South Africa’s hydrogen strategy increasingly extends beyond exporting green hydrogen toward developing domestic technology and manufacturing capabilities. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande emphasized the connection between critical mineral beneficiation and hydrogen technology development. This emphasis on value addition reflects a recurring theme in South Africa’s hydrogen policy. Developing domestic engineering capabilities could allow South Africa to capture a larger share of the hydrogen value chain. Testing locally developed electrolyzer technology at its research facilities provides an opportunity to evaluate future production pathways while supporting domestic technology development.