Venezuela/South Africa

Chavez and Mbeki sign energy deal

Article published on the 2008-09-02 Latest update 2008-09-03 12:26 TU

Hugo Chavez meets with Thabo Mbeki.
(Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and South African leader Thabo Mbeki hailed a developing "strategic" relationship between their two countries after signing a key energy deal. The US's principal opponent in Latin America is on a two-day visit which he hopes will boost South-South relations and which Pretoria hopes will reduce its reliance on coal.

Demand for electricity in South Africa has outstripped supply, causing frequent power outages and forcing some mining companies to shut down temporarily earlier this year.  

"Venezuela has one of the largest  oil reserves in the world and developing commercial relations in this sector could provide alternative sources of energy to South Africa," Foreign Affairs spokeperson Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement.

The two leaders will also discuss mining, armaments, agriculture and public works.

The strengthening of South-South relations is also on the agenda. Mbeki and Chavez will look at preparations for a summit between the African Union (AU) and the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) to be held in Caracas at the end of November.

"The anti-imperialist rhetoric of Hugo Chavez is very popular in South Africa among political groups that are now hostile to Thabo Mbeki", says RFI's reporter Nicolas Champeaux in Johannesburg.