As South Africa works to expand and modernise its electricity infrastructure, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is leading a high-level government and business delegation to Beijing, China, to attract investment for the country’s energy sector.
The delegation is attending the South Africa–China Electricity and Energy Investment Conference, taking place from August 2-6, where discussions are focused on strengthening strategic partnerships and unlocking investment needed to support South Africa’s long-term energy transition.
According to the Department of Electricity and Energy, the mission forms part of the country’s broader efforts to secure the partnerships required to modernise the national grid and increase electricity generation capacity.
“This mission is a targeted intervention to secure the partnerships necessary to modernise our grid and expand our generation capacity in line with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 and the Transmission Development Plan (TDP),” the department said in a statement.
It added that the conference would present Chinese investors with an execution-ready pipeline of energy projects by bringing together provincial leaders, financial institutions and industry experts.
The visit comes as South Africa moves to implement the IRP 2025, which outlines the country’s future electricity mix and is expected to require more than R2.2 trillion in investment. Government hopes the conference will help align Chinese industrial expertise and financing with South Africa’s infrastructure priorities.
Ramokgopa is joined by a delegation that includes Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka, provincial premiers, senior executives from key energy entities, development finance institutions and business leaders.
The department said the investment mission forms part of South Africa’s infrastructure-led growth strategy and is intended to strengthen energy security, support industrial development and accelerate economic recovery through expanded investment in the electricity sector.
