Share

Mahlobo punts smaller power stations despite big nuclear plans

Cape Town – Energy Minister David Mahlobo has punted smaller generation units built in a modular manner, despite the bid by himself and President Jacob Zuma to launch a massive nuclear new build programme.

Mahlobo replied to a Parliamentary question that intensive energy users are building their own generation plants and commercial buildings are moving towards roof-top power generation.

As a result, he explained, “electricity demand from the national grid will become more difficult to estimate.

“This necessitates a more frequent revision of the IRP (Integrated Resource Plan) otherwise we may end up building infrastructure that will not be optimally used, i.e. stranded assets.

“The low cost of smaller generation units makes it easy as we now do not have to build large units, i.e. infrastructure build programmes must be implemented in a modular manner so that it can respond to changes in the market.”

He was responding to Economic Freedom Fighters MP Mzingisi Marshall Dlamini, who asked him why he is “seemingly in a rush to expedite a nuclear energy deal that South Africa cannot afford”.

Mahlobo replied that there “is no nuclear energy deal in South Africa that is being rushed and expedited by myself as the minister of energy.

“The Department of Energy is currently updating the Integrated Energy Plan and the Integrated Resource Plan.”

This comes as Earth Life Africa and the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute plan to approach the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday in a bid to stop Mahlobo from proceeding with the controversial nuclear energy deal. The groups won a crucial court victory over government and Eskom in April, which set aside the nuclear procurement programme.

IRP to get Cabinet approval 'soon'

Mahlobo said the department is concluding the revised IRP “for approval of Cabinet soon”.

Mahlobo said that historically long-term electricity infrastructure planning in South Africa was very easy and predictable, driven by population growth and GDP growth.

“There is now a decoupling of GDP growth from (an) increase in electricity demand,” he said. “The relationship is no longer linear. This is because intensive energy users are now using more energy efficient technologies and the structure of the economy is changing less energy intensive industries.”

His response follows leaked findings from Eskom last week, which it had submitted to the Department of Energy for the draft IRP process. It reveals that the new nuclear option for South Africa is both unnecessary and costly, according to EE Publishers investigative editor Chris Yelland.

“For the first time, this latest work by Eskom incorporates the cost of transmission infrastructure, by including these costs for all the generation technologies and scenarios modelled,” Yelland explained.

“Eskom concludes that contrary to what is often heard, the total cost of grid integration of renewable energy, coal, gas or nuclear is actually minimal in comparison to the cost of the generation component.”

Earlier this month, an independent study revealed that Eskom should cut down on its coal power network – including curtailing work at Kusile – and should not embark on any new nuclear, gas or coal building programmes if it wants to save itself from financial ruin.

In the midst of Eskom's governance and financial crisis, President Jacob Zuma has repeatedly said that South Africa is committed to developing new nuclear power stations at a pace and scale the country can afford. Critics, who believe it could cost over R1trn and that would threaten the country's fiscal framework policy, want the nuclear policy scrapped altogether.

A system analysis undertaken by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Energy Centre found that new coal and nuclear plants are simply no longer competitive against the falling costs of renewables and associated technologies, the report by Meridian Economics said.

“This means that South Africa does not need a nuclear, coal or gas power procurement or construction programme,” the study showed.

* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.93
+0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.90
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.40
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders