Just over 74% of South Africa’s electricity still comes from burning coal. In 2021, the country negotiated the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Germany, the UK, France, the US and the European Union. They committed to providing South Africa with US$8.5 billion (R157 billion) to move away from coal to renewable energy. (In March 2025, US president Donald Trump withdrew the US and its share of the funding, about US$1.5 billion, or R27.7 billion, from the arrangement.) Researcher Nqobile Xaba talks to The Conversation Africa about how the partnership is going.
What has the partnership done so far?
After its launch in 2021, the Just Energy Transition Partnership attracted additional pledges from the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Switzerland. The total amount pledged is now US$11.8 billion (R218 billion).
