By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The European Union (EU) pledged €15.1-billion (R302-billion) toward boosting renewable-energy generation and increasing electricity access in Africa.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement alongside president Cyril Ramaphosa at an event organized by Global Citizen.
The pledge is toward the EU’s Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign.
“We are turbo-charging Africa’s clean-energy transition,” she said. “Millions more people could gain access to electricity.”
It comes as efforts to bring power to the almost 600 million people in Africa without access to electricity, more than 80% of the world total, ramp up.
Earlier Von der Leyen said that the EU and the European Investment Bank would invest €350-million to support Transnet to modernise and decarbonise its rail, port and pipeline infrastructure.
The EU would also invest about €330-million in green hydrogen and e-batteries, and sustainable critical raw materials value chains. The package would be mobilised in close partnership with KfW and GIZ, Germany’s development bank and cooperation agency.
The EU is also investing €70-million in SA’s pharmaceutical and vaccine production, building on Europe’s existing €700-million support.
The Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, the first of its kind, which the EU and SA signed after long negotiations, is designed to drive mutually beneficial trade, investment and job creation while supporting decarbonisation and clean supply chains.
“This new type of cooperation will strengthen the EU’s position as a partner of choice for countries committed to the clean transition,” Von der Leyen said.
Ramaphosa said that through the agreements, “We have prioritised the transition to green energy, ensuring that this process is just and inclusive, but more importantly also safeguards the livelihoods of those who are most affected by the transition.”
He added that more joint projects were being negotiated, such as on producing sustainable aviation fuel, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles in SA for export to the European market.
He also expressed confidence that the EU and SA would reach agreement over their dispute on citrus exports to the EU. SA has taken the EU to the World Trade Organization over the measures it has adopted to control pests on citrus that SA believes add unjustifiable costs to its products.
Ramaphosa also thanked the EU for its full support of SA’s G20 agenda, and said: “This is a mature relationship that is predictable, that is reliable, and that is based on trust.”