Name of the Project
e-methanol plant.

Location
Humansdorp, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Earth and Wire, ENERTRAG South Africa and 24 Solutions.

Project Description
The project entails the development of a greenfield facility to manufacture zero-carbon e-methanol for sale locally and for export, and will exploit South Africa’s superior solar and wind resources to produce green hydrogen.

The project is also in line with government’s ambition to position South Africa as a leading global producer of green hydrogen and green hydrogen derivatives.

The proposed 120 000 t/y facility will produce e-methanol by combining green hydrogen, produced through a 120 MW electrolyser using renewable electricity and desalinated seawater, with a synthesis gas, derived from a mixed feed­stock of locally sourced biomass and unrecyclable municipal solid waste fed into a gasifier.

Typically, methanol has been produced using fossil fuels.

About 150 MW of wind and 150 MW of solar will be required, with all the electricity produced fully committed to the 120 MW electrolyser, desalination and e-methanol plants.

A 110 000-m³-a-year desalination plant will be required to provide water for the facility, but the consortium is exploring the option of scaling up the facility to provide potable water for local communities, in partnership with the local municipality.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
No cost estimates have been provided.

Planned Start/End Date
If proved commercially viable, construction could start in 2025 and production in 2027.

Latest Developments
Feasibility studies are still under way.

The consortium is funding the feasibility study and will take up its rights to invest if it is found to be viable.

However, it will also seek funding from other investors, including development finance institutions.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ENERTRAG South Africa, tel +27 21207 2185 or email info@enertrag.co.za.