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energy policy

the form envisaged in the October 2016 The question now becomes what will be 7. Support the development of gas
Preliminary Information Memorandum required of these projects in order to for infrastructure by converting all
and the Information Memorandum. the Minister to grant the deviation and diesel-fired power plants (peakers)
Hydro the timing implications of this process. to gas;
In support of regional integration and Ministerial Determinations 8. Immediately commence the nuclear
energy trading, South Africa has entered build programme up to 2,500MW in
into a Treaty for the development of, case the Grand Inga project does not
and the purchase of 2,500MW of hydro- materialise and because it is a “no-
electric power from, the Grand Inga IRP 2019 confirms that regret option” - we understand from
Project in the Democratic Republic of the press at the time of publication
Congo (DRC), with some of the power the existing Ministerial that the Department of Mineral
intended for transmission to South Africa Determinations in issue will Resources and Energy may publish an
across DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe and be looked at and revised in erratum to IRP 2019 so that this Policy
Botswana, in part in pursuit of regional line with the latest approved Position reads that government will
integration in SADC. IRP. This will be done in commence preparations for a nuclear
build programme to the extent of
Distributed Generation concurrence with NERSA as 2,500MW at a pace and scale that
IRP 2019 provides for uncapped required by law. the country can afford because it is
procurement of Distributed Generation a no-regret option in the long term;
up to and including 2022, and thereafter, Nine Policy Positions to and
procurement would be capped at prevent load shedding and 9. South Africa must support strategic
500MW per year up to 2030. Distributed extensive diesel consumption. power projects in neighbouring
Generation is defined in IRP 2019 to mean countries that enable the
“small-scale technologies to produce development of cross-border
electricity close to the end users of transmission infrastructure.
power”. IRP 2019 suggests elsewhere IRP 2019 sets out nine policy supply and
that distributed generation projects demand side interventions in the short
include projects between 1 and 10 MW. term to minimise the risk of load shedding
This is an opportunity for small-scale (power black-outs) and/or extensive use
generators, including those from biomass, of diesel peaking plants:
biogas, landfill gas and co-generation,
but IRP 2019 appears to exclude mines 1. Immediate initiation of a medium-
and commercial and industrial entities term power purchase programme to
that are seeking to develop generation create reserve capacity;
capacity in excess of 10MW. IRP 2019 2. Immediate commencement of
provides that embedded generation technical and regulatory work for the
installations in excess of 10MW would 20-year extension of the life of the Jason van der Poel
require a “Ministerial deviation in line Koeberg nuclear power plant;
with the Electricity Regulation Act”.
3. Support Eskom financially and legally
to comply with minimum emissions
standards;
The developers of projects
above 10 MW are required 4. Convene a team to put together a
to apply for and obtain an just transition plan within a year in
consultation with all social partners;
exemption from the Minister
of Energy from the obligation 5. Retain the current annual build limits
on renewables (wind and PV) until
to comply with the IRP2019 the report on the just transition is
in terms of section 10(2)(g) released; Alexandra Felekis
of Electricity Regulation Act, 6. South Africa should not sterilise the
before an application for a development of its coal resources
generation licence can be for purposes of power generation,
considered by the National but instead plan for energy and an
Energy Regulator of South environment that supports a just
Africa. transition;

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