Coal can stay if emissions are managed - Ramokgopa

The minister’s comments come as South Africa faces pressure to move away from coal, which is still responsible for generating over 80% of the country’s electricity.

Eskom’s ageing coal-fired stations are a major contributor to load shedding and greenhouse gas emissions.

Briefing the media on the state of Eskom systems ahead of the winter months, Ramokgopa challenged the perception that South Africa’s reliance on coal is incompatible with its climate commitments.

He argued that, with the right technology, coal can continue to contribute to the country’s energy mix without undermining environmental goals.

"We are not sitting with a coal problem, we are sitting with an emissions problem. South Africa’s nationally determined contributions speak to the reduction of greenhouse gases, not the removal of coal.

"So, if we have access to technologies that reduce emissions like sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides, then there's no issue with coal itself.

"Take Japan, for example. They’re co-firing coal with ammonia, and the result is that their emissions are significantly lower than our own minimum standards.

"We’ve also seen, during a recent visit to China, that the retrofitting technology they use for coal plants achieves major reductions in emissions. If we apply that here, we can meet or even exceed our own environmental obligations," he said.

"So, if we're talking about extending the life of a coal-fired power station, it has to be done responsibly, with emissions in check and environmental obligations upheld.

“It’s not a laissez-faire approach where we do as we wish. We owe it to the environment and to the communities living near these stations to act responsibly.

“At the same time, this is not an either-or debate between coal and renewables. We’re focused on additionality, an accelerated, exponential increase in renewable energy generation while maintaining a stable baseload.

"The key is to ensure that the profile of that baseload aligns with our climate commitments. That’s how we achieve both energy security and sustainability."

Environmental groups remain cautious, saying coal still harms the planet no matter how it’s packaged.

 But with the Just Energy Transition underway, the government insists it’s balancing energy reliability with environmental responsibility.

Meanwhile, the United States has officially withdrawn from the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This follows a decision by US President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order revoking the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan introduced under the Biden administration.

Trump also announced that the US will terminate its membership in the International Partners Group for the Just Energy Transition Partnerships.

 The move means the US is pulling its financial commitments, including $56 million in grants previously pledged to South Africa.

Several grant projects, either in the planning or early implementation stages, have now been cancelled.

The Just Energy Transition Partnerships were designed to help coal-dependent countries reduce their environmental impact while safeguarding energy security.

While acknowledging the US’s decision, South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to international climate agreements, including those made at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference.

The South African government, together with its remaining international partners, will now assess the potential implications of Washington’s withdrawal on future climate initiatives.

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