Small solar city emerges in South Africa’s coal heartland

ERMELO, SOUTH AFRICA: – A s dusk descends on South Africa‘s coal belt, a stretch of land scarred by decades of mining now flickers to life as dozens of solar street lamps light up Nomzamo Agri-Village.

Despite this mini solar wave sweeping the settlement, coal still keeps many in work, warms their homes in winter and cooks the dinner, even as locals cough up lung fulls of grey smog.

Now though, things are slowly changing.

As one of the world’s largest coal exporters, South Africa has embarked on a plan to wean off polluting coal and embrace green…