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[South African President Calls on African Countries to Strengthen Green Hydrogen Development] The two-day 2026 Africa Green Hydrogen Summit opened on the 15th in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on African countries to seize this historic opportunity for green hydrogen development, strengthen practical cooperation, and achieve energy security, promote decarbonization, and foster sustainable development. In his opening address, read on his behalf by the country's Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kosienjo Lamohoepa, Ramaphosa said that Africa possesses abundant renewable energy, water resources, and key minerals, making it fully capable of becoming a major global hub for the green hydrogen industry. Developing green hydrogen is not only related to investment and the layout of emerging industries, but also helps alleviate energy poverty in Africa, create jobs, and promote a equitable energy transition. Africa should seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and accelerate its pace to be at the forefront of transformative industrial development. Ramaphosa emphasized that Africa should not only be a supplier of renewable energy, minerals, and hydrogen products, but should also participate in the entire value chain. He called on technology partners to build manufacturing, training, and research capabilities in Africa, and to expand local sourcing, manufacturing, employment, and skills transfer. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the launch of the first six green hydrogen projects under South Africa's National Green Hydrogen Plan. Among them, the electrolytic sustainable aviation fuel project in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape Province, is expected to commence construction in the first quarter of 2027, with the first batch of electrolytic sustainable aviation fuel exported in the first quarter of 2029. The Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, formerly the South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit which began in 2022, will expand its scope to include the entire African continent starting in 2025. During the summit, government officials, energy experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors will gather to discuss the future development of Africa's green hydrogen industry. (Xinhua)