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Coal in South Africa
 | This article needs to be updated. (May 2020) |
As of 2011, South Africa produces in excess of 255 million tonnes of coal[1] and consumes almost three-quarters of that domestically.[2] As of 2018, South Africa was the seventh largest producer and consumer of coal in the world.[3] The industry, as of 2015, employs about 80,000 workers, or .5% of total employment, down from a peak in 1981 of 135,000 workers.[3] The coal industry is South Africa's largest contribution to the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.[4][3]
Around 77% of South Africa's energy needs are directly derived from coal.[5] South Africa is the 5th largest exporter of coal in the world, with 30% consumed overseas.[3] 92% of coal consumed on the African continent is produced in South Africa.[6] 80% of South Africa's CO2 emissions come from the energy supply which is dependent on coal, which produced the vast majority of the country's energy, or 42GWs.[3] In negotiations leading up to the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, South Africa and its partner countries reached a $8.5 billion Climate finance package to end its reliance on coal.[7][8] The use of coal in South Africa dates back to the Iron Age (300–1880 AD), when charcoal (note: not coal, but charred wood) was used to melt iron and copper, but large-scale exploitation of coal did not occur until the mid-19th century.[9]
- ^ "BP Statistical review of world energy 2012". British Petroleum. Archived from the original (XLS) on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ "Production and consumption of coal (2003 estimates)". Planete Energies. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "The Carbon Brief Profile: South Africa". Carbon Brief. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Carbon dioxide emissions". Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (South Africa). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Coal". Department of Energy (South Africa). Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
eia-ieo2009-4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "COP26: South Africa hails deal to end reliance on coal". BBC News. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "COP26 latest: Europe to invest €1bn in clean technologies such as green hydrogen". Financial Times. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Draft EIR Bravo 5" (PDF). Eskom. p. 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
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