<
https://theconversation.com/south-africas-move-to-green-energy-was-slowed-down-by-government-to-protect-coal-mining-238358>
"South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy was split in two
after the 2024 general elections: Electricity and Energy and Mineral and
Petroleum Resources. Part of the reason was to prevent conflicts of interest.
Before the 2024 elections, the transition to renewable energy was at odds with
the development of the minerals sector, including fossil fuels like coal.
Historically, fossil fuels have played a major role in the South African
economy, with coal-fired power stations supplying 85% of South Africa’s
electricity. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy was part of the
minerals-energy complex – a relationship between mining, energy, the department
and private capital set up in the 1800s. It was integral to the political
economy of South Africa for at least a century. But it also had a negative
side; wealth accumulation in the sector relied on cheap labour performed by
Black mine workers.
From 1998, the mandate of the department was to promote responsible mining in
line with good sustainable development and environmental management. This
meant that as overseer and regulator of the mining industry, the department
was critical to the decarbonisation the South African economy.
By 2021, South Africa committed to raising US$8.5 billion (R161.5 billion) to
transition the country to a low-carbon economy. The Presidential Climate
Commission was established in 2022 to facilitate the energy transition and the
decarbonisation of the economy and to ensure that South Africa met its goal of
reaching net zero by 2050.
The Public Affairs Research Institute spent a few years analysing the
department’s role in the energy transition. There’s been little to no research
about how this critical department actively participates in South Africa’s just
energy transition.
My colleague Waseem Holland and I reviewed the department’s legislation and
policies. We studied the department’s structure and interviewed its officials.
We also interviewed environment and governance non-governmental organisations,
energy experts, a trade union, ministry officials and the Minerals Council (a
mine employer association).
We heard from all of these organisations that the department was in charge of
charting a policy framework for the energy transition. However, it resisted the
transition to renewable energy instead, slowing it down.
The new Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources must open communication
and cooperation with all institutions involved in the energy transition. This
way, everyone will know what to expect from it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
