Enlit Africa 2025 – Minister Ramokgopa’s Keynote Highlights
South Africa’s energy future: Diversification, security, and opportunity
Minister Ramokgopa’s energy roadmap mixes gas, hydrogen, and nuclear but South Africa needs faster, cheaper solutions like solar to solve today’s crisis.
At Enlit Africa 2025, held from 20–22 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, delivered a compelling keynote address. He outlined a vision for an energy transition that is not only sustainable but also equitable and tailored to Africa’s unique context.
Natural Gas: A catalyst for industrial growth
Minister Ramokgopa emphasized the strategic role of natural gas in Africa’s development. He argued that harnessing discovered but undeveloped gas fields would increase Africa’s cumulative emissions to only 3.5% of the global total, underscoring the continent’s minimal historic contribution to climate change.
Leveraging critical minerals and green hydrogen
Africa’s abundance of critical minerals positions it as a leader in the global energy transition. The Minister highlighted the continent’s potential in producing green hydrogen competitively, utilizing its vast solar and wind resources.
Advancing nuclear energy and small modular reactors (SMRs)
Reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to nuclear energy, Minister Ramokgopa announced plans to enhance self-sufficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle. He advocated for the adoption of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a practical solution for providing clean, stable baseload power, especially in remote and industrial areas.
GREENs Opinion on Nuclear Power:
Despite being promoted by some as a clean energy solution, nuclear power is too slow, too expensive, and too inflexible to meet South Africa’s urgent energy needs. New nuclear plants take over a decade to build and come with massive price tags, while the country is facing rolling blackouts right now.
The risks of corruption, safety concerns, and unresolved waste issues only add to the problem. In contrast, renewables like solar and wind are faster, cheaper, and better suited to our modern, decentralised energy future.
South Africa doesn’t need nuclear power. It needs smart, scalable solutions that work today.
Modernising grid infrastructure
The Minister addressed the necessity of evolving grid technologies to accommodate the rise of renewables. He emphasized the importance of grid-forming inverters capable of stabilizing weak or remote grids, thus facilitating greater renewable energy integration and system independence.
Expanding transmission infrastructure with private sector participation
A significant policy announcement was the gazetting of a Ministerial Determination on 28 March 2025, outlining plans for 1,164 km of new transmission lines. This initiative includes private sector involvement in building and operating the transmission network, marking a shift towards a more open and competitive energy market.
Championing a Just and Affordable Energy Transition
Minister Ramokgopa stressed the importance of a just energy transition that balances environmental concerns with Africa’s developmental needs. He highlighted that nearly 600 million Africans still lack reliable electricity access, asserting that substantial development, including job creation and industrial growth, must accompany environmental reforms for the transition to be meaningful.
Action items for installers
With Solar energy being among the most affordable and available energy sources, it is clear that we can expect ongoing demand. As an installer, planner project manager or industry stakeholder of any sort, make sure you are equipped with the right skills and knowledge! At the moment that is:
- Understanding of cost structures and feasibility calculations for solar PV systems
- Grid-supportive and financially feasible planning and design of PV systems and BESS
- Long-lasting and compliant installation of PV systems to ensure optimal lifetime
There are different courses available in our portfolio that cover these needs. Check out our Commercial PV Designer, Solar Sales Expert, SuperSolarSchool and PV Mounter.
Conclusion
Minister Ramokgopa’s keynote at Enlit Africa 2025 underscored a proactive and inclusive approach to Africa’s energy transition. By leveraging natural gas, critical minerals, and nuclear energy, and by modernizing grid infrastructure with private sector collaboration, South Africa aims to achieve a sustainable and equitable energy future.