## 1. A technical assistance mission was delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [1. A technical assistance mission was delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/tar/2025/english/tarea2025038-print-pdf.pdf) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/-/media/files/publications/tar/2025/english/tarea2025038-print-pdf.pdf.md) - [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/publications/tar/2025/english/tarea2025038-print-pdf.pdf.json) --- ### Mission overview - Mission delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) from February 13–17, 2025, under the “Environmental and Climate Change Statistics Capacity Development Program” supported by the Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). - Assisted the Environmental Economic Accounts (EEA Directorate) of Stats SA in finalizing the first compilation of energy accounts in line with the statistical standard, System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA). - Accounts scheduled for release by end of March 2025 as a discussion document including the accounts and its analysis, and the concepts, definitions, sources and methods adopted for the compilation. - Mission reviewed and supported finalization of the dissemination formats associated with the release. - This was the third mission in a series aimed at enhancing Stats SA's capacity for climate-relevant statistics, building on: - A diagnostic assessment in June 2023 to identify indicators for implementation under the program. - A first technical assistance mission during June 10–14, 2024, which reviewed available official statistics and developed a detailed workplan and included training sessions. - Ongoing support provided through monthly virtual meetings involved representatives from Stats SA, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). ### Priority recommendations (from Table 1) - August 2025: Actively engage with the members of the Technical Working Group to establish a clear and practical publication trajectory, so that all the agencies can agree on the scope and coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of the compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - December 2025–February 2026: Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - November 2026: Discussion document on air emissions accounts disseminated. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - Ongoing: Stats SA accords a high priority to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the work on the energy and air emissions accounts. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA ### Detailed recommendations (summarized from Table 2) - H — Discussion document on energy accounts compiled for the years 2015 to 2021 released by Stats SA — Target Completion Date: March 2025 - H — First draft experimental set of air emissions accounts for one year of reference is compiled. — Target Completion Date: July 2025 - H — A clear and practical publication trajectory is established and shared with the members of the TWG, so that all the agencies come to an agreement on the intended temporal coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of the compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. — Target Completion Date: July-August 2025 - H/M — Stats SA undertakes a comprehensive review of methodologies, data presentations, and formats utilized in the discussion document on energy accounts and builds on them to set a workplan for regular production of energy accounts. — Target Completion Date: November 2025 - H/M — Members of the TWG strive for detailed and accurate breakdowns in energy and air emissions accounts, utilizing data from the DMRE, DFFE and Stats SA to offer an elaborate view of energy consumption and production, emissions as well as emission intensities. — Target Completion Date: September 2025 - M — The detailed energy consumption data and activity profile from the large sample surveys compiled and released by Stats SA are used to improve the information in the energy balances/energy accounts and in the estimates of the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, especially in the Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sector and transportation within the Energy sector. — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - H — Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between national GHG inventories and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - M — Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between energy balances and energy accounts — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - M — Stats SA considers allocating resources to update and resume the production of input-output (I-O) tables to enhance environmental analysis, including carbon footprint assessments. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - H — Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for the residence principle in air emissions accounts, based on available information. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - M — Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for the residence principle in the energy accounts, based on available information. