South Africa should not rush to abandon coal, oil and gas before reliable alternatives are fully tested, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has cautioned as the country moves towards implementing cleaner fuel standards in 2027.
The minister reiterated his long-held position that fossil fuels will continue to play a significant role in the nation’s energy landscape for the foreseeable future. According to Mantashe, existing energy sources should not be discarded prematurely while newer technologies are still being assessed for long-term dependability.
His remarks come as South Africa prepares for the mandatory introduction of cleaner fuels in 2027, a policy shift expected to significantly reduce vehicle emissions and modernise the country’s fuel sector.
South Africa’s Clean Fuel Rollout Set For 2027
The introduction of the new fuel specifications is regarded as one of the most substantial developments in South Africa’s fuel industry in recent decades.
Mantashe stressed the importance of adopting emerging technologies gradually rather than replacing current systems before alternatives have demonstrated their effectiveness.
“Check the future technology, prove its resilience, prove its reliability, and step by step, move to it. You don’t dismantle what you have, because you’re looking forward to getting something new, something cleaner, something that can be accepted,” Mantashe said.
Gwede Mantashe Questions South Africa’s Carbon Tax Framework
The minister also voiced concerns over South Africa’s carbon tax regime, arguing that many of the world’s largest economies do not impose comparable measures.
Mantashe said the country risks placing an additional burden on businesses and consumers through taxation that is not widely mirrored by major global economies.
“We are the only country with carbon tax, outside of the EU [European Union]. US [United States] doesn’t have it, China doesn’t have it, India doesn’t have it, the Middle East doesn’t have it, we are the only country with carbon tax.
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“Europe accepts our carbon tax, but they still give us their own framework of carbon tax. So, our people get taxed twice.”
The comments add to the ongoing debate over South Africa’s energy future as policymakers balance environmental commitments with concerns about energy security, affordability and economic growth.
