The Department of Energy is working to secure 16000MW of new power supply for South Africa in the medium term.
Plans include accelerating private sector bids for co-generation‚ gas and coal-fired power‚ obtaining hydroelectric power from the Grand Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo‚ and signing up renewable energy projects‚ acting director-general of energy Wolsey Barnard said.
He said 32 of the 66 renewable energy contracts awarded were delivering more than 1500MW of power to the grid.
He was delivering the keynote address on Tuesday at the Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton‚ in the absence of Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
The conference is being held in the midst of South Africa’s acute power shortages and load-shedding.
Of about 43000MW of installed capacity‚ South Africa has only 28000MW to 35000MW available at any time because of planned and unplanned outages.
Barnard said it would take 20 to 30 months to address Eskom’s maintenance backlog and restore full availability of installed capacity.
Answering questions on the sidelines of the conference‚ he said the department was finalising key policy documents including the integrated resource plan (IRP)‚ integrated energy plan‚ gas utilisation master plan and liquid fuels strategy. But in the meantime‚ it was focusing on developing energy infrastructure – putting in place the infrastructure for gas supply was one of its priorities.
He said discussions were still under way on whether or not oil and gas legislation would be separated from the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act‚ after the amendment bill was recently sent back to parliament for review.
The department said it expected clarity on this within weeks and that it would have a contribution to make on gas legislation.
Asked about rumours that South Africa had signed a special deal on procuring nuclear power from Russia‚ Barnard said no binding agreements had been signed with any country. South Africa had invited countries to offer nuclear technology solutions and show what economic development would accompany it.
So far‚ five countries had showed interest‚ Barnard said‚ and two or three more were expected to come forward. He said no tender had been issued.
This year‚ the next steps would be taken towards finalising a procurement process‚ then a decision would be made by the cabinet.
Govt eyes new energy sources
Plans include accelerating private sector bids for co-generation‚ gas and coal-fired power‚ obtaining hydroelectric power from the Grand Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo‚ and signing up renewable energy projects‚ acting director-general of energy Wolsey Barnard said.
He said 32 of the 66 renewable energy contracts awarded were delivering more than 1500MW of power to the grid.
He was delivering the keynote address on Tuesday at the Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton‚ in the absence of Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
The conference is being held in the midst of South Africa’s acute power shortages and load-shedding.
Of about 43000MW of installed capacity‚ South Africa has only 28000MW to 35000MW available at any time because of planned and unplanned outages.
Barnard said it would take 20 to 30 months to address Eskom’s maintenance backlog and restore full availability of installed capacity.
Answering questions on the sidelines of the conference‚ he said the department was finalising key policy documents including the integrated resource plan (IRP)‚ integrated energy plan‚ gas utilisation master plan and liquid fuels strategy. But in the meantime‚ it was focusing on developing energy infrastructure – putting in place the infrastructure for gas supply was one of its priorities.
He said discussions were still under way on whether or not oil and gas legislation would be separated from the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act‚ after the amendment bill was recently sent back to parliament for review.
The department said it expected clarity on this within weeks and that it would have a contribution to make on gas legislation.
Asked about rumours that South Africa had signed a special deal on procuring nuclear power from Russia‚ Barnard said no binding agreements had been signed with any country. South Africa had invited countries to offer nuclear technology solutions and show what economic development would accompany it.
So far‚ five countries had showed interest‚ Barnard said‚ and two or three more were expected to come forward. He said no tender had been issued.
This year‚ the next steps would be taken towards finalising a procurement process‚ then a decision would be made by the cabinet.
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