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - H — Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. — Target Completion Date: December 2025–February 2026 - M — The data precision and comprehensiveness of the energy balance, as compiled by the DMRE, is enhanced by reviewing the 'non-specified' items and allocating them to appropriate categories. — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - M — To ensure that energy data presented in various publications are interpreted correctly, differences in concepts and terminology should be explained during dissemination. (For instance, regarding the differences between inflows and outflows presented by the monthly energy statistics and the international trade flows presented by energy accounts.) — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - M/L — Stats SA engages with the members of the TWG and other stakeholders to strategize the dissemination of in-depth analyses, briefing papers, and thorough documentation, to enhance the comprehension and uptake of the newly developed energy and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - H — Discussion document on the experimental air emissions accounts disseminated. — Target Completion Date: November 2026 - L — Stats SA/DMRE explore the possibility of actively seeking information from enterprises that generate their own electricity to provide a fuller picture of the electricity sector. — Target Completion Date: March 2027 - H — Stats SA accords a high priority for ensuring that sufficient resources are made available in the EEA Directorate for the future work and improvements on the energy and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: Ongoing ### Background and achievements - IMF Statistics Department launched a two-year “Environmental and Climate Change Statistics Capacity Development Program” supported by SECO and launched in March 2023 with a diagnostic mission to South Africa delivered in July 2023. - South Africa participates in the Data Gaps Initiative Phase 3 (DGI-3) as a G20 member; DGI-3 focuses on: (i) climate change, (ii) household distributional information, (iii) fintech and financial inclusion, and (iv) access to private sources of data and administrative data, and data sharing. The DGI-3 includes 14 recommendations, 7 of which related to climate change. - Recommendations 1 and 2 of DGI-3 intend to support development of air emissions and energy accounts in G20 countries. - A Technical Working Group (TWG) for Air Emission Accounts (AEA) and Energy Accounts (EA) was constituted with members from Stats SA, DMRE, DFFE, DMPE, National Treasury (NT), Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM), and South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB). - Multiple TWG meetings during 2024 addressed DMRE energy balances, additional datasets from Stats SA and ESKOM, and delineation of energy sourced from international aviation and marine bunkers. - DMRE engaged with the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2024; a training workshop was organized during February 2025 by UNFCCC in collaboration with IEA focused on Quality Assurance of the National Energy Information Management System and Energy Statistics of South Africa. - DFFE submitted the national inventory document for the years 2002–2022 to the UNFCCC in December 2024 and is linking the latest available GHG inventory to ISIC and SIC using the Business Register within Stats SA; DFFE is implementing SASQAF for its GHG inventory data program. - Monthly virtual IMF technical meetings since June 2024 supported compilation across Stats SA, DFFE and DMRE and enabled development of experimental energy accounts for the years 2015–2021 and preparation for air emissions accounts tentatively scheduled for release during FY 2026/27. ### Energy accounts overview: 2015–2021 - Stats SA compiled physical energy flow accounts (PEFA) based on SEEA-Energy for the years 2015–2021. - PEFAs record energy flows in physical units (i.e., joules) from extraction into the economy, flows within the economy (supply and use by industries and households), and flows of energy back to the environment (energy residuals). The format adopted by Stats SA is given in Appendix A of the source. - PEFA adopts the same industry structure as the national accounts and is consistent with the System of National Accounts (SNA). - Stats SA’s PEFA compilation was largely based on the energy balances produced by DMRE. - Stats SA prepared a discussion document to release these accounts as part of the Stats SA Natural Capital (NC) series, including sources and methods and an analytical section. - Stats SA’s Large Sample Surveys conducted every 3–4 years provide physical and monetary data used to supply end-use detail for main energy products: “coal,” “natural gas” and “oil & oil products.” ### Next steps and workplan (from Table 3) - July 2025: First draft experimental set of air emissions accounts for one year of reference is compiled. - July–August 2025: A clear and practical publication trajectory is established and shared with the members of the TWG, so that all the agencies come to an agreement on the intended temporal coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. - November 2025: Stats SA undertakes a comprehensive review of methodologies, data presentations, and formats utilized in the discussion document on energy accounts and builds on them to set a workplan for regular production of energy accounts. - September 2025: Members of the TWG strive for detailed and accurate breakdowns in energy and air emissions accounts, utilizing data from the DMRE, DFFE and Stats SA to offer a nuanced view of energy consumption and production, emissions as well as emission intensities. - October 2025: Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between (1) energy balances and energy accounts and (2) national GHG inventories and air emissions accounts. - December 2025: Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for residence principle in the energy and air emissions accounts, based on available information. - December 2025–February 2026: Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. - November 2026: Discussion document on air emissions accounts disseminated. ### Mission planning and outreach - Subject to the extension of the program by SECO, a mission could be planned before March 2026 as the need arises to: - review the sources and methods of the air emissions accounts; - review the discussion documents; - help plan