Germany plans to set up a production and import chain for renewable hydrogen in a joint project with Western African countries, news agency Reuters reports. “Green hydrogen is tomorrow’s oil and offers huge opportunities,” research minister Anja Karliczek said after a meeting with her colleague from Niger, Yahouza Sadissou. Germany wants to use green gas to decarbonise its transport and industry, and is looking for partnerships with other countries where large-scale renewable hydrogen production is cheaper thanks to lower population densities and better solar and wind power conditions.

Karliczek said 15 states will be surveyed for suitable production locations, and added that her ministry will invest 30 million euros in a so-called “potential map” to pave the way for “true cooperation” with African partner countries. Niger’s research minister Sadissou said West Africa’s renewable power production potential would primarily be used to supply countries in the region with clean electricity, but that green gas exports are also a goal for the government.