Republic of South Africa Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande remarks after the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC): Bilateral meeting with the Minister of Economic, Trade and Industry of Japan, Mr Yasutoshi Nishimura
I appreciate and acceptsthe proposal from Japan on the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with South Africa. This reflects the continued growth relationship between South Africa and Japan.
1. The Memorandum of Cooperation will enable South Africa and Japan to open discussions on the inbound technology transfer to South Africa of Japanese technologies towards assisting South African to decarbonize industries that are hard to abate in their emissions.
2. The Memorandum of Cooperation will create an environment that will allow South Africa and Japan to discuss different potential demonstration projects in hydrogen and ammonia.
3. The Memorandum of Cooperation will create opportunities for collaboration in the commercialisation of locally developed intellectual property (IP) between South Africa and Japan, leading to IP convergence and IP licensing opportunities in both ways.
4. The Memorandum of Cooperation will provide both South Africa and Japan to explore opportunities and partnerships in the training of critical and technical skills development in the hydrogen economy.
5. South Africa has successful demonstrated Carbon Capture and Use technologies at a Cement Plan. Including the conversion of captured Carbon Dioxide from flue gas into fertilizer salt using ammonia. And South Africa will use the Memorandum of Cooperation to increase commercial partnerships with Japan in the Carbon Capture and Use technologies.
6. South Africa is the current Chair of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell in the Economy (IPHE)
6.1. Looking forward to collaborating with Japan on the development of standards of hydrogen production and transportation, regulatory frameworks, and cooperation in certifications.
6.2. South Africa and Japan enjoy a long-standing bilateral relationship since the singing of a Science and Technology Agreement in 2003. Through the bilateral relationship both countries also have a Science and Technology Research Partnership Sustainable Development Programme (SATREPS) that is focusing on Green Ammonia Synthesis project. We look forward to generating join IP that will increase our partnership.
I thank you very much.
