New energy plan up for public comment

IN a move that would see the nuclear deal shelved and pave the way for renewable energy, the government this week gazetted its revised IRP2018, which would, according to experts, significantly reduce the role of Eskom in South Africa’s energy industry.

IRP2018 (Infrastructure Resource Plan) was gazetted on Monday and the public has 60 days to comment.
It is a 12-year plan to 2030, which envisages additional generation capacity by 2030 of 1 000MW coal, 2 500MW of hydro, 5 670MW of photovoltaic, 8 100MW from wind and 8 100MW from gas.

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According to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which supports IRP2018, it is aimed at ensuring that cheaper and cleaner renewables as sources of energy would replace coal in line with international developments.

However, OUTA said it is a temporary solution which would still leave South Africa lagging behind.

‘Although there are some scenarios outlined to 2050, the lack of a clear long-term vision reduces South Africa to ‘firefighting’ solutions,’ said Ronald Chauke, OUTA’s Portfolio Manager for Energy, who believes a 20-year plan would have been ideal.

‘The need for a longer term plan is illustrated by the long build-time for new projects.

‘For example, Eskom started building Medupi in 2007 and Kusile in 2008 yet IRP2018 suggests these plants will only be completed in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

‘It is becoming inevitable that Eskom must revise its business model to diversify its portfolio and be innovative to have new revenue generation streams for it to be resilient.

‘This implies that the utility should also consider to partner with IPPs in the planning to build new renewable plants as an investor in these new projects.’

People wanting to comment should write to the Director-General for the Department of Energy (for the attention of Tshepo Madingoane) at Private Bag X 96, Pretoria, 0001, or by email at IRP.Queries@energy.gov.za.

The draft IRP2018 PDF can be found here

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