the outreach for seeking broader feedback. ### Medium- to long-term activities for continuous improvement - Review the information in the energy balances compiled by DMRE by contrasting them with other relevant data sources such as the Large Sample Surveys and datasets maintained for the electricity sector. - Coordinate with source agencies to highlight differences in concept and terminology in their publications. ### Electricity sector data gaps - Multiple official datasets exist for the electricity sector; however: - Recognized lack of adequate information on electricity generated for own use by enterprises. - Stats SA and DMRE may explore actively seeking information from enterprises that generate their own electricity to provide a fuller picture of the electricity sector. ### Dissemination and stakeholder engagement - To enhance comprehension and uptake of the newly developed energy and air emissions accounts, Stats SA may consider: - collaborating with members of the TWG and other stakeholders; - strategizing dissemination of in-depth analyses, briefing papers, and thorough documentation. ### Potential challenges and risks - Staffing constraint: - Allocation of only two staff members in the Environmental Economic Accounts (EEA) Directorate in Stats SA poses a challenge for developing and maintaining energy and air emissions accounts. - Mission emphasized that the current staffing level may jeopardize the timeliness and accuracy of the accounts and limit the ability to incorporate advancements and adapt to evolving methodologies and standards. - Mitigation through collaboration: - Stronger collaboration with agencies like DMRE and DFFE may help alleviate some pressure. - Stats SA may consider strengthening collaboration, potentially through the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to leverage activities and resources in these organizations. ### Recommendation - Stats SA to accord a high priority for ensuring that sufficient resources are made available for the work on the energy and air emissions accounts. ### Officials met during the mission - Bokang Vumbukani-Lepolesa, Stats SA - Harry Thema, Stats SA - Robert Kwinda, DMRE - Ramaano Membahe, DMRA - Mahlomola Lefupana, Stats SA - Nwabisa Maya, Stats SA - Riaan Grobler, Stats SA - Robert Parry, Stats SA - Sewela Malaka, DFFE - Tshamaano Khalushi, DFFE ### Appendices referenced - A. FORMAT OF PHYSICAL ENERGY FLOW ACCOUNTS ADOPTED BY STATS SA: SUPPLY SIDE - B. FORMAT OF PHYSICAL ENERGY FLOW ACCOUNTS ADOPTED BY STATS SA: USE SIDE *IMF | Technical Assistance Report – South Africa Environment and Climate Change Statistics* ### 1. A technical assistance mission was delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) ### 1. A technical assistance mission was delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) ### Mission overview - A technical assistance mission was delivered virtually to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) from February 13–17, 2025, under the “Environmental and Climate Change Statistics Capacity Development Program” supported by the Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). - The mission assisted the Environmental Economic Accounts (EEA Directorate) of Stats SA in finalizing the first compilation of energy accounts in line with the statistical standard, System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA). - The accounts are scheduled for release by end of March 2025 as a discussion document that will include the accounts and its analysis, and the concepts, definitions, sources and methods adopted for the compilation. - The mission reviewed and supported finalization of the dissemination formats associated with the release. - The mission was the third in a series aimed at enhancing Stats SA's capacity for climate-relevant statistics, building on: - A diagnostic assessment in June 2023 to identify indicators for implementation under the program. - A first technical assistance mission during June 10–14, 2024, which reviewed available official statistics and developed a detailed workplan and included training sessions. - Ongoing support provided through monthly virtual meetings involved representatives from Stats SA, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). ### Priority recommendations (from Table 1) - August 2025: Actively engage with the members of the Technical Working Group to establish a clear and practical publication trajectory, so that all the agencies can agree on the scope and coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of the compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - December 2025–February 2026: Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - November 2026: Discussion document on air emissions accounts disseminated. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA - Ongoing: Stats SA accords a high priority to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the work on the energy and air emissions accounts. — Responsible Institution: Stats SA ### Detailed recommendations (summarized from Table 2) - H — Discussion document on energy accounts compiled for the years 2015 to 2021 released by Stats SA — Target Completion Date: March 2025 - H — First draft experimental set of air emissions accounts for one year of reference is compiled. — Target Completion Date: July 2025 - H — A clear and practical publication trajectory is established and shared with the members of the TWG, so that all the agencies come to an agreement on the intended temporal coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of the compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. — Target Completion Date: July-August 2025 - H/M — Stats SA undertakes a comprehensive review of methodologies, data presentations, and formats utilized in the discussion document on energy accounts and builds on them