The HyAfrica project titled “Towards a next generation renewable energy source – a natural hydrogen solution for power supply in Africa” focuses on Morocco, Togo, South Africa and Mozambique. The South African branch of the consortium, funded by the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), has the additional mandate of capacity development of students in STEM-related fields. The work performed in South Africa at the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo involves the training of students in hydrogen exploration during their Honours (4th year) and Master’s studies.
Since 2023, four MSc Geology projects focused on a range of topics from soil gas chemistry and local and regional geological structures and their relationship to the occurrences of shallow depressions (pans) and elevated levels of natural hydrogen in the Mpumalanga district. During 2023 and 2024, eight Honours projects focused on different aspects of this research question. This trend of student involvement continues in 2025, with the initiation of one additional Master’s project and six new Honours projects. We are also in the process of submitting papers for peer-reviewed publications stemming from these honours and Master’s projects. A breakdown of the students and their respective projects is provided below.
University of Limpopo
2023-current
- NP Kotsedi, MSc (Geology), Geological Control of Native Hydrogen Gas Occurrences in the Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
- T Mokobodi, MSc (Geology), Geological Mapping and Investigation of Natural Hydrogen Gas Potential in the Nkangala and Gert Sibande Districts, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
University of Pretoria Honours students
2023 – 2024
- S Huggins, BSc (Hons) Geology, Investigating the natural hydrogen distribution across sub-circular depressions in Mpumalanga, South Africa
- BH Masetlha, BSc (Hons) Geology, Exploring a link between background hydrogen level and distance from the pan
- D Bekker, BSc (Hons) Geology, On temporal variation in hydrogen flux from pans with a particular focus on temperature and the tidal effects of a new moon in Mpumalanga, South Africa
- LNM Mokwate, BSc (Hons) Geology, Investigating the controls on pan distribution to the south of the pan field in Mpumalanga, South Africa
- L Mani, BSc (Hons) Geology, Investigating the relationship between natural hydrogen gas and radon gas across pans in Mpumalanga, South Africa
- S Mabude, BSc (Hons) Geology, Exploring the impact of moon-induced neap tides on hydrogen concentration around a hydrogen-bearing pan
- V Boshego, BSc (Hons) Geology, Exploring the relationship on the northern edge of the Mpumalanga pan field between pans and underlying stratigraphy
- CJ Botha, BSc (Hons) Mathematical Statistics, Quantifying the directional relationship between natural hydrogen depressions and fault lines in Mpumalanga, South Africa
University of Pretoria Master’s students
2023 – current.
- N Gumede, MSc (Geology), Soil Gas Geochemistry of Natural Hydrogen and Gas Emissions in the Mpumalanga Highveld Pans, South Africa
- S Huggins, MSc (Geology), An Examination into Local Geologies of Sub-circular Depressions across the Province of Mpumalanga, South Africa.
- CJ Botha, BSc (Hons) Mathematical Statistics, Continuation of Hons project.
MSc students Huggins and Gumede are comparing measurements of hydrogen and radon on the edge of a dried-up pan.
The group of 2024 Honours students taking hydrogen readings at a municipal pan in Mpumalanga.
