South Africa’s newly appointed Energy Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has pledged to accelerate the country’s transition from coal to renewable energy.
This marks a significant departure from his predecessor, Gwede Mantashe, who favored continuing coal usage.
Ramokgopa, who now heads the newly-formed Energy and Electricity Ministry, made these statements as South Africa celebrated over 100 days without power cuts, a significant achievement amid years of blackouts.
“I am going to be ultra-aggressive on renewable energy. You are going to see an exponential share,” Ramokgopa announced at a press conference in Pretoria, aiming to signal to investors the government’s commitment to this path.
South Africa, heavily reliant on coal-fired power stations managed by state provider Eskom, is among the world’s top 15 greenhouse gas emitters, with higher carbon intensity than any other G20 country.
Ramokgopa aims to position South Africa as a leader in renewable energy on the continent.
This is a sharp contrast to the stance of Mantashe, who had urged caution against the rapid adoption of green energy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent cabinet reshuffle, which separated energy from the mining portfolio and combined it with the electricity ministry, is seen as a strategic move to pivot away from coal dependency.
Despite South Africa’s vast potential for renewable energy, policy uncertainty has hindered investment.
Last year’s government decision to delay decommissioning several coal-fired power stations, citing energy security, was met with criticism from environmental activists.
Ramokgopa acknowledged the delay in transitioning to green energy and emphasized his focus on engaging with business leaders to address obstacles that have dampened their investment enthusiasm.
