Climate funders 'accepted' SA needs to deal with energy crisis, says official

The International Partners Group (IPG), which is backing South Africa with climate finance, has "accepted" that the country needs to be pragmatic in dealing with the energy crisis, which includes delaying decommissioning of coal-fired power stations, according to Rudi Dicks, head of the project management office in the Presidency.

Dicks and representatives of the Just Energy Transition Project Management Unit (PMU), within the Presidency, on Tuesday briefed the media on developments around South Africa's just transition.

In 2021, wealthy nations such as the UK, US, Germany, France and the EU pledged an initial $8.5 billion to assist South Africa's efforts to reduce emissions that cause climate change – largely by transitioning from coal to renewables.