Trump 'kills' SA green energy plan

R28BN GAP: MOVE TO WITHDRAW FUNDING 'A SETBACK'

- Brian Sokutu

S President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the multibillion-rand Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) was yesterday described as a major setback by experts.

This after the move left SA facing about a $1.56 billion (about R28 billion) gap in its JETP financing.

The US government had pledged $1.56 billion for the country's decarbonisation during the Joe Biden presidency.

The JETP investment plan comprised $56 million in grant funds and $1 billion in potential commercial investments by the US International Development Finance Corporation, with no concessional loans offered by America to South Africa.

Political economist Dr Sam Koma said Trump's pulling out of JETP marked "a major setback to South Africa's aspirations of developing a climate-resilient economy, by ensuring a low carbon economy and cleaner energies".

"The decision further puts a brake on the government's drive to facilitate its renewable energy programme," said Koma.