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Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to engage with key stakeholders regarding the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2023) during his address at the 2024 Windaba Conference. The event, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, offered a platform for discussing the future of South Africa’s energy strategy.
Ramokgopa emphasized that the government is “deepening the conversation” around IRP 2023, which has garnered significant public interest. After the draft was released for public consultation, over 4,000 submissions were received, with 250 considered substantive. These substantive contributions prompted further dialogue with stakeholders to refine certain aspects of the plan, particularly around assumptions and modeling used in the energy mix.
“We are doing a review. [IRP 2023] had gone out for public consultation; received 4000 submissions; 250 of those have been substantive,” Ramokgopa noted. He clarified that the government is not reopening the public consultation period but instead focusing on deepening conversations with those who made substantial contributions. “It is in our interest as government to listen to the sector and the experts because beyond those who adopt it, it’s an IRP that represents the country,” he added.
The minister underscored the importance of addressing the “quantitative expressions” of certain elements in the IRP, particularly as they relate to the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of South Africa’s energy mix.
In discussing the renewable energy sector, Ramokgopa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy’s role in the country’s energy strategy. However, he stressed that this expansion must occur in concert with engagements across all energy sectors, including nuclear, gas, and coal. “It’s important that we move away from an idea that one solution is better than the other,” he said, encouraging a balanced, inclusive approach to energy solutions.
The minister also touched on South Africa’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions, acknowledging the country’s commitment to “greening the South African economy.” However, Ramokgopa stressed that the Just Transition—shifting towards cleaner energy—must account for the socio-economic implications of the transition, particularly for industries and communities reliant on fossil fuels.
“There’s the socio-economic element. As we do this, we’re looking to broaden the floor of industrialization—reskilling people; skilling people so that there’s justice in the Just Transition,” Ramokgopa said, highlighting the importance of minimizing economic displacement and unemployment resulting from the shift to cleaner technologies.
In conclusion, Dr. Ramokgopa’s remarks at the Windaba Conference reaffirmed the government’s intention to foster collaboration and dialogue across all sectors of the energy industry, ensuring that South Africa’s transition to a greener economy is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
