BRICS — energy cooperation: why Russia and South Africa still need each other

This research paper examines the energy cooperation between Russia and South Africa within the BRICS framework, analyzing Russia's strategic pivot toward emerging markets and South Africa's shift from a failed large-scale nuclear deal toward renewable energy projects.

• The BRICS nations are projected to represent 45% of global energy production and consumption by 2040, according to the Analytical Centre of the Government of the Russian Federation.
• Russia is implementing a diversification strategy to reduce economic vulnerability to global energy commodity markets, as petroleum and gas made up over 50% of its exports in 2016. This strategy includes the 'Povorot na Vostok' (Pivot to the East) to build closer ties with BRICS and African markets, and the 'tochki rosta' (points of growth) approach to use infrastructure projects, such as the 3,000km Power of Siberia Pipeline, to drive regional development.
• A proposed $76-billion nuclear energy deal between Russia and South Africa was abandoned after being declared unlawful and unconstitutional by the Western Cape High Court in April 2017. Under President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa shifted its policy away from nuclear energy toward renewable projects.
• Despite the failed nuclear deal, Russia and South Africa continue to cooperate on energy. In January 2018, the Russian state energy company Rosatom and the South African government agreed to build small hydropower plants in Mpumalanga to provide electricity to rural areas, with each plant expected to power between 250 and 400 houses.
• The failed nuclear agreement provides three primary lessons for future energy cooperation: the need to align large-scale projects with the economic size and priorities of the involved countries, the necessity of monitoring policy changes following government transitions, and the importance of conducting due diligence before entering negotiations.

APA

Chkoniya, A.-M. (2019). BRICS — energy cooperation: why Russia and South Africa still need each other. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/research/brics-energy-cooperation-why-russia-and-south-africa-still-need-each-other/

Chicago

Chkoniya, Anna-Maria. BRICS — energy cooperation: why Russia and South Africa still need each other. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2019. https://saiia.org.za/research/brics-energy-cooperation-why-russia-and-south-africa-still-need-each-other/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chkoniya |first1=Anna-Maria |title=BRICS — energy cooperation: why Russia and South Africa still need each other |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=27 February 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/brics-energy-cooperation-why-russia-and-south-africa-still-need-each-other/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chkoniya2019brics, author = {Chkoniya, Anna-Maria}, title = {{BRICS — energy cooperation: why Russia and South Africa still need each other}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/brics-energy-cooperation-why-russia-and-south-africa-still-need-each-other/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }