The $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between South Africa and a group of international partners is facing significant implementation delays. While the partnership, announced at COP26, was hailed as a landmark deal, the reality on the ground has proven more complex.
Coal-dependent communities in Mpumalanga province have been vocal about their exclusion from the planning process. Workers in the coal mining and power generation sectors fear job losses without adequate retraining programs or alternative employment opportunities.
Despite these challenges, progress is being made. The South African government has released an updated Integrated Resource Plan that accelerates the timeline for coal plant decommissioning while increasing the procurement targets for renewable energy. Several new wind and solar projects have been approved under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
Civil society organizations are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring that the transition is truly just. Community-based organizations in coal regions have established monitoring committees to track investment flows and hold the government accountable for its promises.
International observers note that South Africa's experience will be closely watched by other coal-dependent developing nations. The lessons learned here could shape the design of future JETPs in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and India.