South Africa: Nuclear and Gas 'Forced In' SA's Draft Updated Electricity Masterplan - Experts

8 May 2025
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)

South Africa's draft Integrated Resource Plan 2024 (IRP) is 'deeply flawed' in both process and outcome, according to a panel of independent energy economists, climate policy specialists and engineers.

South Africa's draft Integrated Resource Plan 2024 (IRP) is 'deeply flawed' in both process and outcome, according to a panel of independent energy economists, climate policy specialists and engineers.

A group of eminent South African technical experts have roundly criticised the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2024 (IRP) - the country's electricity blueprint for the future - as being flawed in both process and outcome, with at least one expert saying that nuclear energy and gas were "forced in" despite there being no techno-economic rationale for their inclusion.

These extra costs could be "socialised" and filter through to taxpayers and electricity tariffs.

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The Electricity Regulation Act defines the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) as "an indicative, forward-looking plan [established by the national sphere of government to give effect to] for electricity generation, which reflects national policy on electricity planning, which plan specifies the types of energy sources and technologies from which electricity may be generated and indicates the amount of electricity that is to be generated from each of such sources or technologies."

The current draft of the IRP is being discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) before Cabinet considers a final version later this year.

Subesh...

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