Report-back with video recording and presentations from the 2nd Renewable Hydrogen and Green Powerfuels Webinar

Dear Colleague

Thank you for your attendance, and please see below and attached for the report-back with video recording and presentations from the:

2nd Renewable Hydrogen and Green Powerfuels Webinar

Date: Tuesday 13 April 2021              Time: 14h00 to 17h15 SAST                    Cost: Free-of-charge

Hosted by

EE Business Intelligence and the British High Commission to South Africa.

Supported by

World Bank, Sasol, Toyota South Africa, Afrox/Linde and Investec Bank.

Moderated by: Chris Yelland, Managing Director, EE Business Intelligence.

Introduction

The British High Commissioner to South Africa, Hon. Nigel Casey, opened the webinar and introduced the South African Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, Hon. Ebrahim Patel, who made the opening keynote address. This was followed by high-level presentations from the British Government, World Bank, Sasol, Toyota South Africa, Linde and Investec Bank.

Involvement by the British High Commission to South Africa forms part of efforts by the United Kingdom in working with all countries, and joining forces with governments, civil society, companies and people on the frontline of decarbonisation efforts to inspire climate action ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) hosted by the UK in Glasgow from 1 – 12 November 2021.

The webinar explored the policies, business case, technologies and opportunities for South Africa by renewable hydrogen and green powerfuels, in the transportation, chemicals, cement, iron and steel sectors in South Africa.

Presentations at the webinar

Keynote address by Hon. Ebrahim Patel, South African Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition
Presentation by Mr. Richard North, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK
Presentation by Dr. Fernando de Sisternes, Energy Specialist and Green Hydrogen Lead, World Bank, USA
Presentation by Mr. Fleetwood Grobler, CEO of Sasol, South Africa
Presentation by Mr. Andrew Kirby, CEO of Toyota South Africa
Presentation by Dr. David Burns, Vice President for Clean Hydrogen, Linde, Germany

Audio/video recording of the webinar

The audio/video recording of the webinar can be viewed here

For ease of reference the following is a breakdown of the various sections of the webinar which are accessible at the following times in the video (hh:mm:ss):

00:00:00 Welcome by Mr. Chris Yelland, EE Business Intelligence
00:07:05 Introduction by Hon. Nigel Casey, British High Commissioner to SA
00:13:26 Keynote address by Hon. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
00:36:54 Presentation by Mr. Richard North, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK
01:01:45 Presentation by Dr. Fernando de Sisternes, World Bank, USA
01:24:00 Presentation by Mr. Fleetwood Grobler, CEO, Sasol
01:50:00 Presentation by Mr. Andrew Kirby, CEO, Toyota SA
02:22:57 Presentation by Dr. David Burns, Linde, Germany
02:36:10 Q & A session moderated by Mr. Chris Yelland, EE Business Intelligence
03:05:00 Summary, wrap-up and thanks by Mr. Andre Wepener, Investec Bank
03:09:38 Closure and announcement of next webinar by Chris Yelland, EE Business Intelligence

The presenters

Hon. Nigel Casey, British High Commissioner to SA
Nigel Casey has been the High Commissioner to South Africa since April 2017. From September 2011, he was British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and before this, he served at the British High Commission in New Delhi, as Political Counsellor and then as Deputy Head of Mission. Nigel is a career diplomat who has worked for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) since 1991. His career to date has been divided between the FCDO in London and five overseas postings. In addition to Sarajevo, he has been posted in Pretoria, Washington DC, Moscow and New Delhi. Nigel studied modern history at Balliol College, Oxford University. He is married to Clare Casey and has two children.

Hon. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
Ebrahim Patel was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of South Africa on 30 May 2019, and before this he was the Minister of Economic Development, a position he held since 11 May 2009. Mr. Patel was active for many years in the anti-apartheid and labour movements and in social dialogue institutions. He headed the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union. He served on the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for a decade, and was one of the drafters of the ILO's Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation in 2008. His past board and council memberships include the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the SA Labour Research Institute, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the Council of the University of Cape Town (UCT), the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) and Proudly South African. He served on the Judicial Services Commission joint interview panel for appointments to the Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court.

