South Africa’s energy sector is a major contributor to the country’s Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, given its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

In addition, the country’s economy is energy intensive, mostly because of the energy requirements of the mining, extractive and mineral-processing industries. This puts South Africa near the top of the list of countries with the world’s highest rates of carbon dioxide emissions.

Adding to the environmental challenges that this sector poses in its current operation, is the fact that energy, amongst other natural resources, is still perceived as a commodity rather than a social good, and is market driven.

Paper by CPLO