South Africa: Plan to Phase Out Fossil Fuel by 2030

South Africa has developed a binding directive to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to align energy production with its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with 2030 1.5 0C targets

South Africa is planning to phase-out fossil fuel by 2030 aligning with the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. It intends to exploit the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to move from a coal dependent economy to one based on renewable energy.

South Africa has developed a binding directive to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to align energy production with its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with 1.5 0C targets. This involves an immediate moratorium of all new coal, oil and gas exploration or mining licenses and also cancellation of new coal-fired power plants. In addition South Africa is accelerating the decommissioning of coal-fired plants beyond the IRP 2019 schedule. South Africa It also is targeting the retirement of all inefficient coal power plants by 2030.

South Africa has developed a Just Transition Support for workers and communities. They are re-skilling coal workers in workers in Mpumalanga for the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors. The government has invested in alocalized manufacturing of renewable technologies.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard South Africa Country Manager, Rugare Zhou.

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