DoE making progress with SA energy plan

The Department of Energy (DoE) is progressing with the development of the second integrated resource plan, or IRP2010, and remains on track to deliver the document by September, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters told Engineering News Online on Friday.

Peters explained that consultations have been completed with working groups, and discussions would need to be held with the InterMinisterial Committee on energy before decisions were finalised.

The document would then be sent to the Cabinet, and if accepted, only then would it be made public.

The DoE is spearheading the IRP2010, which would determine South Africa's current and future energy requirements for the next 20 years.

Peters said previously that the country had reached a "delicate situation, which requires us to take bold and decisive decisions on whether to build coal-fired or nuclear power stations for baseload energy requirements".

Once decisions were articulated as to what percentage of energy was to be derived from which specific resources, it was expected to accelerate investment by the private sector.

Edited by: Mariaan Webb

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Readers Comments

Perhaps the Iceman is a member of the hand-picked Advisory Panel, for the comment suggests priveleged access to a process that has been far from user friendly or transparnt for many stakeholders. Now there is a suggestion that this IRP, which should be provisional to the findings of full Integrated Energy Planning (IEP), as legally required on an annual basis in terms of the National Energy Act (2008), will be used to make a decison on wheter to contract for a ;large new nuclear programme. We certainly would benefit from greate media attention, not just to the provisional IRP process, but also the review of the Renewable Energy White Paper and targets, taking place in parallel with the IRP process, but apparently a tribvial exercise in the perspective of DoE officials. It would also be timely for journalists to enquire how and when the department intends to fulfil the legal requirement for a proper IEP.

Richard Worthington on 05 Aug 10

Me again- about NOT doing. Here we go again: "onsultations have been completed with working groups, and discussions would need to be held". More talking and less doing. Minister you make the statement "which requires us to take bold and decisive decisions"! Think about the 5ft fuel available to you, it is called ENERGY EFFICIENCY! But to go down that road requires bold and decisive decisions! So show the rest of "he InterMinisterial Committee on energy" and the Cabinet how it is done. DO now and reap the rewards. Consult / talk / discuss / monitor, none of which is actually doing and has the net effect of wasting more time and money! DO please minister!

James Adrian on 31 Jul 10

The IRP2010 process has been one of the best I have ever taken part in. It has been user friendly, transparent, and responsive. The latest newsletter reports that over 800 comments were received from stakeholders, all of which have been incorporated into the very complex models that underpin the IRP. The Department is to be congratulated on the way it has run this process. The press should be castigated for not giving it more publicity.

The Iceman Cometh on 31 Jul 10

Country	Industry Term	Person
South Africa	Energy Energy Requirements	Dipuo Peters

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