CLIMATE COMMISSION CALLS FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN LOCAL JUST ENERGY TRANSITION INITIATIVES

MEDIA STATEMENT

19 June 2025

CLIMATE COMMISSION CALLS FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN LOCAL JUST ENERGY TRANSITION INITIATIVES

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) held its 18th Quarterly meeting in Johannesburg on Friday, 13 June 2025, to consider and review its work programme for the next 6 months as it winds up its first five-year tenure.

The session discussed amongst others, the Komati Power Station Redevelopment Initiative, the status of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan Implementation, revision of the 2020-2025 National Determined Contribution (NDCs) as well as preparations for the UNFCCC COP30 and the G20 Summitt to be hosted later this year by Brazil and South Africa respectively.

PROGRESS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AT KOMATI POWER STATION

The session spotlighted the power station’s transition and adopted the report, “Komati’s Transition: Assessing Progress, Lessons, and Challenges.” which is an account of the current state of the redevelopment of the station and the town which was shut down and currently undergoing decommissioning and repurposing in line with our Just Transition Framework.

The report acknowledges the need for the commission to continue coordinating a multidisciplinary mechanism to facilitate a collective response and urgency in addressing constraints experienced in the last 18 months of the initial phase of the redevelopment of the node into an economically viable and sustainable settlement and livelihood.

The Commission noted progress in relation to advanced planning and the gradual implementation of local development pilot projects, including worker reskilling, business support, and SMME development, and the provision of social services, which were discontinued or scaled back as a result of the closure of the power station.

The report highlights structural constraints that are fast-tracking the interventions required to catalyse meaningful economic revitalisation of the town and emphasized that at the core of the region remains the imperatives of inclusive governance, which is necessary in ensuring that the transition is equity, redress, and people-centred development.

“To this end we call on all donors, the private sector and primarily government to take up their political, corporate and moral responsibility, and ramp up their investments, grants and social services in ensuring that the needs of those affected by the decommissioning of the power station are addressed” said PCC Executive Director Ms Dorah Modise.

CONSOLIDATING OUR JUST ENERGY TRANSITION INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Commission welcomed an update from Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Minister of Energy and Electricity, on current and future energy planning, particularly through interventions aimed at stabilizing the current energy infrastructure, ensuring security of supply, and diversifying our energy mix.

In reiterating the need for accelerated and affordable climate finance and investment, the commission noted that South Africa has attracted around $12.8 billion in international pledges with varying levels of flows already disbursed; however, more was needed. “Despite these commitments, we need to emphasize that we are far from filling the basket, as South Africa’s full transition will require an estimated ZAR 1.5 trillion (approximately $100 billion), which should address both our mitigating and adaptation in the short to medium term” said Dorah Modise, PCC Executive Director.

The Commission appreciated the reiteration of government’s commitment to a just energy transition underscored by energy security, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability and further noted progress in the Just Energy Transition Investment Implementation Plan particularly in the areas of electricity sector reform, green hydrogen innovation, the New Energy Vehicles (NEV) industry as well as workforce transformation through skills development.

The PCC emphasized the need for enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration and urged the Project Management Unit of the JETIP to ensure that the grant component of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan pool is speedily and effectively disbursed and aligned with local implementation needs.

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENTIAL CLIMATE COMMISSION

Media Interviews contact Blessing Manale, Executive: Communications and Outreach blessing@climatecommission.org.za +27 73 036 5381.