Media Release: The PCC welcomes the release of the IRP 2023 for public comment

MEDIA RELEASE – ALL MEDIA/EDITORS

6 JANUARY 2024

RELEASE OF THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP) TIMEOUS FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE ELECTRICITY PLANNING

The PCC welcomes the release of the IRP 2023 for public comment by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

The IRP is the country’s key electricity generation planning instrument, with major implications for our country’s climate change response actions and measures as well as our just transition and development pathways. It provides a critical market signal for investment in new power generation and localisation with implications for the poor through electricity affordability, access, job creation and industrialisation, skills development, impact of climate change and air quality.

The updated IRP is being released in the context of a national power crisis, rapidly rising energy costs, and a deterioration in living standards for many South Africans. For these reasons, stakeholders across the board in South Africa are crucially interested in this updated IRP and its long-term implications for their well-being and development, and its associated risks and opportunities.

The IRP is located within a hierarchy of planning instruments, including the National Development Plan, the National Energy Plan (still to be updated), and South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution, an update of which is due in 2025. The IRP should also be aligned with sectoral emissions targets and carbon budget allocation in terms of the Climate Change Bill, which is in the process of being finalised by Parliament.

“Aligned with the recommendations made by the PCC in April 2023, we welcome the IRPs emphasis on grid investment. The long-term focus to 2050 is critical in the climate context. The multiple scenarios in the IRP analysis provide a useful consideration of future options. The focus on the immediate challenge up to 2030 is of course prudent” said Dr Crispian Olver, Executive Director of the Commission.

Due to the complexity of the IRP, the commissioners will need time to review and provide their comments on it. To this end, the PCC will be conducting a technical review of the IRP and will debate the IRP at the full Commission meeting on 16 February 2024. As with all PCC processes, this exercise will be informed by stakeholder views and public dialogue.

Within its mandate of fostering and building consensus, the PCC will also provide technical support to NEDLAC during their social partner engagement on the IRP.

The PCC will engage with the DMRE to exchange data and information and further support the public engagement process, and consistent with its protocols submit its review and recommendations to the President and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Issued by Presidential Climate Commission