Power plan ‘a dud, needs reworking’
The draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 (IRP 2023) the department of mineral resources and energy released for public comment in January is sloppy, inaccurate and out of date, according to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).
It is supposed to be a key document for South Africa’s national long-term electricity planning, but it is so inadequate that it makes a mockery of the public engagement process.
“Tear it up, start again and do it properly,” says Wayne Duvenage, chief executive of Outa).
“It is Outa’s submission that the current draft IRP 2023 contains a number of significant acknowledged errors, omissions and inadequacies and therefore should be recalled, reworked and reissued for public comment, with adequate time for a meaningful consultation process, including a series of public hearings around South Africa.”
The public only had until 23 February to comment, but the department extended the deadline to Saturday.
However, Duvenage says, this is hopelessly inadequate, as were the department’s briefings to the public, along with the lack of public hearings where the public could ask questions and make submissions about the plan.
Despite the tight deadline, Outa made a submission to the department on IRP 2023 and believes the corrections will have to be so substantive it will require another round of public engagement once the assumption data is more accurate and transparent.
“In Outa’s submission we say we now believe this IRP 2023 document should be reworked using the input provided from credible critics and scenario planners before it is republished for a more meaningful public commentary and engagement process.”
Outa says in its submission the plan initially gazetted contained acknowledged errors and the corrections and updates are not reflected in the current version. Some include:
Inadequate and out-of-date technology costs;
The amount of renewable capacity projected to be installed by the private sector and individuals appears to be underestimated;
The plan includes the three Karpowerships, although these are no longer on the table;
There are unrealistic constraints on new renewables;
A fixed gas fuel price was used and the rand-dollar exchange rate is not considered;
The impact of the hydrogen economy, green hydrogen and electric vehicles is inadequately addressed; and
There is no information on delaying the decommissioning of power stations, or on the recommendations of the VGBE consortium report on Eskom.