World Bank Loan to Bring Change to Coal-Dependent South Africa?

The World Bank Board has announced in a press release that a U.S.$1 billion Development Policy Loan (DPL) has been offered to support the government's efforts to promote long-term energy security and a low carbon transition.

The move comes as the nation faces a protracted energy crisis which has had a marked negative impact on productivity and safety. Additionally, plans for a Just Energy Transition Partnership are underway.

Whether meaningful change can come from the World Bank funding will have to be framed against other additional difficulties, one of the most important being the nation's reluctance to transition away from coal use.

This article originally appeared on All Africa

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