Joanne Bate, COO of the Industrial Development Corporation.

Action is needed, not more planning and ideas – COP27

Joanne Bate is leading conversations with regard to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Plan. We caught up with her at COP27.

Published on:

15 Nov 2022, 9:15 am

Joanne Bate, COO of the Industrial Development Corporation, is leading conversations around green hydrogen and new energy with regard to South Africa's Just Energy Transition Plan. We caught up with her at COP27.

Excerpts from the interview with Joanne Bate

Discussions around green hydrogen and commercialisation

It's busy and there is a good energy. What I am finding is that the green hydrogen conversation is very strong. With all of the interest between green hydrogen and commercialisation, a lot of people have been seeing me, so that has been exciting. Being here on the back, particularly with the president's announcement on Friday, has made South Africa extremely interested in the Just Energy Transition Plan. I have been leading the green hydrogen and the new energy vehicle part of that. So, there have been very engaging, interesting conversations. What I find most interesting is some of the conversations around textiles. There is a lot and it is diverse.

Championing green hydrogen in South Africa

There was a winter cabinet last year and Minister Patal from the Department of Trade and Industry was heading up the commercialisation of green hydrogen. It is not just the energy; it is a key industrial opportunity. I am the acting chair of the green hydrogen panel. The panel brings together the private and public sectors to identify the road map for building the commercial plan for South Africans. It is an action plan: what are the skills required; what are the localisation opportunities; how do we convert our platinum into electrolysers; what technologies do we need to attract; and what are the applications both internationally and locally? We brought together a number of key players within green hydrogen including Toyota, Sasol, ArcelorMittal, Navitas and Anglo American. Together there was this energy and realisation that this is South Africa's opportunity to lose and that we have to collaborate. It is the first time in my working experience that I have seen such openness and transparency in the CEOs and leaders of diverse leaders and companies. So, it has been very exciting.