Gwede Mantashe, the Energy Minister of South Africa, has emphasized that expecting a swift transition away from coal-fired power generation in favor of clean energy would be misguided.
He stated that South Africa will need to rely on coal for a longer duration to address its current electricity shortage.
South Africa’s Energy Minister Affirms Continued Reliance on Coal Amid Transition Debate
Mantashe’s remarks reiterate his stance on the crucial role of coal in the country’s energy mix, even as wealthy nations seek to invest in technologies aimed at decarbonizing South Africa.
He argued that clean-energy technologies dependent on intermittent factors like sunlight or wind are less dependable compared to coal plants, which can operate continuously.
“Coal is going to be around for a long time; for a longer time than many people expect it will be,” he said.
In an interview, Mantashe expressed skepticism about the feasibility of completely abandoning coal in favor of renewables, terming it a “technical mistake.”
South Africa’s state-owned utility, Eskom, has been grappling with power supply challenges primarily due to the unreliability of its coal-fired plants, resulting in frequent load shedding.
Significance of Coal in South Africa’s Energy Landscape
Mantashe highlighted the government’s efforts to improve the energy availability factor of these plants, aiming to eventually eliminate power cuts.
Despite acknowledging mistakes made by the ruling ANC party in the energy sector over the past three decades, particularly concerning delays in building new power plants and flawed design choices, Mantashe emphasized the enduring significance of coal in South Africa’s energy landscape.
Projects like Eskom’s Medupi and Kusile stations, which faced construction delays and cost overruns, are still undergoing rectification efforts.
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