South Africa’s Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation

This 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the tensions between South Africa's reliance on coal for energy security and its commitments to climate change mitigation. It analyzes the dominance of the state utility Eskom, the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and the potential for regional energy cooperation within Southern Africa to diversify the electricity supply mix.

• South Africa is the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in Africa, accounting for 39 percent of the continent's emissions. This is primarily due to its large industrial base and a heavy dependency on coal, which generates 90 percent of the country's electricity.
• The state-owned utility Eskom dominates the energy sector, generating approximately 96 percent of South Africa's electricity. This monopoly is identified as a significant barrier to the development of a renewable energy market, as Eskom's infrastructure plans prioritize coal and nuclear power over renewables.
• South Africa's energy security is precarious due to a reserve margin below the comfortable band of 15 to 19 percent. To address capacity shortages, Eskom is constructing two new coal-fired stations, Medupi and Kusile, with capacities of 4,788 MW and 4,800 MW respectively.
• The Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) plan outlines a 'required by science' scenario to reduce GHG emissions by 30–40 percent from 2003 levels by 2050. This strategy includes a proposed moratorium on new coal power plants to ensure only 4 Gw of coal-generated capacity remains by 2040, replaced by 25 Gw of nuclear and 118 Gw of renewable sources.
• There is a significant lack of coordination between South African government departments regarding energy and climate policy. While the LTMS suggests a move away from coal, the Department of Energy appointed Eskom as the national energy planner for the National Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP), which continues to prioritize coal expansion.
• To incentivize clean energy, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) introduced the Renewable energy feed-in tariff (REFIT) in March 2009. However, its effectiveness is hindered by low tariffs and a conflict of interest, as Eskom is the designated buyer of power from its competitors.
• The National Energy Act No. 34 of 2008 provides a legal framework for clean energy investment and mandates the creation of an annual integrated energy plan. It also established the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) to consolidate energy data.
• Regional cooperation through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) offers a viable path to diversify South Africa's energy mix. Significant potential exists in hydroelectricity from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically the Grand Inga Dam, which could produce over 40,000 MW.
• The transition from a 'cooperative pool' to a 'competitive pool' in regional electricity trade is underway with the establishment of the Short Term Energy Market (STEM). This allows for the trading of surplus electricity on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, though it remains constrained by long-term bilateral agreements.

APA

Kiratu, S. (2010). South Africa’s Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/south_africa_energy_climate.pdf

Chicago

Kiratu, Sheila. South Africa’s Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/south_africa_energy_climate.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kiratu |first1=Sheila |title=South Africa’s Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/south_africa_energy_climate.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kiratu2010south, author = {Kiratu, Sheila}, title = {{South Africa’s Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/south_africa_energy_climate.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }