South Africa Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Total energy consumption per capita peaked in 2009 at 2.8 toe per capita and then progressively decreased to 2.3 toe in 2015. It remained at the same level until 2019.

Electricity consumption per capita peaked at 4 400 kWh in 2007 before decreasing by 20% to 3 500 kWh in 2019.

Since 2015, total energy consumption has been growing by 1.6%/year to 135 Mtoe in 2019. Previously, over 2010-2015, total consumption decreased by 1.6%/year.

Interactive Chart South Africa Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

Total oil production has been decreasing slightly since 2016 from 5.8 Mt to 5.1 Mt in 2019. It mostly comes from synthetic fuels, as conventional production of crude oil is marginal.

The country imported 19.4 Mt of crude oil, and 5.1 Mt of petroleum products in 2019.

The country has a refining capacity of 560 000 bbl/d, with four refineries: Sapref (180 000 bbl/d), Engen petroleum (165 000 bbl/d), Caltex Oil (110 000 bbl/d), and Natref (105 000 bbl/d).

Interactive Chart South Africa Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

Since 2013, oil consumption has remained relatively stable (25 Mt in 2019).

Transport accounts for 69% of that consumption, followed by industry (18%).

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2019, %)

Interactive Chart South Africa Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Gas consumption has decreased by 4%/year since 2016 to 4.8 bcm. Previously, it rose, despite strong fluctuations, at the average pace of 16%/year between 2004 and 2016.

Gas is mainly used in the energy sector (GTL plant) (61%).

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2019, %)

Interactive Chart South Africa Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

Since 2008, coal consumption has remained in a range of 185-205 Mt (192 Mt in 2019). Approximately 60% of the coal is consumed by power plants.

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2019, %)

Interactive Chart South Africa Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption

Power Consumption

Electricity consumption has been decreasing slightly since 2010, from 214 to 204 TWh.

Industry is the main electricity consumer (56%), followed by the residential sector (19%) and the services sector (14%).

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2019, %)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

The IRP2019 targets the addition of 9.5 GW of wind and 6.5 GW solar capacity by 2030. Wind will account for 15.7% of installed capacity in 2030 and solar for 10.5%.

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) consists of the development of renewables through a bidding system.

In a first phase, it targeted the installation of 3 725 MW in 2016, mostly from wind (1 850 MW) and solar (1 650 MW). The overall target was met (+400 MW for solar and -400 MW for wind).

In a second phase, 3 200 MW were added to the scheme, which was extended until 2020.

Interactive Chart South Africa Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

In its NDC, South Africa is committed to unconditionally keep its GHG emissions between 398 MtCO₂eq and 614 Mt CO₂eq by 2025 and 2030. These efforts will lead GHG emissions to peak between 2020 and 2025, plateau for a ten-year period from 2025 to 2035 and decline from 2036 onwards.

CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion have been growing by 1.1%/year since 2015, reaching 446 MtCO₂ in 2019. They increased quickly from 1990 to 2008 (+71%).