South Africa's shift from coal-based power plants to renewable energy sources is underway, but can the green energy sector truly replace the jobs lost in communities dependent on coal? As one of the world’s top 15 largest emitters, South Africa faces a pressing need to transition from fossil fuel-based energy sources to cleaner alternatives. In its effort to do so, Eskom shuttered the last coal-fired unit of the Komati Power Plant in October 2022.
According to the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan 2023 - 2027, approximately 150,000 to 200,000 jobs are at risk in Mpumalanga, representing about 18% of the province's labor force. This includes around 80,000 coal miners and 15,000 jobs in the transport sector. Other vulnerable positions encompass both formal and informal services, with some traditionally dominated by women. In total, approximately 400,000 individuals are directly or indirectly affected.
While the shift away from coal-fired power plants is a crucial step towards achieving net zero goals, this process presents an urgent need to develop and implement comprehensive plans for both plant closure and new economic opportunities within Mpumalanga. The case of Komati Power Station illustrates the immediate impact on communities that have depended on these plants for generations.
This story was produced with support from Internews' Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in Pan African Visions on April 16, 2024. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Banner Image: Silent turbines and the aftermath of the Komati Power Station shutdown / Credit: Sakhile Dube.
Sakhile Dube
