WATCH | Talking energy plans with Minister Gwede Mantashe

JOHANNESBURG - Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, is accusing developed nations of using poorer countries as guinea pigs in the process of transitioning to low-carbon energy sources.

Mantashe says developed countries have placed undue pressure on African states to abandon coal, oil and gas in favour of low-carbon sources, even if this comes at the expense of the developmental progress of the poorer countries.

WATCH | Power stations not past their sell-by date - Mantashe

He says this is done while European countries have upped their coal imports from countries like South Africa and Germany and the United Kingdom is building new coal-fired power stations.

In a wide-ranging interview with eNCA's Thulasizwe Simelane, Mantashe also laments what he calls fragmentation of the energy portfolio, saying it makes managing what he calls the "base-load crisis" difficult.