South Africa's Power Minister Ramohaupa has called for more state funding for coal plants and exemptions from emissions limits to help ease the country's energy crisis. The above measures are one of a series of proposals that Ramohaupa will submit to the South African cabinet this month. Ramohaupa said Eskom lacked the funds to invest in its capital equipment and had to seek funding elsewhere. South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Patel emphasized that solving the energy crisis is the key to attracting more foreign investment in South Africa, and his department will focus on energy issues in the next investment cycle.

On April 20, 2023, Ambassador Chen Xiaodong met with South African Minister of Power at the Presidential Office Ramohaupa at request, and exchanged in-depth views on China's support for South Africa's response to the power crisis. Ambassador Chen said that China and South Africa have a special friendship of comrades and brothers. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. South Africa will host the 15th BRICS Summit. The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa is facing an important opportunity to expand and deepen. China attaches great importance to the power shortage in the south, and is willing to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state on strengthening energy cooperation as a guide, not only providing emergency support based on the current situation, but also deepening cooperation in the power field between the two countries in the long run. China is willing to actively discuss the provision of emergency power equipment, dispatch of technical experts, technical consultation and personnel training and other support to South Africa, and jointly prepare for the China-South Africa New Energy Investment Cooperation Conference to be held in South Africa in June, so as to promote cooperation in new energy projects between enterprises of the two countries .

Ramohaupa thanked China for supporting South Africa in coping with the power crisis, saying that China's strong support will provide an important boost to South Africa in alleviating the power shortage problem, which is another example of the friendship between the two countries. The South has always regarded China as its most reliable friend, and is willing to take the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China as an opportunity to promote new and greater development of bilateral relations. South Africa looks forward to learning from China's experience in power development, strengthening cooperation in the power field between the two countries, and promoting South Africa to get rid of the power crisis as soon as possible.Editor/XingWentao