Renewable Energy is a priority

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is reviewing the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is currently published for public comments until 23 February, 2024.

Currently, the department is hosting a series of public workshops to unpack the draft IRP, and will review and consider public comments first before finalising the plan in May.

According to the DMRE, the plan seeks to ensure security of electricity supply by balancing supply with demand, while taking into account the environment and total cost of supply.

The department added that the draft IRP is based on a scientific process that considers several scenarios and latest developments in the country’s electricity industry.

The plan is expected to be continuously revised and updated as necessitated by changing circumstances. It was first put into effect in March 2011 and was last reviewed in 2019.

The department’s Director-General Jacob Mbele said the IRP considers two-time horizons.

“The first is the period up to 2030 focusing on addressing prevailing generation capacity constraints and system requirements to close the supply gap,” he explained.

“Horizon two covers the period from 2031 to 2050 and focuses on long-term electricity generation planning with pathways to achieve a resilient Net Zero electricity sector by 2050,” Mbele added.

He also said horizon one outlines the generation capacity and power system failures, assesses the extent to which the proposed initiatives address the supply and demand deficit.

“What we know is that we want to ensure energy security supply that is in line with our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and that the energy security supply must be affordable,” he said.