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South African Coal Exports Seen Waning as Renewables Gather Pace

  • Wind and solar to be cheaper than all coal, gas by 2030: IEEFA
  • Country’s coal-export hub faces growing competition worldwide
Richard's Bay coal terminal.
Richard's Bay coal terminal.Photographer: Nadine Hutton

South Africa’s thermal-coal exports are expected to drop as its main export hub faces growing competition and new cheaper energies proliferate, according to a U.S. research group.

“New energy technology is replacing coal-fired power faster than most predicted,” the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said Monday as it released its export outlook. With fewer countries using the fuel, South Africa -- which has the continent’s biggest coal-export hub -- will increasingly vie for customers with other exporters around the world.