South Africa Key Figures
- Population:
- 60.1 million
- GDP growth rate:
- 4.92 %/year
- Energy independence:
- 100%
Data of the last year available: 2021
- Total consumption/GDP:*
- 61.2 (2005=100)
- CO2 Emissions:
- 7.44 tCO2/capita
- Rate of T&D power losses:
- 10.1%
* 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
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Total Energy Consumption
Total energy consumption per capita peaked in 2008 at 2.9 toe per capita and then progressively decreased to 2.2 toe in 2021 (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 3 400 kWh in 2021 (around 10 times the sub-Saharan average).
Total energy consumption has been decreasing by 1.7%/year since 2017. It had previously been stable over 2010-2016.
Interactive Chart South Africa Total Energy Consumption
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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 rapidly since 2016 from 5.6 Mt to 4 to 3.4 Mt in 2021 (-40%). It mostly comes from synthetic fuels, as conventional production of crude oil is marginal.
The country imported 10 Mt of crude oil in 2021 (-26%) and 15 Mt of oil products (net imports).
The refining capacity has decreased by 60% to 208 kb/d with the closure of 2 refineries, because of international competition and increased national regulation on sulfur content. Only remains Natref (108 kb/d) and Astron Energy 100 kb/d, which is presently off but scheduled to restart.
Interactive Chart South Africa Crude Oil Production
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Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Oil Products Consumption
Oil consumption rebounded by 2% in 2021 after a drop by 14% in 2020; before that it remained roughly stable at around 35 Mt between 2011 and 2019.
Transport accounts for 49% of that consumption, followed by industry (including non-energy uses) with 24%, hydrocarbon sector (17%) and residential-services-agriculture (10%).
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)
Interactive Chart South Africa Refined Oil Products Production
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Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Natural Gas Consumption
Gas consumption has been stable between 2015 and 2020 but increased by 7% in 2021 to 5.5 bcm. Previously, it rose with strong fluctuations, at the average pace of 8%/year between 2000 and 2015.
Gas is mainly used to produce fuels in the gas-to-liquids plant (58%) and in industry (41%).
Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)
Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)
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 decreased slightly (-1%) in 2021 to 172 Mt, after a 12% drop in 2020. This represents the lowest consumption since 2003. Between 2008 and 2019, coal consumption fluctuated around 190 Mt.
Power generation absorbed 65% of the coal consumed in 2021, followed by coal transformation (23%), industry (9%) and residential and services sectors (3%).
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)
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 rebounded by 2% to 206 TWh in 2021, after decreasing by 6% in 2020. It remained stable between 2005 and 2019, fluctuating between 204 and 220 TWh.
Industry is the main electricity consumer (50%), followed by the residential sector (23%) and services (18%).
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)
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 16% of installed capacity in 2030 and solar for 11%.
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
CO2 Fuel Combustion/CO2 Emissions
In its updated NDC, South Africa aims to limit GHG emissions to 398-510 MtCO2eq in 2025 and to 350-420 MtCO2eq in 2030 (aligned with respectively 1.5 and 2 degrees of global warming). The upper end of the 2030 target has been reduced by 32% compared to the first NDC (2015).
CO2 emissions from fuel combustion increased by 7% in 2021 to 419 MtCO2, 76% above the 1990 level, due to an economic rebound after the 11% emission drop in 2020 with the COVID 19 pandemic crisis. They had previously increased quickly from 2000 to a peak of 440 Mt in 2014 (+3%/year) and again in 2019.