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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s neutral stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine was a key topic of conversation during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday to wrap up his trinational trip to Africa.
Speaking to the press before their private meeting in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, the two leaders said that they would also evaluate the developments in the African continent. Scholz’s visit comes as the war in Ukraine has raged for three months, causing oil and food prices to rise all over the world, including in Africa.
South Africa has taken a neutral stance on the conflict, refusing to condemn Russia’s actions and calling for dialogue between the two countries.
Scholz said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an important issue that needs to be discussed with his South African counterpart.
“Obviously one of the questions that worries us all greatly is the war that Russia has imposed on Ukraine, the brutal war, we have to put it that way,” Scholz said.
And for peace in the world, this war must stop as soon as possible and Ukraine must have a chance to defend its integrity and sovereignty,” he said.
Another issue under discussion was South Africa’s intention to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power stations. Germany is among the countries that committed up to $8.5 billion at the COP26 climate change conference last year to help South Africa reduce its reliance on coal for electricity generation. So far, no statement has been made about the actual payments of these funds to South Africa.
South Africa is currently experiencing constant nationwide blackouts as coal-fired power stations cannot produce enough electricity. Ramaphosa said the promised funds will help the country with Africa’s most advanced economy transition to more environmentally friendly energy.
“We expect constructive discussions on building a green economy, clean energy and climate resilience as we embark on new technologies such as hydrogen and various other renewable energy technologies,” Ramaphosa told the media.
Later in the day, the two leaders announced a partnership between Germany and South African chemical firm Sasol to research and develop an environmentally friendly jet fuel.
“The Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene project focuses on the development of catalysts for green jet fuel,” Ramaphosa said when he and Scholz visited Sasol headquarters in Johannesburg.
“This is one of several areas of collaboration between companies, universities and government agencies on technology that will reshape our economies,” said Ramaphosa. Said.
He announced that Sasol is involved in the project of using the country’s solar and wind resources to export green hydrogen to the European Union, which has an export potential of 10 million tons per year by 2030.
Scholz arrived in South Africa after visiting Senegal and Niger, where he expressed Germany’s interest in gas exploration opportunities in Senegal and his country’s long-term military and financial assistance to Niger.
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