South Africa is one of the world's richest countries in terms of minerals. The Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs is continuously engaged in advancing the optimal utilisation of the country's mineral and energy resources to the benefit of the population.
South Africa's mineral wealth is found in diverse geological formations, some of which are unique and very extensive by world standards.
According to recent official estimates, South Africa has the world's largest reserve of chrome ore (72 per cent), vanadium (45 per cent) and andalusite (about 90 percent). The deposits of manganese ore in the Northern Cape are the largest proven reserve base in the world - about 3992 million t of unmined metal. South Africa also has substantial reserves of other industrially important metals and minerals, including antimony, asbestos, diamonds, coal, fluorspar, iron ore, lead, zinc, phosphates, uranium, vermiculite and zirconium.
Mineral sales were worth R53551 million in 1994, when mining contributed about 8,7 percent to the gross domestic product (at current prices), while mineral export sales accounted for 48,1 per cent of total export revenue. About 80 percent of all mineral production is exported to more than 80 countries.
Gold is the main source of foreign currency and South Africa is the world's largest producer of gold, with an annual production of more than 600 t.
Amongst the most important commodities exported in the non-gold sector are the platinum-group metals (PGMs), coal, diamonds, manganese alloys, iron ore, chromium alloys, titanium slag, copper, manganese ore, phosphoric acid, nickel, granite, uranium oxide, chrome ore and zirconium minerals.
South Africa has extensive energy resources of which coal and uranium are the important renewable sources. However, only 44 percent of all households have access to electricity, leaving some three million households unelectrified, according to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).
Coal is the predominant energy carrier, providing about 75 per cent of primary energy needs. Most electricity is generated in coal-fired power stations and coal is also the basic raw material for the Sasol synfuel plant. South Africa has one nuclear power station in operation.
Electricity accounts for 25,1 percent of total, net energy consumption in South Africa. Eskom supplied 95,7 percent of the approximately 167609 million kWh electricity sent out in South Africa in 1994.
The RDP regards an accelerated and sustainable electrification programme as of the utmost importance in providing access to electricity for an additional 2,5 million households by the year 2000. Furthermore, the RDP emphasises that electricity should be made available to small, medium-sized and agricultural enterprises in both urban and rural areas.
Although South Africa geographically covers about 4 percent of the continent, it supplies more than half of all the electricity generated in Africa. A new body formed in 1994, Southern African Development through Electrification, aims to set up an integrated southern African electricity infrastructure.
Manufacture of fuels and chemicals from coal is the main activity of Sasol, a world leader in conversion of coal to oil and gas. It operates the only economically viable oil-from-coal plants in the world.
Dependence on imported crude oil is encountered by production of synthetic liquid fuel from coal, and from natural gas and condensate, and a continuing search for off-shore crude oil and natural gas. Mossgass, a natural gas conversion plant for producing synthetic fuels, came into operation in 1992.
The country's total liquid fuel requirements are supplied by four crude oil refineries and the Sasol synthetic fuel plants. Refined petroleum products are exported to neigbourhing countries. Plans are afoot to make unleaded petrol available to South African users throughout the country from late 1995.
Although the role of renewable energy is as yet small compared to coal, renewable sources will become more important in the future supply of energy for the basic needs of developing communities in remote regions. Fuel wood is still the largest source of household heat energy in these areas.
go back