Transnet and the French Development Agency (AFD), with support of the European Union (EU), announce a key partnership to decarbonise South Africa's state-owned ports and railway operator

South Africa’s state-owned logistics company, Transnet, and France, through the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate Transnet’s transition towards net-zero emissions. 

The agreement was signed in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

A €300 million loan

Transnet, which manages South Africa’s rail, port, and pipeline infrastructure, has set ambitious decarbonisation and corporate sustainability goals, and AFD is proposing a €300 million (R6 billion) loan in support of those objectives.

“The funding package from AFD will assist us in revitalising our infrastructure while supporting the clean energy initiatives under the capital investment programme. In addition, this initiative will contribute significantly to supporting Transnet’s decarbonisation journey while actively exploring the company’s strategic role and potential opportunities within the green hydrogen value chain,” said Transnet Group’s Chief Executive, Michelle Phillips.

As a sustainability-linked loan, disbursements will be tied to progress on strategic targets. These include diversifying into transition minerals and increasing the use and purchase of 300 GWh of renewable electricity per year — equivalent to 20 percent of Transnet’s electricity needs.

A shift from road transport to rail

The French contribution will also aim to promote a shift from road transport to rail, including the rehabilitation of 550 km of railway. It will support the modernization of port infrastructure, strengthening service quality, reliability, competitiveness, and overall attractiveness across Transnet’s network.

“Within the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), South Africa, France, and our European partners are working together to decarbonise the South African productive sectors. With Transnet, we are strengthening our commitment to achieving the collective objectives set out in the Paris Agreement on Climate. Our collaboration seeks to enable Transnet to pursue opportunities that will emerge from the green hydrogen economy, modernize its operations, and reduce its environmental footprint,” said Rémy Rioux, AFD’s CEO.

This prospective AFD loan to Transnet forms part of France’s contribution to JETP, which AFD has been implementing since 2021, and fulfils France’s €1 billion commitment announced at COP26 in support of South Africa’s just energy transition.

Complementing the loan, the EU is also providing a €7 million (R140 million) grant. Delegated to AFD, the funding will assist Transnet in advancing its green hydrogen strategy—a cornerstone of its decarbonisation pathway—across key sectors including ports, rail, pipelines, and facilities.

Accelerate the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen initiative

The funding will support key studies, impact assessments, pilot projects, and technical assistance that will refine Transnet’s green hydrogen roadmap and accelerate the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen initiatives across South Africa.

“Through our investment strategy, Global Gateway, the EU is supporting concrete investments in South Africa’s green hydrogen economy—investments that cut emissions and create high-quality jobs. With its central role in rail, ports, and pipelines, Transnet is essential to building a credible and scalable hydrogen ecosystem. This partnership will help deliver the expertise and infrastructure needed for South Africa’s 2050 net-zero goals,” said Jozef Síkela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships.