https://sputnikglobe.com/20221211/south-african-envoy-to-russia-blasts-germanys-double-standards-amid-calls-to-resume-coal-mining-1105340088.html
South African Envoy to Russia Blasts Germany's 'Double Standards' Amid Calls to Resume Coal Mining
South African Envoy to Russia Blasts Germany's 'Double Standards' Amid Calls to Resume Coal Mining
Sputnik International
This article is about South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Maqetuka accusing Germany of displaying double standards by urging South Africa to resume coal mining for export while arguing about the need for energy transition.
2022-12-11T07:15+0000
2022-12-11T07:15+0000
2022-12-11T07:15+0000
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By urging South Africa to resume coal mining for export while arguing about the need for energy transition, Germany displays double standards, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Maqetuka told Sputnik.In early December, Germany’s Minister of Economy Robert Habeck visited Namibia and South Africa to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the two African countries. The main topics of the talks were energy supplies, business growth, in addition to cooperation in the field of hydrogen and decarbonization. The minister also took part in the fourth German-African Business Summit (GABS 2022), held in Johannesburg earlier this week, which was meant to promote economic relations between Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa.Maqetuka noted that South Africa is in need of energy resources, but takes its decarbonization obligations seriously.Earlier, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), affiliated with the World Bank, pledged to provide South Africa with $500 million received from private and public investors to replace some coal-fired thermal power plants with green alternatives.The West stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia over Ukraine, which led to higher prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the United States.In the end of September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that cheap and reliable Russian energy resources were Europe's competitive advantage, and even a partial rejection of them is already having a negative impact on its economy and residents. The president argued that by pushing the EU's complete rejection of Russian energy resources, the US is leading to deindustrialization of Europe.
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germany, south africa, south african envoy to russia, germany's double standards, the west's double standards, europe's double standards, coal mining in south africa, green energy,
South African Envoy to Russia Blasts Germany's 'Double Standards' Amid Calls to Resume Coal Mining
Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
Earlier this month, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck visited South Africa and Namibia, where he held talks with heads of state on energy supplies decarbonization, and business growth.
By urging South Africa to resume coal mining for export while arguing about the need for energy transition, Germany displays double standards, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Maqetuka told Sputnik.
In early December, Germany’s Minister of Economy Robert Habeck visited Namibia and South Africa to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the two African countries. The main topics of the talks were energy supplies, business growth, in
addition to cooperation in the field of hydrogen and decarbonization. The minister also took part in the fourth German-African Business Summit (GABS 2022), held in Johannesburg earlier this week, which was meant to promote economic relations between Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The Germans are quite aggressively pursuing their policy in the search for new markets. They came to South Africa to discuss energy transition issues. At the same time, they themselves increased coal imports from South Africa on a huge scale. The contradiction lies in the fact that South Africa has practically suspended the production and use of coal for its own needs, and now sells it to Germany,” the ambassador said.
Maqetuka noted that South Africa is in need of energy resources, but takes its decarbonization obligations seriously.
“Despite the fact that we still have large reserves of coal that will last 200 years, we have closed most of the mines. And now our government is under pressure to resume coal mining. European countries are doing this too, they are opening frozen mines,” the diplomat stressed.
Earlier, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), affiliated with the World Bank, pledged to provide South Africa with $500 million received from private and public investors to replace some coal-fired thermal power plants with green alternatives.
The West stepped up sanctions
pressure on Russia over Ukraine, which led to higher prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the United States.
In the end of September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that cheap and reliable Russian energy resources were Europe's competitive advantage, and even a partial rejection of them is already having a negative impact on its economy and residents. The president argued that by pushing the EU's complete rejection of Russian energy resources, the US is leading to deindustrialization of Europe.
