Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramakgopa stated that South Africa is moving quickly to complete plans for 3 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired power generation in order to assist close an energy deficit that is negatively impacting the country's economy. Due to frequent malfunctions at the old coal-fired power plants owned by state power provider Eskom, Africa's most developed economy experiences daily power outages. According to officials, up to 6 GW of additional generating capacity is needed to put an end to rolling blackouts.
A 2 GW mobile facility and a 1 GW plant close to Coega in the Eastern Cape are two of the government's ambitions to boost generation, according to Ramakgopa, who also stated that the projects were currently in the procurement stage. "The 3,000 megawatts of gas is one of the items getting priority. As you are aware, gas emits fewer emissions than coal, so it's critical that we move quickly to replace coal'.
Environmental groups pushing for a global transition away from polluting fossil fuels and an acceleration of renewable energy projects opposed the South African government's initial plans for a 3 GW gas-fired power station in Richards Bay on the east coast. South Africa anticipates that more than 5.5 GW of new renewable energy projects will go online by 2026, according to a June statement from Ramakgopa. The 40-year-old 1.94 GW Koeberg nuclear power facility in South Africa is likewise hoping to live an additional 20 years past its planned shutdown in 2019.