South Africa's electrical energy economy: environmental impacts, future developments and constraints

Abstract

South Africa alone produces move than half of the electricity generated in the entire African continent. In spite of this about, half of South Africans are without electricity in their homes. South Africa's energy production and distribution patterns bear a striking resemblance to its overall economy-a heterogeneous intermingling of First and Third World characteristics. South Africa as a whole is responsible for about 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions although it has only 1% of the world's population. The normalisation and democratisation of the country will require enormous efforts to provide electricity, running water and education for the majority of the South Africans previously disadvantaged in the apartheid era. South Africa is trying to comply with the global demand for sustainable development by improving the technologies of its power plants, implementing renewable energy sources, improving efficiency of utilisation of electricity in industry and homes, adopting more efficient standards for electrical appliances, changing of the way of life etc. Although there are some constraints, the country is capable of overcoming these in the years ahead given the political will and proper international assistance.