Name of the Project
Green Methanol Corridor Blueprint Project.

Location
The project is planned for the Vaal Special Economic Zone (SEZ), in Gauteng, South Africa. The Vaal SEZ is being positioned as a hub for the hydrogen economy and low-carbon industrial development in the Vaal region.

Project Owner/s
The project is being developed by Green eFuels Producers, or GeFP, a South African project developer focused on green methanol production and export as part of a broader Green Methanol Corridor initiative. Climate Investor Three, through its affiliate SA-H2 Fund, has signed a development funding agreement with GeFP to support the project’s development. The SA-H2 Fund is managed by Climate Fund Managers in partnership with Invest International.

Project Description
The project entails the development of what is being presented as South Africa’s first wastewater-to-green-methanol production facility. The plant is expected to process about 90 000 t/y of municipal sewage sludge from the Sebokeng Wastewater Treatment Works and convert this waste stream into about 14 300 t/y of green methanol.

The production process will integrate wastewater treatment, renewable energy, electrolysis, carbon capture and methanol synthesis. Renewable energy, including 50 MW of colocated 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.

The project’s technology model is based on a hybrid Power-to-X and Bio-to-X approach, using sewage sludge as a biocarbon feedstock while renewable electricity supports hydrogen production for methanol synthesis.

Once operational, the facility is expected to avoid an estimated 118 950 t/y of CO2- equivalent emissions, although this figure is based on preliminary life-cycle assessment modelling and will still require further technical validation and certification. The project is also expected to return about 50 000 m³/y to 60 000 m³/y of industrial-grade water to the local water utility.

GeFP positions the plant as the first project, or blueprint, for a broader Green Methanol Corridor anchored in the Vaal SEZ and extending into a Gauteng green methanol cluster, with potential links to other production hubs and offtake markets.

The majority of GeFP’s green methanol is expected to target regulated export markets, while the product also has potential use in transport, chemicals, marine fuel and future sustainable aviation fuel value chains.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create up to 300 jobs during construction and 60 permanent operational positions. It is also expected to support a community development programme focused on skills development and socioeconomic upliftment in the Vaal region.

Capital Expenditure
The total capital cost has not been disclosed.

Climate Investor Three/SA-H2 Fund has committed up to $4-million in development funding for technical and engineering design, environmental- and social-impact assessments, permitting and commercial structuring. The agreement also gives the fund the right to participate in equity funding of up to $26-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Financial close is targeted for the second half of 2027. Commercial operations are expected to start in 2029.

Latest Developments
In May 2026, Climate Investor Three, through SA-H2 Fund, signed a development funding agreement with GeFP to advance the project towards financial close.

The investment is described as the first external institutional investment in GeFP and Climate Investor Three/SA-H2’s second development funding investment in South Africa, following its 2025 investment in Hive Hydrogen’s Coega green ammonia project.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
GeFP previously listed African Hydrogen Ventures as a co-investor, IX Engineers as owner’s engineer, FEV Group as system architect, tec4fuels as new fuels expert, EKONAMI as component supplier and PERK as digital integrator for the Green Methanol Corridor initiative. These parties are linked to the broader corridor project, but the latest funding announcement does not confirm whether all remain appointed to the wastewater-to-green-methanol plant specifically.

Contact Details for Project Information
Green eFuels Producers Holdings, email info@gefp-holdings.com.
Climate Fund Managers, tel +31 70 204 52 05 or email info@climatefundmanagers.com.
SA-H2 Fund Managers, tel +27 21 300 5861 or email governance@sa-h2.africa.