Fin24 reports that on Friday Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe briefed media on the recently Integrated Resources Plan for 2019 (IRP2019), which was gazetted earlier.
The plan is a blueprint for future energy generation, including projected electricity demand, cost estimates, and a breakdown of power sources. It promotes an energy mix comprised of coal, wind, solar, hydro, gas and nuclear for the next decade. Commenting on the plan, Matthew Parks, parliamentary coordinator for Cosatu, said that the labour federation was happy with some of the concessions government made to include various types of sources in the energy mix. However, the IRP had a drawback in that it did not address the "existential crisis" facing Eskom daily. Not dealing with these issues could mean Eskom won’t be around in 10 years' time, Parks warned. The IRP recognises there will be a decommissioning of approximately 24,100 MW of coal power between 2030 and 2050 and calls for an engagement process to ensure a just social transition and to mitigate against the negative impact on communities and local economies. Parks said that the just transition relating to the coal plants reaching the end of their life span would be discussed now that the IRP was finalised. He believes a "win-win" solution can be found for jobs and the environment.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page