If Eskom plans to expand its coal-fired power plants, the final IRP will also need to include a solution to Eskom's high emissions.Photo: Salam Habash/Unsplash
Titus Mate, CEO of the National Energy Development Corporation of South Africa, says South Africa should quickly finalize and gazette an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) document or delay will cause a loss of investor confidence. It says there is a danger.
IRP 2023, released for public comment by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) last year, is an electricity infrastructure plan that looks at electricity demand and how it will be supplied.
The final plan is expected to be decided by the end of May.
Mate said email and guardian Although the draft IRP does not specify what energy path the country should take, it does say that it can still effectively resolve the energy crisis.
The draft IRP sets out two time periods: the first period describes how the government will stabilize the electricity system between now and 2030, and the second period describes how South Africa will stabilize the electricity system from 2030 to 2030. It explains what kind of energy will be needed by 2050.
Mathe said as technology advances, DMRE can update its documentation to keep it current. “Just because the draft is incomplete doesn’t mean we have to stop the approval process. As investors are waiting, we need to approve the current draft and highlight risk areas that require further investigation.” Mr. Mayte said.
He added that any extension or delay in completing the document would be detrimental to the country as it would create uncertainty.
“The IRP draft document focuses on completing the efforts outlined in IRP 2019 by strengthening collaboration with the private sector to incorporate gas and connect it to the grid. Although these goals are sound, “Prolonged waiting periods are detrimental to the country and cannot be ignored.”
Mr Mate suggested that the DMRE should be open to annual document reviews to ensure continued consultation progress.
He said the consultation will ensure the department meets annual review deadlines and avoids submission delays and public uproar.
DMRE came under fire last year after its widely anticipated plans faced repeated delays. The new draft also disappointed some people, with some commentators pointing out that the document lacked detail.
To address commentators' concerns, Mr Marte said the final IRP document would address issues around transmission lines and how Eskom would build 14,000 kilometers of transmission lines over eight years to accommodate grid expansion. He said the priority should be to address questions about what the plan is. The amount of electricity generated from renewable energy will increase.
This is despite Eskom having built just four kilometers of transmission lines in 10 years.
“We need to document how we are going to deal with this. We need public-private partnerships to help build that infrastructure. If that is reflected in the revised document, it will encourage investors to commit resources and capital.” It will also provide clarity for optimal allocation,” Mate said.
He said the final draft IRP must also include a solution to Eskom's high emissions if it plans to expand its coal-fired power plants.
“The draft envisages that Eskom will receive an exemption from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) to continue burning dirty coal. However, if DFFE refuses to exempt the utility from emissions. must document funding to retrofit current coal use.”
Coal retrofitting is the process of enhancing existing coal-fired power plants by introducing advanced technologies to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, such as enhanced pollution control and improved boilers and turbines.
South Africa's energy crisis is exacerbating existing economic challenges, with rating agencies, the International Monetary Fund and the South African Reserve Bank warning that load shedding is a significant barrier to economic recovery.
Controversially, the 2023 draft IRP states that load shedding will continue until 2027, an outcome that would bode ill for South Africa's limping economy.
DMRE told the M&G it would not be able to meet the May deadline.
“The ministry has received extensive written submissions, which are currently being analyzed and will inform the final plan to be recommended to Cabinet for approval by the end of May 2024,” DMRE said.
Critics added that the final document should be based on comments received during the consultation period.
“We have received and are working from extensive comments. There is therefore no need to focus on so-called experts and their commentary,” the ministry said.
Mr Mathe said that pending the completion of the IRP document by DMRE, Eskom would undertake special interventions to improve energy utilization (the actual energy output of the power plants) at the Duba, Matola, Kuriel, Tutuka, Kendal and Majuba power stations. He said you need to create a plan and weekly goals.
These stations are the worst performing stations with an EAF of less than 70%.
“Weekly EAF improvement goals should be set for each power plant and for each unit of the power plant. If these goals are met and maintained for at least one month, all plant personnel will receive a monthly performance They should be rewarded through a bonus incentive scheme,” said Mathe.
