South Africa’s minister of minerals and energy Buyelwa Sonjica recently met Norwegian minister of petroleum and energy Odd Roger Enoksen. Sonjica has just concluded a four-day visit to Norway with a commitment on a firm partnership between the two countries. During the talks, the main topic was the energy cooperation between the two countries and Sonjica expressed concern on how to get all South Africans access to electricity without further damage to the environment, Norway Post reported.
Norway, with its vast reserves of natural resources, is developing expertise in greenhouse emissions issues, including technology that will capture carbon dioxide. There are still questions as to whether this could have negative implications in the future.
Although the government is considering this kind of technology, the minister says it should not be regarded as the only option in efforts to curb carbon emissions. Enoksen is adamant that this technology is the way to go, especially since emissions capture exercises have proven a success in Oslo over the last decade. A recent study conducted by the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research has confirmed a speedy disappearance of ice and snow in the Alpine and Polar Regions.