With the war in Ukraine, the end of the use of Russian coal and gas is pushing European countries to find new suppliers. And it is particularly South Africa that benefits. Exports to Europe jumped 720% over the first six months of the year.
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South Africans are starting to talk about the “coal king” again. Four million tonnes were exported from the port of Richards Bay to Europe for the first half of the year. Demand comes from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, but also from Poland, which was getting a lot of supplies from Russia.
With the very strong demand, the ton of coal went from 75 dollars last year to 240 dollars in recent months. This coal rush has not gone unnoticed: the United Nations is calling on Europeans not to turn to fossil fuels, it would be “a step back in the face of the climate crisis.” But “renewable energies will not save us, Germany has learned that the hard way”said Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s energy minister. He is campaigning to open new coal-fired power stations when more than 80% of South African electricity is already produced using coal.
“Europe has lost its moral authority”, added Barbara Creecy, South Africa’s environment minister. She denounces the hypocrisy of European countries, which are looking for excuses to justify the use of coal while they behave like givers of lessons vis-à-vis South Africa. The European Union is indeed putting pressure on South Africa to green its energy mix.
Despite these small spades, the European Union is still working with South Africa on an energy transition plan that should be unveiled at the time of COP 27, which is being held in early November in Egypt. The European Union would supply a fund of 8.5 billion dollars to help South Africa close its power stations and develop renewable energies.