South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, assured business leaders — particularly from the mining sector — on Thursday, October 2, that the Government will give priority to improving the just energy transition. He emphasized that the process must be carried out responsibly so as not to harm local communities.
His remarks were delivered on the opening day of the Mining and Investment Conference, held on October 2–3 in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. On the occasion, the minister argued that coal power plants cannot be shut down arbitrarily and stressed the need for careful planning.
Ramokgopa expressed particular concern over the social impacts of closing the Komati Coal Power Station, located near Middelburg. Although the plant has been decommissioned and repurposed, the process left profound consequences for the livelihoods of the local population.
“There are lessons we learned from Komati. It was once a thriving area, and suddenly the plant was closed. Go to Komati now: it is a ghost town,” the minister lamented. According to him, cutting emissions should not come at the expense of community survival.
He further stressed that Komati’s experience illustrates the challenge: “The most important issue is that people who once earned a living from Komati can no longer put food on the table. And yet, we celebrate reduced emissions.” The minister insisted that priority must be given to striking a balance between environmental protection and social well-being. “Our argument is that this is not just about reducing emissions, but also about ensuring communities maintain the ability to put food on the table,” he added. Ramokgopa said he has shared this experience with other countries, underscoring that Komati stands as a clear example of how an energy transition should not be managed.
Meanwhile, Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu urged the private sector to join forces with the Government in strengthening services and creating jobs. “We want to diversify the province’s economy. That is why we invite major companies to invest in Mpumalanga. Our goal is to secure investment commitments exceeding 2.9 billion US dollars for the province,” he highlighted.
Source: SABC News