to set a workplan for regular production of energy accounts. — Target Completion Date: November 2025 - H/M — Members of the TWG strive for detailed and accurate breakdowns in energy and air emissions accounts, utilizing data from the DMRE, DFFE and Stats SA to offer an elaborate view of energy consumption and production, emissions as well as emission intensities. — Target Completion Date: September 2025 - M — The detailed energy consumption data and activity profile from the large sample surveys compiled and released by Stats SA are used to improve the information in the energy balances/energy accounts and in the estimates of the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, especially in the Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sector and transportation within the Energy sector. — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - H — Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between national GHG inventories and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - M — Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between energy balances and energy accounts — Target Completion Date: October 2025 - M — Stats SA considers allocating resources to update and resume the production of input-output (I-O) tables to enhance environmental analysis, including carbon footprint assessments. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - H — Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for the residence principle in air emissions accounts, based on available information. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - M — Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for the residence principle in the energy accounts, based on available information. — Target Completion Date: December 2025 - H — Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. — Target Completion Date: December 2025–February 2026 - M — The data precision and comprehensiveness of the energy balance, as compiled by the DMRE, is enhanced by reviewing the 'non-specified' items and allocating them to appropriate categories. — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - M — To ensure that energy data presented in various publications are interpreted correctly, differences in concepts and terminology should be explained during dissemination. (For instance, regarding the differences between inflows and outflows presented by the monthly energy statistics and the international trade flows presented by energy accounts.) — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - M/L — Stats SA engages with the members of the TWG and other stakeholders to strategize the dissemination of in-depth analyses, briefing papers, and thorough documentation, to enhance the comprehension and uptake of the newly developed energy and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: March 2026 - H — Discussion document on the experimental air emissions accounts disseminated. — Target Completion Date: November 2026 - L — Stats SA/DMRE explore the possibility of actively seeking information from enterprises that generate their own electricity to provide a fuller picture of the electricity sector. — Target Completion Date: March 2027 - H — Stats SA accords a high priority for ensuring that sufficient resources are made available in the EEA Directorate for the future work and improvements on the energy and air emissions accounts. — Target Completion Date: Ongoing ### Background and achievements - The IMF Statistics Department launched a two-year “Environmental and Climate Change Statistics Capacity Development Program” supported by SECO and launched in March 2023 with a diagnostic mission to South Africa delivered in July 2023. - South Africa participates in the Data Gaps Initiative Phase 3 (DGI-3) as a G20 member; DGI-3 focuses on: (i) climate change, (ii) household distributional information, (iii) fintech and financial inclusion, and (iv) access to private sources of data and administrative data, and data sharing. The DGI-3 includes 14 recommendations, 7 of which related to climate change. - Recommendations 1 and 2 of DGI-3 intend to support development of air emissions and energy accounts in G20 countries. - A Technical Working Group (TWG) for Air Emission Accounts (AEA) and Energy Accounts (EA) was constituted with members from Stats SA, DMRE, DFFE, DMPE, National Treasury (NT), Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM), and South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB). - Multiple TWG meetings during 2024 addressed DMRE energy balances, additional datasets from Stats SA and ESKOM, and delineation of energy sourced from international aviation and marine bunkers. - DMRE engaged with the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2024; a training workshop was organized during February 2025 by UNFCCC in collaboration with IEA focused on Quality Assurance of the National Energy Information Management System and Energy Statistics of South Africa. - DFFE submitted the national inventory document for the years 2002–2022 to the UNFCCC in December 2024 and is linking the latest available GHG inventory to ISIC and SIC using the Business Register within Stats SA; DFFE is implementing SASQAF for its GHG inventory data program. - Monthly virtual IMF technical meetings since June 2024 supported compilation across Stats SA, DFFE and DMRE and enabled development of experimental energy accounts for the years 2015–2021 and preparation for air emissions accounts tentatively scheduled for release during FY 2026/27. ### Energy accounts overview: 2015–2021 - Stats SA compiled physical energy flow accounts (PEFA) based on SEEA-Energy for the years 2015–2021. - PEFAs record energy flows in physical units (i.e., joules) from extraction into the economy, flows within the economy (supply and use by industries and households), and flows of energy