South Africa Energy Information
South Africa Key Figures
GDP growth rate: -7.2 %/year
Energy independence: 100%
Data of the last year available: 2020
CO2 Emissions: 6.64 tCO2/capita
Rate of T&D power losses: 9.82%
* at purchasing power parity
View all macro and energy indicators in the South Africa energy report
South Africa Related News
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South Africa Related Research
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
A data overview is available in the global energy statistics app
Total Energy Consumption
Total energy consumption per capita peaked in 2008 at 2.9 toe per capita and then progressively decreased to 2.1 toe in 2020 (nearly 4 times the average energy consumption per capita in sub-Saharan Africa). Electricity consumption per capita peaked at 4 500 kWh in 2007 before decreasing to 3 500 kWh in 2020 (around 10 times the sub-Saharan average).
Total energy consumption, which decreased by 2.6%/year between 2017 and 2019, contracted by 4% in 2020 to 124 Mtoe, due the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the economy.
Interactive Chart South Africa Total Energy Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
View the detailed fondamentals of the market at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the South Africa energy report
Crude Oil Production
Total oil production has been decreasing slightly since 2016 from 5.6 Mt to 4.9 Mt in 2020. It mostly comes from synthetic fuels, as conventional production of crude oil is marginal.
The country imported 14 Mt of crude oil (-18% on 2019), and 7.6 Mt of oil products in 2020 (net imports).
Interactive Chart South Africa Crude Oil Production
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Oil Products Consumption
Oil consumption, which remained roughly stable at around 26 Mt between 2013 and 2019, fell by 16% in 2020 to less than 23 Mt.
Transport accounts for 66% of that consumption, followed by industry (including non-energy uses) with 20% and residential-services-agriculture with 10%.
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Interactive Chart South Africa Refined Oil Products Production
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Natural Gas Consumption
Gas consumption has decreased by 2.6%/year since 2016 to 4.8 bcm in 2020 (0.7% decline in 2020 alone). Previously, it rose, despite strong fluctuations, at the average pace of 4%/year between 2004 and 2016.
Gas is mainly used to produce fuels in the gas-to-liquids plant (52%) and in industry (47%).
Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)
Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Interactive Chart South Africa Natural Gas Domestic Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on the LNG trade, you can request a sample of our EMEA LNG Trade Dataset
Coal Consumption
Coal consumption, which averaged 191 Mt between 2008 and 2018, has been falling since then (-5.8% in 2019 and -4.2% in 2020), down to 169 Mt, compared to a reduced coal-fired power generation. In 2020, 66% of the coal was consumed by power plants and 21% by the industrial segment (including non-energy uses).
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Interactive Chart South Africa Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
View the detailed consumption trends at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the South Africa energy report
Power Consumption
Electricity consumption remained stable between 2016 and 2019 at around 240 TWh, before decreasing by 4.8% to 208 TWh in 2020.
Industry is the main electricity consumer (48%), followed by the residential sector (24%) and the services sector (17%).
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Renewable in % Electricity Production
The IRP2019 targets the addition of 16 GW of wind and solar by 2030 in relation to 2018, made up of 9.5 GW of wind and 6.5 GW of solar. Wind should account for 15.7% of installed capacity in 2030 and solar for 10.5%.
Interactive Chart South Africa Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Learn more about renewables in the Mini grid Africa & Asia markets for village electrification
CO2 Fuel Combustion/CO2 Emissions
In March 2021, South Africa released its updated draft Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) for public consultation. It aims to limit GHG emissions to 398-510 MtCO2eq in 2025 and to 398-440 MtCO2eq in 2030, while the first NDC initially aimed to limit emissions to 398-614 MtCO2eq in 2025-2030 (reduction in the upper end of the target by 17% for 2025 and by 28% for 2030).
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