Latest news with #G20EnergyTransitions
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Ramokgopa urges global shift from pledges to execution for Just Energy Transition
The G20 Energy Transitions and clean cooking were topics of discussion for media outlets with Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of the Department of Electricity and Energy. Image: GCIS Minister for Electricity and Energy, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has emphasised the urgent need for a fundamental reconfiguration of the global energy finance architecture. Speaking at the third Energy Transitions Working Group meeting under South Africa's G20 Presidency, he called for a transition from pledges to tangible execution, particularly in light of recent commitments exceeding R1 billion towards the implementation of JET programmes. Ramokgopa asserted that the credibility of the global transition hinges on the timely and effective mobilization of financial resources to where they are most needed. "Finance must become a tool of inclusion, not a barrier to participation. Scaling up climate and energy finance is not only urgent, but also central to closing the infrastructure gap, addressing energy poverty, and driving structural transformation and industrialisation," Ramokgopa said. "We must shift from pledges to execution, from fragmented flows to coordinated and catalytic investment." Ramokgopa underscored the dire necessity to address systemic underinvestment in transmission, distribution, and generation capacity. He advocated for a financing structure that ensures long-term affordability, particularly for vulnerable and energy-poor communities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Central to this strategy is the establishment of de-risking mechanisms aimed at attracting private capital while preserving essential public oversight. Ramokgopa also highlighted the importance of expanding access to concessional and blended finance for early-stage and localised energy projects, prioritising small and medium enterprises in the energy value chain. So far, South Africa has secured pledges totalling up to $12.8 billion from international partners, with over $760 million earmarked for grant funding. Recently, the country entered into a $474m loan agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) along with a €500 million arrangement with the German Cooperation via KFW Development Bank, both crucial for funding the JET initiatives. However, Ramokgopa cautioned that renewable energy sources alone - particularly in regions with variable resources, legacy baseload infrastructure, or limited grid flexibility - were insufficient to satisfy all system requirements. He said for a pragmatic approach, South Africa had to utilise a mix of technologies, which includes Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors and existing fossil assets, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a dispatchable, low-emission baseload option suitable for diverse geographies and carbon removal, and long-duration storage technologies to offset residual emissions and enhance system resilience. Ramokgopa said demand-side and system flexibility tools, including digital technologies, to balance load and optimise system operations also had to be considered. "A technology-inclusive approach ensures that countries can select solutions aligned with their energy mix, infrastructure readiness, and industrial strategy," he said. "It also expands investment options, supports innovation, and avoids prematurely locking out viable low-carbon technologies. The transition must be both ambitious and anchored in the realities of implementation." Ramokgopa's clarion call extends beyond South Africa's borders, urging the G20 to fully and practically implement Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This, he said, requires mobilising adequate and appropriate climate and development finance, modernising grid infrastructure at scale, supporting public-private partnerships to accelerate implementation and enabling context-specific, country-led energy transition pathways that consider national priorities and the global imperative to address climate change. "Each country must retain the right to determine its pathway, based on national priorities, institutional capacity, and existing energy systems. There is no single model. No uniform pace. No imposed prescription," Ramokgopa said. BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Ramokgopa wants to expand South Africa's nuclear programme
Electricity minister said nuclear energy is both reliable and clean. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa wants to revive South Africa's nuclear build programme to improve the country's energy outlook. Speaking to the SABC after attending a G20 Energy Transitions meeting in Cape Town, Ramokgopa said the future of nuclear power is likely to be small modular reactors (SMRs). According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), modular reactors are cheaper, quicker to build, and easier to transport. They also have one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. Ramokgopa on advantages of nuclear energy South Africa has three active nuclear reactors – two at Koeberg, which are used for nuclear power, and one at the Pelindaba nuclear research centre. Ramokgopa said the International Energy Agency (IEA) advises that the world needs to double its nuclear capacity to provide energy in a more sustainable manner. ALSO READ: Nuclear energy: Social catastrophe or the energy of the future? He said there are two advantages of nuclear energy – it's reliable and clean. 'We'll build this technology over time. Unfortunately, we abandoned our pebble bed modular reactor, which was a first-generation of SMR technology.' The electricity minister said South Africa now needs to catch up with other countries that advanced their nuclear technologies. 'The Chinese, the French, the Americans, the South Koreans and the Russians have moved far ahead when in fact, in some instances, we were ahead of them.' Ramokgopa said South Africa can still collaborate with these countries to 'ensure that nuclear power anchors the energy requirements for the country and we are able to achieve energy security'. Watch: Ramokgopa on expanding SA's nuclear programme [WATCH] Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says expanding the country's nuclear programme is critical to economic growth, job creation, and the transition to clean energy. — SABC News (@SABCNews) April 30, 2025 He told the SABC that his department will ask Cabinet to lift South Africa' pebble bed modular reactor from maintenance. He also said his department will get help from the IAEA to get advice on the 'pace and scale' of reviving the country's nuclear build programme. Cost of nuclear energy Though he admitted nuclear reactors are expensive to set up, Ramokgopa said there are benefits in the long run. The electricity minister said the cheapest electricity produced by Eskom's entire fleet comes from Koeberg. 'Over the lifecycle of the nuclear power plant, it works out to be cheaper.' He added that producing nuclear reactors is expensive, but this can be reduced by using SMRs. Plans to build new nuclear power stations In December, government invited bids to build new nuclear power stations in South Africa. The move was, however, criticised by the DA, which said the government's preferred partner was Russia's state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom. A previous nuclear deal with Rosatom was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Cape Town High Court in 2017. The deal, signed during Jacob Zuma's presidency, was reported to be shrouded in secrecy and alleged to involve large-scale corruption. NOW READ: Minister Ramakgopa withdraws nuclear procurement gazette
