Why is South Africa delaying the retirement of coal-fired power stations?

South Africa is delaying the retirement of about a fifth of its coal-fired electricity-generation capacity because the 6 gigawatts of planned gas-powered generation—intended to replace 8 gigawatts of coal capacity by 2030—is behind schedule and entangled in legal processes, leaving Eskom with little option but to extend the operational life of aging coal plants.

What are the main obstacles preventing South Africa from transitioning from coal to gas power as planned?

The main obstacles include long lead times—around five years—for importing gas turbines from suppliers like Siemens AG and General Electric Co., equipment availability constraints, the high cost of imported gas (which South Africa does not produce domestically), and delays in legal processes tied to gas projects, all of which jeopardize timely implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan 2025.