Green eFuels Producers receive financial backing for first-of-its-kind wastewater-to-green-methanol plant
Climate Investor Three, through its affiliate SA-H2 Fund, a blended finance facility managed by Climate Fund Managers in partnership with Invest International, has signed a Development Funding Agreement with Green eFuels Producers (GeFP) to support the development of a first-of-its-kind green methanol production facility in Gauteng, South Africa.
The facility will process approximately 90,000 tons of municipal sewage sludge per year sourced from the Sebokeng Wastewater Treatment Works. Renewable energy, including 50 MW of co-located solar power and additional wind power, procured through South Africa’s wheeling framework, will be used to power a 10 MW electrolyser to produce green hydrogen. This will enable the production of approximately 14,300 tons of green methanol annually, creating a circular waste-to-fuel solution. Once operational, the project is expected to avoid approximately 118,950 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions per year, based on projected annual green methanol production volumes and preliminary lifecycle assessment modelling¹. It will also create up to 300 construction jobs and 60 permanent operational roles.
Climate Investor Three/ SA-H2 Fund is a USD 750 million (~12.7 billion ZAR) target blended finance facility focused on energy transition and the green hydrogen value chain in Southern Africa. The fund is managed by Climate Fund Managers, a climate-focused blended finance investment manager operating in emerging markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America, in partnership with Dutch national promotional institution, Invest International. The fund is supported by public and private sector investors, including the European Commission under the EU-South Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, Invest International, South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Sanlam.
The fund has committed up to USD 4 million (~ZAR 65.8 million) in development funding to support project development, including technical and engineering design, environmental and social impact assessments, permitting and commercial structuring required to advance the project towards financial close. The agreement also secures the fund’s right to participate in equity funding for up to USD 26 million (~ZAR 430 million). Financial close is targeted for H2 2027, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2029.
Wastewater treatment facilities generate sewage sludge as a by-product. Managing this material sustainably is a growing challenge for utilities in South Africa. By converting it into green methanol, the project diverts waste from conventional disposal pathways while creating a valuable fuel.
Methanol is a widely used industrial chemical, essential in producing plastics and other materials. While conventional methanol is typically produced from fossil fuels, green methanol is made using renewable energy and sustainable carbon sources such as biogenic waste and captured carbon dioxide. As a result, it is emerging as a low-carbon alternative fuel in sectors such as shipping, power generation and aviation – industries that are difficult to decarbonise.
In addition to producing sustainable fuel, the project will return approximately 50,000-60,000 cubic metres of industrial-grade water annually to the local water utility, reinforcing its circular waste-to-value model and supporting improved water security and resource resilience in the Vaal region. The project will also support a Community Development Programme focused on skills development and socio-economic upliftment in the Vaal region.
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