South Africa held talks with Germany on carbon reduction in the steel sector

A series of high-level meetings and workshops were held from 13–17 October as part of South Africa’s efforts to transition its steel industry to low-carbon production. Organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Guidehouse Germany, and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the engagements marked a key milestone in the country’s preparation phase for reducing carbon emissions in the steel sector.

According to UNIDO, the meetings were conducted under the Detailed Project Preparation Phase of the proposed project titled “Accelerating Decarbonisation in South Africa’s Steel Sector”, which is being developed for submission to the Mitigation Action Facility for funding. The project aims to strengthen industrial competitiveness, support South Africa in meeting its climate commitments, and open new export opportunities through a combination of technical assistance, financial mechanism development, and policy support.

Throughout the week, bilateral meetings with policymakers, steel producers, and representatives from across the value chain were held, alongside a multi-stakeholder workshop. Discussions focused on infrastructure readiness for decarbonisation, renewable energy and green hydrogen integration, and the role of policies, regulations, and standards.

The Mitigation Action Facility, supported by the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the European Union, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), aims to promote low-carbon industrial transformation globally.

As a UN agency specialized in industrial development and sustainable growth, UNIDO is providing technical advisory and project coordination support, helping South Africa’s steel industry take a major step toward a greener and more resilient future.