The South African government has officially endorsed the US$8.5bn Just Energy Transition Partnership Plan (JETP-IP), which proposes the closure and repurposing of coal-fired power plants owned and operated by the national power utility Eskom. The deal, which is backed by France, Germany, the US, the UK and the European Union, will also include measures to expand South Africa’s transmission grid. It will promote sustainable development, and ensure a just transition for affected workers and communities.
Eskom produces around 85% of the electricity consumed in South Africa, with a nominal capacity of 51 GW (2020). Eskom owns and operates 15 coal power plants with a capacity of 43.8 GW (with three 4 GW power plants: Kendal, Majuba, and Matimba). The company, which plans to close 8 to 12 GW of coal-fired capacity over the next decade, intends to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The country’s installed capacity stood at 54 GW at end-2021, with 67% of coal. The share of coal in South Africa’s power mix reached 87% in 2021.
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