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A major industrial development is quietly advancing in South Africa’s Western Cape, threatening one of the country’s most ecologically sensitive areas. The proposed site near Hopefield, close to Saldanha Bay, would host a green hydrogen and synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) facility, supported by solar panels, battery storage, and a biomass boiler to produce CO₂ for the process. Dr James Myburgh, speaking on the Talking Sense podcast, warned that it represents “an impending ecological disaster coming to the Western Cape … moving suspiciously quickly through its licensing phases.” He highlighted that multiple environmental applications have already been submitted, signalling the start of a massive synthetic chemicals and refinery plant: “There were various environmental applications going through the system for what is essentially going to be a huge synthetic chemicals refinery plant in Hopefield.”

Hopefield sits atop two major sand dune aquifers, feeding both Saldanha Bay and the Langebaan Lagoon, while sustaining wetlands recognised internationally. These aquifers are vital for water supply and support the region’s fynbos ecosystem, which underpins both biodiversity and local livelihoods such as fynbos honey production and floral tourism. As Myburgh explains, “Hopefield is in the sort of pristine West Coast environment. It essentially sits on the sand dunes that feed the aquifer. Two aquifers, one that goes into Langebaan, which provides water for Saldanha Bay, and the other ,which goes into the Langebaan Lagoon, where it provides the fresh water for the very delicate ecosystem and salt marshes on the southern side of the Langebaan Lagoon.” The Langebaan Lagoon also supports the Geelbek wetlands, which Myburgh notes are a “wetland of international importance. This is an incredibly delicate sensitive ecosystem”.

The planned facility is enormous. The facility would include a biomass boiler to generate CO₂ by burning wood chips and agricultural byproducts, battery storage systems for renewable electricity, and thousands of hectares of solar panels surrounding the plant. Myburgh emphasised the scale, noting, “Surrounding the whole plant, you're going to have 3 000 hectares of solar panels.” (3 000 hectares is equivalent to about 3 000 rugby fields.) Approximately 70% of the site overlaps a Critical Biodiversity Area, underscoring the potential environmental impact.

The facility’s location atop sandy aquifers creates high environmental and safety risks. Any wastewater leak or accidental spill could contaminate groundwater, damaging both the Langebaan Lagoon and the Berg River estuary. Myburgh highlighted this hazard: “If there's any kind of wastewater that gets out or there's an accident in the plant and there's a spillage, then that goes straight down into the aquifer. So it would then destroy the ecosystem of the Langebaan Lagoon. The surface runoff would then go into the Berg River estuary. So that's two of your most important bird sites in the world [at risk].” Additional hazards arise from flare stacks, tall chimneys designed to safely burn off excess gases during chemical processing, and from the chemical processing units themselves, which handle high-pressure reactions and hazardous substances. Myburgh notes these structures are “viewable in this most pristine environment … from miles and miles around.”

Water demand is significant. The plant is expected to operate 24/7 over a 25-year lifespan, drawing water either from municipal supply or treated wastewater from Saldanha Bay.

The project is largely driven by European Union (EU) mandates for sustainable aviation fuel, leveraging the West Coast’s solar and wind resources. As Myburgh explains, “Europe has set these crazy mandates for synthetic aviation fuel. It's cheap to make it on the West Coast because it has lots of wind and it has lots of sunshine. The Western Cape government appears to have completely bought into that.” Yet he notes the local economic benefits are limited, since much of the construction material, including solar panels, will be imported, while land clearance threatens tourism. “Once these things have been manufactured and are in place, you've paid people to clear the fynbos away … and then on top of that, the risks are just unbelievable,” he said. He frames the project as a “phony industry”, saying “You are not building a real industry. It's a phony industry based on essentially the sort of utopian net-zero kind of objectives in the West.”

Effectively the EU is outsourcing its environmental problems to other countries.

Myburgh stresses the long-term ecological risk, emphasising that “if there is one single disaster in the entire lifetime of that plant, it will destroy two of the most precious ecosystems on Earth”.

The Draft Scoping Report confirms the site overlaps Critical Biodiversity Areas, sensitive aquifers, and wetlands, while the industrial footprint from solar and battery installations further strains the fynbos landscape.

Beyond ecological consequences, the project threatens local economic activities. Tourism and small businesses in nearby towns, such as Langebaan, rely on access to natural landscapes and the lagoon. Myburgh explains, “Once these things have been in place … you've destroyed part of the Western Cape’s natural beauty, which brings in tourists. That is the main job creator. So you can create this sort of industrial Sasolburg by the sea, but at the expense of making it an unappealing place for people to come and visit.”

While the Hopefield eSAF project may satisfy EU targets, the environmental cost is immense. As Myburgh concludes, “This is an incredibly delicate sensitive ecosystem… and this is the place that seems to have been chosen for a massive synthetic fuel plant.”