Ramokgopa: South Africa’s energy future will remain heavily coal‑dependent

Electricity and Energy policy will still lean on coal even as renewables expand, according to The Citizen, which reported Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s remarks following a site visit to Eskom’s Research, Testing and Development Centre.

Why coal remains central, the minister said

According to The Citizen, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said South Africa’s energy future will continue to depend heavily on coal, even as Eskom repurposes ageing coal‑fired stations for renewable generation.

According to The Citizen, Ramokgopa visited the Eskom Research, Testing and Development (RT&D) Centre in Germiston on 2 September 2026 to review technologies aimed at cutting harmful emissions from existing coal operations.

Emissions, not coal, is the stated problem

According to The Citizen, Ramokgopa emphasised that the core issue is emissions from coal plants rather than coal itself. He said:

“What is more important was for us to come and experience firsthand the issues around how we’re going to bring down the emissions level at our existing power stations. That is one of the major issues that is confronting Eskom: a requirement to meet the minimum emission standards, and the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment has issued those regulations, and we’ve got every intention of being compliant. As I’ve always made a point before, we don’t have a coal problem; we have an emissions problem. Other jurisdictions, like China and Japan, are far advanced with this technology,” Ramokgopa said.

Technologies on show at the RT&D centre

According to The Citizen, the visit highlighted progress in clean‑coal technologies, green hydrogen and advanced energy systems intended to boost operational performance, improve energy security and support a responsible long‑term transition.

According to The Citizen, during the visit the minister viewed pilot‑scale demonstrations that included co‑firing ammonia with coal and torrefied biomass with coal as part of Eskom’s clean‑coal programme aligned with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025.

According to The Citizen, pilot testing of torrefied biomass in 2025 showed reductions in carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide at a 20% co‑firing ratio, and a full‑scale demonstration is planned at Kriel by March 2027.

Eskom’s progress and emissions projects

According to The Citizen, Eskom reported a R30.3 billion profit after tax, R22.4 billion in savings through its CORE programme and an improved Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 65.16%. The Citizen also reported that South Africa has surpassed 470 consecutive days without load shedding, with EAF rising to 67.87% in August 2026.

According to The Citizen, Eskom said about 45% of listed emissions‑reduction projects have been completed, with CCUS feasibility studies finalised in 2025 and engineering work underway for a demonstration plant at Kusile.

Eskom’s view on research and development

According to The Citizen, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena described the RT&D facility’s role in converting operational challenges into deployable solutions. Mokwena said:

“Our RT&D facility is converting operational challenges into tested solutions that can be validated and deployed under South African conditions. This work is essential to improving efficiency, strengthening energy security and building long‑term capability,” Mokwena said.

According to The Citizen, Mokwena added that sustained operational gains create space for Eskom to modernise the electricity system and invest in technologies that support reliability, affordability and competitiveness. She said:

“Sustained operational improvements allow Eskom to modernise the electricity system and invest in technologies that support reliability, affordability and competitiveness,” Mokwena said.

What the visit signals

According to The Citizen, the ministerial visit underscored a government approach that balances ongoing reliance on coal with investments in emissions‑reduction and emerging clean‑energy technologies.