There were currently no plans to discontinue the use of coal as part of the country’s energy mix, said Deputy President David Mabuza.
Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly last week, he said the country’s energy generation was guided by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, which provided for the use of all energy resources available, including, among others, coal, gas and renewable energy sources.
“Currently, there are no plans for the discontinuation of the use of coal as 99% of South Africa’s electricity supply is derived from coal, and 30% of liquid fuels are derived from the same commodity.
“Coal remains one of our largest natural endowments that will continue to form part of our energy mix in terms of the IRP 2019,” he said.
The country was, however, committed to forging a low-carbon growth path that prioritised environmental sustainability, he added.
“We need to ensure that we deploy new infrastructure, technologies and solutions that enable us to adhere to ambient air quality standards, and protect the lives of communities from negative environmental externalities.
“Going forward, the IRP 2019 proposes the use of high-efficiency, low-emissions coal technologies. Government is currently working on other measures such as the Gas Utilisation Master Plan and the Renewable Energy Master Plan.”
He said government was exploring the development of the Nuclear Procurement Framework as proposed in the IRP 2019.
These were part of the medium- to long-term plans in ensuring security of energy supply.
“Having said that, it is important to point out that, out of the entire fleet, there are planned optimised plant shutdowns that are aligned with the Integrated Resource Plan, to balance capacity, environmental, social and economic considerations.
“This is inevitable because, in the main, these plants are approaching the end of their lifespan and have become uneconomical, unpredictable and costly to run.
“Nine coal-fired power stations will be shut down by 2035, thereby impacting significantly on the reduction of generation capacity,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
