Dec. 03, 2023
- News
Dubai, UAE, December 3, 2023 – On the sidelines of the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, leading green hydrogen hub developer, CWP Global, and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti have come together to sign a Dubai Joint Declaration on Accelerating CWP’s Green Star Hydrogen Hub project, marking a significant leap forward in the emergence of a new green hydrogen industry in the Horn of Africa.
This initiative aligns with the urgent need globally to decarbonize heavy industries and long-range transport sectors, including maritime shipping. It also follows the recent success of the Djiboutian Government in having successfully commissioned its first utility-scale wind farm, Red Sea Power, and its new membership in the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA).
The Joint Declaration recognizes Djibouti’s abundant wind and solar resources and its strategic commitment to renewable energy, including the objective in its “2035 Vision” Economic Plan to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2035.
This project aims not only to bolster Djibouti’s renewable energy capacity but also to position it as a leader in the green hydrogen and derivatives industry. Highlights of the declaration include a commitment to accelerate development of the Green Star Hydrogen Hub, a project with a 5-10 GW capacity of renewable energy generation, with a focus on producing green hydrogen and derivative green fuels. It highlights immediate priorities for the project´s development, including resource measurement, socio-economic and environmental impact studies, infrastructure planning, and negotiations on core economic terms to ensure project success and bankability. The Dubai Joint Declaration also recognizes that the project will contribute significantly to Djibouti’s economic diversification, providing high-skilled jobs, infrastructural investments, and access to affordable power and water.
Both parties have committed to a review of the progress by April 30, 2024, signaling a strong commitment to the rapid development and implementation of this transformative project.
Speaking at the event, Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yonis Ali Guedi, said that the Republic of Djibouti, with its strong renewable energy potential, was well positioned to become a major player in the world’s fast-growing green hydrogen market:
“Located in the Horn of Africa, at the junction of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, at the entrance to the Bab El Mandeb Strait and at the essential crossroads of several continents – Africa, Asia and Europe – Djibouti enjoys an excellent geostrategic position, on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. It has significant solar and wind power resources, abundant available land and easy access to the sea, all of which are decisive factors for producing green hydrogen at competitive costs,” he said.
He added: “We have a modern transport and logistics infrastructure dedicated to trade, with numerous multi-purpose port facilities capable of exporting the green hydrogen produced to international markets. Through the implementation of this large-scale 5 to 10 Gigawatt green hydrogen development project, we aim to make Djibouti a hub for this fuel of the future and supply green hydrogen to the thousands of ships using the Bab El Mandeb Strait,” he concluded.
Alex Hewitt, CEO of CWP Global – Hydrogen, commented on the partnership, stating: “We are at a pivotal moment in the energy transition journey, not just in Africa, but for the global community. Our collaboration with the Republic of Djibouti in developing the Green Star Hydrogen Hub is more than an energy project; it’s a bold and brave statement of intent, underscoring the strategic role of Djibouti and the African continent in leading the shift towards clean, sustainable energy sources.
By harnessing Djibouti’s exceptional renewable resources, and its strategically important location on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, we are not only creating new opportunities for economic growth and diversification but also unlocking a cascading series of local gains for Djiboutians. This is about reimagining our energy systems, securing energy independence, and positioning Africa at the forefront of the global energy transition.”