South African Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe refused to attend a top-level meeting held by President Cyril Ramaphosa with European leaders for the signing of a green energy memorandum of understanding, the Johannesburg-based Sunday Times reported.
Mantashe didn’t sign the $1 billion agreement with the Netherlands and Denmark because it was drafted without his input, the newspaper said, citing the minister and other officials. The pact was ultimately signed by others. The adoption of cleaner energy has been beset by infighting within the South African government as much of the ruling African National Congress’s traditional support comes from labor unions, including the National Union of Mineworkers. Both Ramaphosa and Mantashe are former leaders of the mining union.State-backed firms from the Netherlands agreed to back a $1 billion dollar of green hydrogen funds in South Africa.
South Africa estimates it will cost about 1.5 trillion rand over the next five years to transition away from the use of coal for power and create electric vehicle and green hydrogen industries. In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month.