India's acting envoy in Johannesburg has proposed establishing a trilateral alliance between India, Japan and South Africa for energy cooperation across Africa. According to reports from NDTV, Acting Indian Consul General Harish Kumar made this proposal during a meeting with a senior delegation from Japanese giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Power. The meeting, held on May 15, focused on exploring practical partnership opportunities in the energy sector. Kumar emphasized that energy has emerged as one of the key pillars of India–South Africa cooperation, noting that South Africa's energy transition must address multiple dimensions including clean energy, reliability, affordability, industrial competitiveness, skills development and social stability.
Kumar emphasized that energy has emerged as one of the key pillars of India–South Africa cooperation, as reported by NDTV. He noted that South Africa's energy transition must address multiple dimensions including clean energy, reliability, affordability, industrial competitiveness, skills development and social stability. The Japanese delegation, led by Hiroshi Matsuda, Chief Regional Officer for Europe, Middle East & Africa at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, highlighted the company's advanced technology and long experience in the energy sector. Matsuda noted that Mitsubishi has advanced technology and long experience in the energy sector, while India has demonstrated strong capabilities in engineering, execution and project implementation. The Japanese delegation, which included Hiroaki Ichihashi, President of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries France, expressed value in exploring cooperation with Indian partners for energy and infrastructure opportunities in Africa.
The meeting discussed potential collaboration across multiple energy sectors, according to NDTV reports. Areas under consideration include reliable power solutions, clean and transitional energy solutions, gas-to-power technologies, emission-control technologies, skilling initiatives, hybrid energy systems, industrial energy requirements and Africa-oriented project partnerships. Naoki Okumura, CEO of Mitsubishi Power Africa, expressed the company's interest in exploring cooperation with Indian partners for energy and infrastructure opportunities in Africa. Kumar outlined that the proposed trilateral model could serve as a practical platform for energy cooperation extending beyond South Africa to the entire African continent.
Kumar outlined that the proposed trilateral model could serve as a practical platform for energy cooperation extending beyond South Africa to the entire African continent. As reported by NDTV, he emphasized the convergence of Japanese technology, Indian execution capability and South Africa's developmental priorities. Kumar stated that "This is precisely the convergence we wish to build upon — Japanese technology, Indian execution capability and South Africa's developmental priorities. Such a trilateral model can become a practical platform for energy cooperation not only in South Africa, but across the African continent." The meeting was attended by key executives including Hiroshi Matsuda, Chief Regional Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; Hiroaki Ichihashi, President, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries France; and Naoki Okumura, CEO, Mitsubishi Power Africa.
