SOUTH AFRICA: THE STATE OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

Abstract

The energy situation after COVID-19 in the Republic of South Africa remains tense due to rolling power outages in major cities. The author notes that the first reason is the deterioration of the power grid on the one hand, and on the other the socio-economic situation of the majority of the population, which pushes it to destruction, including energy infrastructure. This implies a more global reason for the growing socio-economic crisis in South Africa. The author notes that the political program of President S. Ramaphosa’s «New Dawn» has not fundamentally solved the socio-economic problems of South Africa over the past five years. The problem of youth unemployment is particularly acute, which leads to further aggravation of social contradictions. The ruling African National Congress party lost its majority in the parliamentary elections, and the country is on the verge of political and socioeconomic changes.
According to the author, Pretoria’s pragmatic cooperation with Moscow will continue, including in the energy sector. Russia is interested in diversifying and developing energy projects in Africa. However, South Africa needs to diversify its energy sources independently, not only by switching to cleaner renewable energy sources under pressure from the «climate lobby», but also by developing reserves of non-renewable energy sources on the continental shelf.