back to the environment (energy residuals). The format adopted by Stats SA is given in Appendix A of the source. - PEFA adopts the same industry structure as the national accounts and is consistent with the System of National Accounts (SNA). - Stats SA’s PEFA compilation was largely based on the energy balances produced by DMRE. - Stats SA prepared a discussion document to release these accounts as part of the Stats SA Natural Capital (NC) series, including sources and methods and an analytical section. - Stats SA’s Large Sample Surveys conducted every 3–4 years provide physical and monetary data used to supply end-use detail for main energy products: “coal,” “natural gas” and “oil & oil products.” ### Next steps and workplan (from Table 3) - July 2025: First draft experimental set of air emissions accounts for one year of reference is compiled. - July–August 2025: A clear and practical publication trajectory is established and shared with the members of the TWG, so that all the agencies come to an agreement on the intended temporal coverage of the air emissions accounts for the first phase of compilation and commit to continuous improvement and expansion over a longer time frame. - November 2025: Stats SA undertakes a comprehensive review of methodologies, data presentations, and formats utilized in the discussion document on energy accounts and builds on them to set a workplan for regular production of energy accounts. - September 2025: Members of the TWG strive for detailed and accurate breakdowns in energy and air emissions accounts, utilizing data from the DMRE, DFFE and Stats SA to offer a nuanced view of energy consumption and production, emissions as well as emission intensities. - October 2025: Developing bridge tables to facilitate understanding of the overlaps and differences between (1) energy balances and energy accounts and (2) national GHG inventories and air emissions accounts. - December 2025: Stats SA evolves methods for implementing the adjustments for residence principle in the energy and air emissions accounts, based on available information. - December 2025–February 2026: Draft experimental air emissions accounts for the agreed temporal coverage are compiled and a discussion document presenting the experimental air emissions accounts is prepared. - November 2026: Discussion document on air emissions accounts disseminated. *IMF | Technical Assistance Report – South Africa Environment and Climate Change Statistics* ### 24. It was indicated to Stats SA that, subject to the extension of the program by SECO, a ### tarea2025038-print-pdf - 24. It was indicated to Stats SA that, subject to the extension of the program by SECO, a ### Mission planning and outreach - Subject to the extension of the program by SECO, a mission could be planned before March 2026 as the need arises to: - review the sources and methods of the air emissions accounts; - review the discussion documents; - help plan the outreach for seeking broader feedback. ### Medium- to long-term activities for continuous improvement - Activities identified for Stats SA to implement in the medium to longer time horizon to establish a system of continuous improvement: - review the information in the energy balances compiled by DMRE by contrasting them with other relevant data sources such as the Large Sample Surveys and datasets maintained for the electricity sector; - coordinate with source agencies to highlight differences in concept and terminology in their publications. ### Electricity sector data gaps - Several datasets on the electricity sector exist in official publications of South Africa; however: - there is a recognized lack of adequate information on electricity generated for own use by enterprises; - Stats SA and DMRE may explore actively seeking information from enterprises that generate their own electricity to provide a fuller picture of the electricity sector. ### Dissemination and stakeholder engagement - To enhance comprehension and uptake of the newly developed energy and air emissions accounts, Stats SA may consider: - collaborating with members of the TWG and other stakeholders; - strategizing dissemination of in-depth analyses, briefing papers, and thorough documentation. ### Potential challenges and risks - Staffing constraint: - The allocation of only two staff members in the Environmental Economic Accounts (EEA) Directorate in Stats SA poses a challenge for developing and maintaining energy and air emissions accounts. - The mission emphasized that the current staffing level may jeopardize the timeliness and accuracy of the accounts and limit the ability to incorporate advancements and adapt to evolving methodologies and standards. - Mitigation through collaboration: - Stronger collaboration with agencies like DMRE and DFFE may help alleviate some pressure. - Stats SA may consider strengthening collaboration, potentially through the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to leverage activities and resources in these organizations. ### Recommendation - Stats SA to accord a high priority for ensuring that sufficient resources are made available for the work on the energy and air emissions accounts. ### Officials met during the mission - Bokang Vumbukani-Lepolesa, Stats SA - Harry Thema, Stats SA - Robert Kwinda, DMRE - Ramaano Membahe, DMRA - Mahlomola Lefupana, Stats SA - Nwabisa Maya, Stats SA - Riaan Grobler, Stats SA - Robert Parry, Stats SA - Sewela Malaka, DFFE - Tshamaano Khalushi, DFFE ### Appendices referenced - A. FORMAT OF PHYSICAL ENERGY FLOW ACCOUNTS ADOPTED BY STATS SA: SUPPLY SIDE - B. FORMAT OF PHYSICAL ENERGY FLOW ACCOUNTS ADOPTED BY STATS SA: USE SIDE *IMF | Technical Assistance Report – South Africa Environment and Climate Change Statistics* --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/tar/2025/english/tarea2025038-print-pdf.pdf_