https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Mantashe expects IRP to go before Cabinet next week

Photo by Creamer Media

Photo by Creamer Media

Photo by Creamer Media

13th September 2019

By: Terence Creamer

Creamer Media Editor

     

Font size: - +

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says he expects the long-awaited update to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to be considered for approval by Cabinet at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday September 18.

The IRP has not been updated since the IRP2010 was officially approved as the country’s generation roadmap in early 2011, despite two previous attempts to do so.

A draft update was published for public comment in August 2018 and, following a national road show, the then Department of Energy (DoE) received thousands of written and oral comments on the plan.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Energy also hosted hearings on the IRP, which was subsequently updated by the DoE ahead of yet further consultation by the government, business, labour and community constituencies represented at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

A protracted Nedlac process, which began in early 2019, then ensued, with labour and community representatives reportedly raising concerns over the exclusion of new nuclear, as well as the diminishing role of coal in the IRP.

The draft IRP, which covers the period 2019 to 2030, already included a policy adjustment to cater for two new coal-fired power stations, selected, but never procured, following a competitive bidding process in 2015. This, despite the fact that the inclusion of the new-coal plants resulted in a deviation from a least-cost outcome, which was further constrained by the inclusion of yearly deployment limits on solar and wind.

Adjustments were also made to cater for capacity arising from a proposed expansion to the Inga hydro power plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in line with a treaty signed between South Africa and the DRC.

In the main, though, the draft IRP proposes that the bulk of South Africa’s electricity demand to 2030 – including demand arising from the decommissioning of some of Eskom’s aged coal plants – be met through a combination of wind and solar photovoltaic generators, supported by flexible generators, such as gas. Such a mix, the plan concludes, represents the least-cost new-build solution for the country.

Mantashe reported on Friday that the latest version of the IRP had already been presented for consideration within various structures of the African National Congress and had since been sent to The Presidency for inclusion on the agenda of an upcoming Cabinet meeting.

“We are hoping to have it through [Cabinet] by Wednesday next week,” Mantashe said during a briefing in Pretoria.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Multotec
Multotec

Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.126 0.191s - 175pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now