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.
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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.