coallatest news & developments
A new climate-smart horticulture centre at Eskom’s Grootvlei power station, backed by the Netherlands, is testing how South Africa’s energy transition can deliver jobs, food security and skills

From coal to crops: Grootvlei’s climate-smart horticulture centre takes root

A new climate-smart horticulture centre at Eskom’s Grootvlei power station, backed by the Netherlands, is testing how South Africa’s energy transition can deliver jobs, food security and skills

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
South Africa, the world’s seventh-largest coal producer, faces a climate challenge that has largely flown under the radar: methane emissions from coal mines. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Governments’ fossil fuel production plans threaten Paris climate goals, new report warns

It finds that the fossil fuel output will exceed 1.5°C limit by 120% by 2030

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
The mining industry has the potential to grow if there is more investment in exploration projects. (Michele Spatari/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Mining has life, in spite of hitches

The industry has the potential to grow if there is more investment in exploration projects

  • Aarti Bhana
5 min read
Copper has been identified as the main driver of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in South Africa’s mining sector. Photo: Getty Images

Copper driving mergers and acquisitions in SA mining sector, report finds

The PwC report said the global pursuit of a just energy transition and the need for consolidation were reshaping the landscape of the local industry

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Playing dirty: Environmental activists in Soweto protest about the air pollution created by state-owned energy company Eskom’s coal-fired power stations earlier this year. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu/Getty Images

Tracking South Africa’s climate change progress

… or lack thereof, as the country is rapidly falling behind in its climate commitments and there is not enough uptake of renewable energy

4 min read
Bright future: Wind energy projects in Mpumalanga have the advantage of using existing infrastructure from coal plants. Photo: GKR Falcon / Flickr

Mpumalanga is going with the wind

Wind farms are picking up speed in the province at the heart of South Africa’s energy transition

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
Eskom chief executive Dan Marokane says coal is important for the country to drive industrialisation. (Getty Images)

Eskom won’t ditch coal, delays decommissioning power stations

Chief executive Dan Marokane says coal is important for the country to drive industrialisation

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
Duncan Wanblad, Anglo American’s chief executive. Photo: Ian Waldie/Getty Images

Anglo boss says demerging of assets is not in response to BHP bid

The demergers of Anglo Platinum and De Beers could lead to mine workers losing jobs, Duncan Wanblad said This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read

Mpumalanga carbon capture pilot project completed

The initiative aims to capture air pollution and store it in the ground

  • Des Erasmus
8 min read
Gariep Dam in the Free State. File photo

Water shortages impact hydropower as energy solution

Water scarcity has rendered hydropower impractical, shifting focus to coal and nuclear energy

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
A core hole drilling site at dawn. Kinetiko describes the Amersfoort project as South Africa’s largest onshore LNG project. Photo supplied

Mpumalanga gas project aims to bridge just energy transition gap

The development of the R155 million liquefied natural gas pilot is being promoted as a way to alleviate energy shortages while South Africa transitions to renewable energy

  • Umamah Bakharia
8 min read
Lessons have been learned, the minister told a debate on the just energy transition. (Ozayr Patel/M&G)

Tour of Komati power station reveals dilemmas

Achieving a just transition needs years of planning – without it, people will suffer

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
South Africa, the world’s seventh-largest coal producer, faces a climate challenge that has largely flown under the radar: methane emissions from coal mines. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Draft Integrated Resource Plan accepts coal reality, says Thungela chief executive

The leading coal exporter is not giving up, even as local logistics constraints and falling prices bear down on sales

  • Eyaaz
3 min read
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe

Integrated resource plan deadline extended by a month

The department of mineral resources and energy had hoped to finalise the long-awaited energy plan by May but the call for public comment has been extended

  • Eyaaz
2 min read
The Presidential Climate Commission has objected to extending coal-fired power stations beyond their natural lifespan. (Waldo Swiegers/Getty Images)

Delaying coal plant shutdowns mooted in draft energy plan

The draft IRP 2023, released on Thursday after numerous delays, contends that renewables and clean energy technologies alone are not enough to secure South Africa’s energy future

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
Path-finders: The state of finances in Mpumalanga municipalities will take centre stage in shaping the path of the Just Energy Transition. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Are municipalities good for just energy transition money?

Financing for the JET is increasing, but is being undermined by indebted municipalities in Mpumalanga that are not bankable

  • Eyaaz
9 min read