Mr. Richard North, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK
Richard North leads international work around the UK’s Hydrogen Strategy (due to be published towards the end of the second quarter of 2021) at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) of the UK government. His work covers collaboration in international research and innovation; emerging hydrogen standards (including production and emissions); and the creation of a global market. BEIS’ hydrogen activity is a key element of the UK's Net Zero, Ten-Point Plan and Green Industrial Revolution work-streams. Richard’s team is leading development of UK policies that aim to ensure international hydrogen activities deliver in the global fight against climate change – and implementing them through engagement with key partners. Richard’s prior experience includes 7 years at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office, working in both London-based and overseas roles.

Dr. Fernando de Sisternes, World Bank, USA
Dr. Fernando de Sisternes leads the Green Hydrogen Support Program at the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Since joining the World Bank, he has worked with teams in West Africa, Latin America and the Middle East on strategic energy planning, energy security, regional market integration, and renewable energy grid integration. Fernando has 14 years energy sector experience, previously working for the U.S. Argonne National Laboratory, the International Energy Agency, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and other organizations as an independent policy consultant, with published works in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Energy Economics, Applied Energy, among others. He holds a PhD in technology, management and policy, and a Master of Science degree in technology and policy, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Mr. Fleetwood Grobler, Sasol
Fleetwood Grobler was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sasol Limited on 1 November 2019. Prior to his appointment, he was Executive Vice President of Sasol's Chemicals Business, based in Germany. His association with Sasol began as an engineering student in the early 1980s when he received a Sasol bursary before joining the group in 1984. Since then, he has worked at most of Sasol's operating facilities worldwide. In this time, he has been exposed to a broad range of business activities and has extensive experience in Sasol's international businesses. In March 2010, he was appointed Managing Director of Sasol Olefins and Surfactants (now part of the Chemicals Business), based in Hamburg, Germany. Fleetwood has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pretoria University.

Mr. Andrew Kirby, Toyota SA
Andrew Kirby has been President and CEO of Toyota South Africa since April 2016, based in Durban and Johannesburg, with overall responsibilities for production, sales and marketing, finance and corporate services. Before this he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for all operations from production to sales and marketing, and before this was Senior Vice President: Corporate Administration, responsible for corporate finance, IT, human resources, industrial relations, business planning and corporate affairs. Andrew has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, and completed the Programme for Management Development and Executive Leadership at the Harvard Business School in the USA in 1996. He also has a mechanical engineer’s Government Certificate of Competency for mines and works, issued by the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs.

Dr. David Burns, Linde, Germany

Dr. David Burns is Vice President and Head Clean Hydrogen at Linde, Germany. Prior to this, David served as Linde’s Vice President for Hydrogen and Syngas Global Business Development. David joined Linde (formerly Praxair) in 2005 and, since then, has made significant contributions to the development of new business in the hydrogen and energy industries globally. Prior to Linde, David worked at Dow Chemicals, where he held several business management roles. David has a Bachelor of Science and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Leeds in the UK, and an Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas in Austin.

Mr. Andre Wepener, Investec Bank
Andre Wepener is the Head of the Power and Infrastructure Finance team at Investec Bank, based in Johannesburg. The team provides funding solutions for power and infrastructure projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to providing debt financing, they also play the role of developer and equity provider on select projects. Andre has been with Investec Bank for 15 years, and has extensive experience in the origination, structuring and execution of debt transactions within the Corporate and Institutional Banking division. This includes both senior and mezzanine debt funding into the mining, power and infrastructure sectors across the African continent. Andre has worked with a range of clients including large global corporates, mid-tier companies and project developers. Andre is a Chartered Accountant in South Africa, and holds an Honours Degree in Accounting and Taxation.

Attendance

Prior to the webinar at 14h00 on Tuesday 13 April, there were about 2400 online registrations for the webinar. Attendance on the day peaked at about 1300 attendees.

All of the 2400 persons who registered to attend the webinar will receive this report-back, providing links to view the video recording on demand, and to download the presentations.

Further information

For further information, contact:
Chris Yelland, EE Business Intelligence, Email: chris.yelland@ee.co.za

Chris Yelland

Managing director

EE Business Intelligence (Pty) Ltd

41A Waterfall Avenue, Craighall, 2196, Johannesburg

Tel: 082 317-4175; Email: chris.yelland@ee.co.za; Website: www.eebi.co.za