- South Africa will rely on coal and nuclear power for at least 10 to 20 more years while expanding its renewable energy capacity to address power shortages.
- Energy expert Chris Yelland says wind, solar, and battery storage are the most viable solutions for power shortages.
South Africa will continue using coal and nuclear power for the next two decades. Energy expert Chris Yelland believes gas and new nuclear capacity are unlikely to be available soon.
Yelland told the SABC that wind and solar are the best solutions for South Africa’s energy crisis. He said nuclear and gas are not currently practical. “The only game in town is wind, solar PV, and battery storage because they are financeable and quickly deployable,” Yelland stated.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa emphasised that South Africa will expand its energy mix rather than phase out coal. “The Minister made it clear that most new capacity will be renewable, but coal will not disappear soon,” Yelland explained.
South Africa’s existing coal infrastructure will remain essential while the country strengthens its renewable energy sector. The country’s nuclear power plants will also continue operating. Note that Koeberg Power Station’s lifespan was extended by 20 years.
Eskom reconnected Koeberg’s Unit 2 reactor to the grid in late 2024, adding 930MW to the national power supply. Renewables are cheaper to operate than fossil fuels but face one major issue—unpredictable energy output.
Some experts argue that nuclear is the best option for stable baseload power.
The government’s drafted Integrated Resource Plan 2023 recognises nuclear’s role but does not plan for new nuclear capacity before 2030. Regardless, Ramokgopa approved a process to procure 2,500MW of new nuclear power in early 2024.
Yelland said new nuclear technology remains far from ready. “Small modular reactors are not commercially available or licensed yet. It may take another 10 to 15 years,” he noted.
Gas also faces challenges in South Africa. While Ramokgopa called it a long-term energy source, Yelland disagreed. “Gas power is expensive, and South Africa lacks natural gas resources, forcing reliance on imports,” he said.
Although Africa has gas potential, South Africa has not developed a gas master plan in 20 years. Gas finds off the Southern Coast have proven difficult, leading companies like Total Energies to withdraw from projects.
South Africa’s energy future remains a mix of old and new. Coal and nuclear will persist, but renewables are expanding fast.