SA must tread carefully as it deals with divergent views on energy at G20

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa will have to tread carefully as it manages contradictory approaches to energy transition at its first G20 energy transition working group this week.

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that South Africa wanted to stay away from polarising conversations or anything that could potentially render its presidency ineffective.

Ramokgopa, speaking to a handful of journalists, said that the US decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord had turned energy into a complicated conversation.

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The G20 energy transition working group will hold its first meeting virtually on Thursday.

South Africa, fresh off of being snubbed by two US members of cabinet, said that all was on track for the first just energy transitions working group.

Minister Ramokgopa stressed that this meeting takes place at a difficult time in global politics, flagging a need for the country to carefully wade through divergent views on energy.

He said that America's recent posture complicated discussions.

"The Trump administration's got some views in relation to the use of natural endowments, the use oil and gas and they've withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accord," the minister said.

America's already made it clear, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that it rejects SA's overarching G20 theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability.

Ramokgopa will deliver the opening address for the two-day meeting on Thursday.