Even using the cleanest technology available, coal’s severe environmental, health and climate consequences remain unavoidable.

Air pollution is the world’s most critical environmental health risk. South Africa’s use of fossil fuels produces hundreds of millions of tonnes of emissions annually.

The mission of the Department of Energy is to “regulate and transform the sector for the provision of secure, sustainable and affordable energy”.

Despite South Africa’s abundant renewable resources, the government is also planning to increase gas in the country’s energy mix. The plan includes extracting shale gas.

South Africa is no stranger to companies wanting to use offshore drilling to search its coastal waters for oil and gas deposits.

South Africa’s Low Emission Development Strategy 2050 is the country’s most recent emissions reductions plan.

Like many countries worldwide, South Africa has committed to reaching net zero by 2050. To achieve this, the country will need to invest heavily in renewables, including wind energy.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the gaseous form of two kinds of natural gases: butane and propane. It can also be a mix of the two gases. Butane and propane are similar but have different properties, making them suitable for different things.

There is no fracking in South Africa at the moment. This is due to a court ruling overturning the government’s fracking regulations brought by activists.

Biogas is a renewable energy source produced when anaerobic bacteria break down organic materials. It is different from natural gas as natural gas is a fossil fuel, while biogas is a renewable energy source.

The South African government has plans to generate more electricity with natural gas.