africa currently produces 2% of the global demand for hydrogen, mostly made from natural gas. Given the projected global demand for green hydrogen, South Africa has the opportunity to convert its current global supply to green hydrogen and the potential to increase the country’s share of the green hydrogen market. As a country, South Africa has good trading relations with the countries that are looking to import green hydrogen. These include the European Union broadly and Germany in particular, Japan, South Korea and China.

“According to the recently launched South African Hydrogen Valley Feasibility Study Report, the average cost of green hydrogen will be around USD 4 (EUR 3.5) per kg by 2030 along the Platinum Valley corridor, representing a green premium of USD2-2.5 per kg above grey hydrogen, produced from natural gas.”- Hon. Minister Blade Nzimande

The Platinum Valley Corridor starts from Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena Mine in Limpopo, through Pretoria and Johannesburg down to Durban, passing through the N1 and N3 and It is expected that by implementing the catalytic projects identified in the South African Hydrogen Valley Feasibility Study Report, the green premium could be lowered to enable green hydrogen to be at parity with grey hydrogen.

President Ramaphosa officiated the proceedings at Anglo Platinum Mine outside Mokopane in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality on Friday, 06 May 2022. Mogalakwena mine is part of the hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex in Limpopo.

Hydrogen valley, which stretches from Limpopo to Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, will contribute to over R50-billion to the country’s Growth Domestic Products (GDP) in the next twenty years.

“The proposed hydrogen valley stretching from here in Limpopo, right through to Gauteng and to Kwazulu-Natal will position South Africa as a global centre for green hydrogen production. We are serious about this, and we don’t seek to undermine other nations in terms of what they are doing. Our objective is to be the real hub of the green hydrogen productions and that is our intended destination

which would lead to new industries. “It is testament to the visionary nature of the leadership of Anglo American that a mining house for which fossil fuels have been an integral part of their business, is now leading the way in the use of clean energy in its operations,” – President Ramaphosa

LIMPOPO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

The Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) is a leader in sustainable innovative economic growth and development. The Agency’s mission is to accelerate economic growth, development and job creation. It was established as a special purpose vehicle, culminating from the amalgamation of four historical agencies, namely Trade and Investment Limpopo, the Limpopo Business Support Agency, the Limpopo Agribusiness Development Corporation and the Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise.

By providing business intelligence, as well as research and development towards innovative solutions and using scientific impact assessment tools and approaches to develop scenarios and business intelligence, the Agency aims to:

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of projects

• Provide capacity support in areas of development

• Conceptualise economic programmes and drivers

• Identify development opportunities

• Develop bankable business and project plans

• Support local economic development capabilities

• Coordinate and manage the implementation of strategic infrastructure and economic interventions

• Facilitate trade and investment

• Attract new industries to the province

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT OUTCOMES

According to the local government audit outcomes for the 2020- 2021 financial year presented by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, Limpopo was one of the shining stars, showing positive signs of local government improvement in municipal audit outcomes over the past five years. •

Sources www.limpopo.gov.za www.lieda.co.za www.gov.za www.news24.com