Mobile phone technology enabled Africa to leapfrog fixed-line telephones and revolutionise communication on the continent. Now, hydrogen may do the same, freeing African countries from the imported energy that drains many of their economies.
For sub-Saharan Africa, which is almost entirely dependent on imported petrol and diesel, hydrogen could be the path to energy independence. Currently, even oil producers such as Angola and Nigeria are reliant on imported refined fuels.
“Africa can leapfrog some of the legacy technologies of the West, such as fossil energy,” says Benedikt Sobotka, chief executive of global mining company Eurasian Resources Group.
“For the most part, African resources have gone to benefit the West; a smartphone contains maybe $1 of cobalt but retails for $1,000. Hydrogen is the opportunity for African countries to use their resources for their own benefit.”
Hydrogen is typically harvested from natural gas or water molecules, and split using electricity in a process known as electrolysis. It can be used to generate electricity using a fuel cell to power homes, vehicles and other energy dependent processes.
Because African countries are so dependent on imported fuel, transport costs are among the highest in the world — moving a container in West Africa by road costs more than twice what it would in the US, a study by the Trade Law Centre (Tralac) in Stellenbosch found.
The disparity is even worse for landlocked countries that must transport everything overland. The global average for the cost of transport is about 5 per cent of the value of a containers’ contents. For these countries, however, it is nearly 50 per cent, Tralac found.
Many people in Africa rely on petrol and diesel not just for transport but also to power generators for electricity, says Demetrios Papathanasiou, global director of the World Bank's energy and extractives global practice. The farther away from the coast one moves, the more it costs to transport fuel to where it is needed, he says.
“Moving fuel is very expensive because there are very few pipelines. Instead, it goes by truck, while hydrogen can be produced remotely.”
Hydrogen can be produced almost anywhere, removing the need for long logistical chains. Electricity can be harvested from sunlight through solar panels, from hydro dams or wind farms and used to power the electrolysis process.
“This technology can substantially change Africa quite quickly,” Mr Papathanasiou says. “We are looking to deploy these technologies as fast as possible. It is a way for Africa to develop an entirely new category of equipment that will run on hydrogen.”
Interest in hydrogen energy technology has also soared in Europe, which is currently experiencing an energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Europe is looking at hydrogen with renewed urgency. The World Bank has tracked projects in 12 different countries now, with more on the way.”
The potential for hydrogen exports could well be the kick-start countries need to put in place production facilities that will eventually support their own needs.
Angola for instance, is about to become a supplier to Germany after state-owned energy company Sonangol signed a deal to build a hydrogen plant with the help of German engineering companies.
In the meantime, South Africa has already experimented with running remote villages on hydrogen generators. Some mining companies are also exploring the possibilities of using hydrogen.
We don’t need to go overseas to find the expertise and technology — we can do it right here
Duncan Wanblad,
chief executive, Anglo American
The country has a dedicated “road map” to develop its hydrogen potential, as do Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco and Namibia.
Practical examples of hydrogen use are already beginning to appear. In May, diversified mine company Anglo American launched a prototype fuel-cell-powered lorry, which is capable of carrying nearly 300 tonnes of ore.
“This is a game changer for us,” says Anglo chief executive Duncan Wanblad.
The vehicle is one of the largest in the world and integrating a fuel cell would prove how good the technology is, as well as display South Africa’s support for the concept.
Fuel cells and hydrogen will help Anglo to eliminate more than 80 per cent of its diesel emissions at various mines around the world, Mr Wanblad says.
The company operates large copper, platinum and other mineral deposits in South Africa, Australia and South America.
“We don’t need to go overseas to find the expertise and technology — we can do it right here. We managed to build and develop this vehicle right here, in Limpopo province, in South Africa.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier
ICC Academy, November 22-28
UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal
ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan
UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman
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The Bio
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
Results
5pm: Warsan Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Dhaw Al Reef, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Quadra Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mrouwah Al Gharbia, Sando Paiva, Abubakar Daud
6pm: Hatta Lake – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Yatroq, George Buckell, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adries de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Zakher Lake – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Alfareeq, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
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Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Cartlow: $13.4m
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imVentures: $100m
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
