Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The South African National Energy Association (SANEA) appears to have limited transparent engagement with climate-related regulations, but has engaged on the energy transition with mixed positions. SANEA appears to support the integration of green hydrogen into the South African energy mix, however it also supports a continued role for fossil gas.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: SANEA has positive top-line communications on climate change. In an August 2020 opinion piece, SANEA supported greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C, and supported achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Additionally, in its Climate Change Statement, published in August 2021, SANEA supported the goals of the Paris Agreement. In its 2021 Energy Risk Report, published in October 2021, SANEA appeared to support South Africa’s National Climate Change Bill, and also appeared to support more ambitious and faster paced climate policy in South Africa. The association also appeared to support increased ambition in South Africa’s key climate policies, including the Integrated Energy Plan and the Integrated Resources Plan.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: SANEA appears to have limited transparent engagement with specific climate-related policies.
Positioning on Energy Transition: SANEA has mixed positions on the transition of the energy mix. In an August 2020 Fossil Fuel opinion piece, the association supported the transition of coal to fossil gas in South Africa, however it appeared to hold reservations concerning the feasibility of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in the country. SANEA also supported the integration of fossil gas into South Africa’s energy mix in an August 2020 Business Media Mags article. Similarly, in its 2021 Energy Risk Report, published in October 2021, SANEA supported the use of fossil gas as a transitional fuel in South Africa’s energy mix to facilitate a renewables-dominated power sector, however the organization did not place clear conditions on CCS in the use of natural gas.
In its 2021 Energy Risk Report, published in October 2021, SANEA supported the production of green hydrogen in South Africa. In an August 2020 Energy Storage opinion piece,the organization supported the development of government policy to integrate green hydrogen into the South African energy mix, and also supported the development of trade agreements to integrate South African green hydrogen into the global energy market. Additionally, in an August 2020 Energy Storage opinion piece, the organization supported the integration of renewables, supplemented by battery storage, into South Africa’s energy mix across regional and local scales.