By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
President Cyril Ramaphosa has stepped up South Africa’s bid to accelerate its energy transition by courting Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co., a key global player in renewable energy investment.
On the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), Ramaphosa met with Yoshiaka Takemasu, Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Mitsui, to strengthen ties around renewable energy, trade, and broader economic cooperation.
Mitsui already has a strong footprint in South Africa’s green energy landscape, holding a 27.5 percent stake in Mainstream Renewable Power, which manages a 12 gigawatt pipeline of wind and solar projects in the country.
The company recently reached financial close on a 97.5 megawatt solar farm that will supply energy to Sasol and Air Liquide, a milestone seen as critical to South Africa’s decarbonisation and energy security agenda.
During the talks, Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa offers fertile ground for Japanese investment in next-generation fuels, clean energy technologies, and industrial expansion, stressing that partnerships with firms like Mitsui are vital for achieving long-term sustainability and shared economic growth.
Describing Mitsui as a “top-tier sōgō shōsha” with a strong tilt toward decarbonisation solutions, he noted that South Africa’s energy transition aligns closely with Japan’s global strategy to invest in innovative, low-carbon solutions.
At the TICAD9 plenary, held under the theme “Co-creating Innovative Solutions With Africa,” Ramaphosa joined African Union leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and representatives of international organisations for discussions centred on three pillars: sustainable development, trade and investment promotion, and peace and human security.
For Pretoria, the President’s outreach to Mitsui underscores a deliberate strategy to attract long-term investors who can support South Africa’s energy diversification while deepening industrial and trade relations with one of Asia’s strongest economies.
