The European Union has pledged €11.5 billion ($13.3 billion) to help South Africa build cleaner energy, transport, and health systems.
The funding is meant to speed South Africa’s move away from coal. It will go toward new power plants, grid upgrades, energy storage, and green hydrogen. The country currently relies on coal for about 85 % of its electricity.
The EU says part of the plan also supports vaccine manufacturing, health care infrastructure, and cleaner transport. During a meeting in Brussels, President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the pact.
In March 2025, the EU had already announced a smaller €4.7 billion package for South Africa. It remains unclear whether the new sum includes that earlier amount or adds to it.
The pledge comes as South Africa seeks new growth drivers amid high unemployment and weak economic growth. The shift to renewables is also part of the EU’s broader Global Gateway initiative.
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