The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is expected host a series of public engagement sessions to unpack the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2023) that has been published for public comment.

The engagement sessions will kick off at 1pm on Wednesday (January 31) online at https://gcis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SduV84_aS8SCQnlABRftFQ.

In its earlier call for public comments on the IRP 2023, the DMRE said the plan seeks to ‘ensure security of electricity supply by balancing supply with demand, while taking into account the environment and total cost of supply’.

‘The draft IRP 2023 is based on a scientific process that considers several scenarios and latest developments in the country’s electricity industry. It considers two-time horizons, the first being the period up to 2030 focusing on addressing prevailing generation capacity constraints and system requirements to close the supply gap.

‘Horizon two covers the period from 2031 to 2050 and focuses on long-term electricity generation pla
nning with pathways to achieve a resilient Net Zero electricity sector by 2050,’ the DMRE said.

A copy of the draft IRP 2023 can be accessed on the DMRE website and the deadline for comments is 23 February 2024.

Comments can be submitted online at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=bDWXlV5Askqncn7nJnEGjdSCoIqfOslGi6lIYefKLn5UMjg2TjQ1WElTVURZTDhCN0szU0lUSjg2Wi4u or email [email protected].

Source: South African Government News Agency