Ramokgopa Calls for Just Energy Transition, Inclusive Finance at G20 ETWG

South Africa’s Electricity and Energy Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has delivered a powerful appeal for a fair, inclusive, and technology-diverse global energy transition, during his opening remarks at the third G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting hosted in the North West province.

Speaking to an audience of global policymakers, energy experts, and climate stakeholders, Ramokgopa framed the energy transition not merely as a technological imperative but as a moral and developmental one—insisting that the move toward green energy must uplift the vulnerable, empower developing nations, and reduce global inequality.

Finance as a Tool of Inclusion, Not Division

At the core of the Minister’s message was a call for a total reconfiguration of global energy finance architecture, to ensure that capital flows to where it is needed most—low-income nations, under-resourced communities, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on the frontlines of energy innovation.

“Finance must become a tool of inclusion, not a barrier to participation,” Ramokgopa said. “The credibility of the global energy transition hinges on whether finance reaches where it is needed—at scale, and at speed.”

He identified five critical pillars for financial transformation:

1. Addressing underinvestment in energy transmission, distribution, and flexible generation.

2. Structuring finance for long-term affordability for energy-poor communities.

3. Creating de-risking tools to attract private capital while ensuring public oversight.

4. Expanding access to concessional and blended finance for small-scale, early-stage, and community-led projects.

5. Prioritising SMEs as key players in the energy value chain.

Energy Transition Must Be Just and Equitable

Ramokgopa reiterated the need for energy transitions to be people-centric, warning that a purely market-driven approach could entrench global inequality.

“Energy transitions must not deepen inequality. They must reduce it. No worker, no community, no country should be left behind,” he urged.

He stressed that a successful global shift to green energy must embed social protection mechanisms, retrain workers in fossil fuel sectors, and ensure inclusive access to the benefits of the green economy, such as job creation and energy affordability.

Technology-Inclusive Approach for Complex Energy Systems

While expressing strong support for renewables as a cornerstone of decarbonisation, the Minister cautioned against a one-size-fits-all model. He called for a “technology-inclusive” energy strategy that supports diverse national contexts and avoids locking out viable low-carbon solutions.

Key technologies he recommended for consideration included:

• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) for hard-to-abate sectors and existing fossil infrastructure.

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for dispatchable, low-emission baseload power suitable for smaller grids.

• Carbon removal and long-duration storage technologies to offset residual emissions and ensure system reliability.

• Digital demand-side flexibility tools, such as smart grids and AI-powered systems, to optimise energy use.

“The transition must be ambitious but also anchored in the realities of implementation,” said Ramokgopa. “A pragmatic approach enables resilience, safeguards national interests, and supports innovation.”

Africa’s Agenda: A Call for Action, Not Just Declarations

Highlighting Africa’s commitment to a greener future, Ramokgopa pointed to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa Energy Efficiency Strategy, which aims to improve energy productivity on the continent by 50% by 2050.

However, he underscored that Africa’s ambition must be met with practical support, not mere diplomatic lip service.

“These ambitions must be supported not only through declarations but through tangible investments and partnerships that build resilience and shift outcomes.”

He called for technical cooperation, capacity-building, and infrastructure investment to bridge Africa’s energy access gap and modernise its energy systems.

Universal Energy Access: A Global Moral Imperative

Ramokgopa delivered a sobering reminder of persistent global energy poverty:

• Over 760 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity.

• More than 2.6 billion people rely on unsafe and polluting fuels for cooking.

“These statistics are not just numbers. They represent mothers, children, workers, and students—people full of potential, held back by structural energy poverty,” he stated.

He applauded prior G20 presidencies for elevating clean cooking solutions as a priority and urged the ETWG to build on that momentum by developing scalable programs to ensure universal access to clean cooking and modern energy services.

Global Cooperation and Shared Responsibility

To address the scale and complexity of the global energy transition, the Minister urged G20 nations to:

• Strengthen cooperation in clean technology development.

• Promote international knowledge exchange.

• Support innovation and deployment of advanced low-carbon solutions like CCUS and long-duration energy storage.

Ramokgopa concluded with a message of unity and urgency:

“The transition to a sustainable energy future must be just, inclusive, and grounded in the shared humanity of all nations. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind—not in Africa, not anywhere.”

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