Life After Coal | Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle

Earlier today, the Minister of Energy announced the publication of the long-awaited draft Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and draft Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP) Assumptions and Base Case Reports – a move welcomed by the Life After Coal Campaign (made up of groundWork, the Centre for Environmental Rights and Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg).  These are vital policy documents setting out government’s plans for South Africa’s future energy mix.

The Campaign, along with environmental justice organisation Greenpeace Africa, have previously released a set of basic principles that must, as a minimum, be met by the updated IRP. Among other things, any future energy mix must ensure that the fundamental constitutional right to an environment not harmful to health or well-being, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations is realised.

The presentations released today are not adequate for purposes of comprehensive comment on the IRP or IEP, as the presentations do not represent a full set of assumptions, contain gaps, and have not been fully explained.

Initial comments

However, these are our initial observations based on the Minister’s presentations of today:

• although an increase in renewable energy capacity is planned, these plans barely touch on the potential contribution from renewables. Because coal and nuclear energy are planned to contribute the most to the volume of (energy mix) energy supplied by 2050, the significant potential for clean, healthy, cost-effective renewable energy would be constrained;
• nuclear energy – which is not only extremely costly, risky and unnecessary – remains part of the planned energy mix: although the plans show a potential delay in the commissioning of nuclear to 2037, one of the scenarios contains nuclear energy from as early as 2026;
• although a reduction of coal from 2030 is planned, it will still make up a significant portion of generation capacity. Any new coal plants will be locked-in for 40-60 years, and will inevitably result in stranded coal assets.

All of this is contrary to international developments, commitments and research by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In particular, the proposed percentage share for renewable energy (mostly wind and solar PV) is not nearly ambitious enough. Significantly, representatives from 47 of the world’s most disadvantaged nations – including Bangladesh and Ethiopia – pledged, at COP22, to generate all of their future energy needs from renewables.

It is clear that both new coal and nuclear would significantly constrain the real potential growth in renewables, i.e. renewable energy potential would not be fully realised.

The Campaign objects to the inclusion of any new coal or nuclear generation into South Africa’s future energy mix, given the significant health, environment, climate change and cost implications of coal and nuclear. With South Africa’s world-leading potential for renewable energy sources, there is no place for risky and costly investments in coal and nuclear in our energy mix.

Consultation period inadequate

Consultation processes are scheduled to commence in December and to be completed by February 2017, with a “policy adjustment” planned for March 2017.  With only 2 months provided for consultation, and with this period falling over the festive season, the proposed consultation process is inadequate. As the Campaign previously submitted, the consultation process must provide for full and meaningful stakeholder engagement in all stages and especially in coal-impacted areas. Stakeholders must have a reasonable opportunity (of at least 90 days) to consider, and obtain the necessary advice to make submissions on these important documents.

Furthermore, it appears that only the Assumptions and Base Case Reports for the IRP will be released for comment. It would be unacceptable for the Department not to make the full IRP available for consultation and comment.

The draft documents are expected to be gazetted on 25 November 2016 and to be made available on the Department of Energy’s website soon. Once available, Life After Coal plans to (in consultation with community partners and experts) consider and comment more comprehensively on the IEP and IRP documents.

ENDS

Media queries:

• Centre for Environmental Rights: Annette Gibbs [email protected] 082 467 1295
• groundWork: Bobby Peek [email protected] 082 464 1383
• Earthlife Africa Johannesburg: Dominique Doyle ([email protected]) 079 331 2028