Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Budget Speech (Energy) & response by IFP & DA

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, gave his Budget Vote speech on the 10 July 2019.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPxQeTYwnDk

Honourable House Chair
Cabinet Colleagues 
Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Ms Bavelile Hlongwa
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy,
Honourable Members
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
Introduction
This is the second presentation of the budget of the now merged Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. It is, therefore, an honour to table Budget Vote 26: Energy.
 
We have been allocated a budget of R7.44 billion; R6.76 billion of which – that is; 90.91% of the total budget, transferred to entities in our portfolios.
 
Despite the present economic climate and stringent allocations, we must ascertain a secure and sustainable provision of energy. In this context, utilise diverse energy resources in sustainable quantities; at affordable prices and mindful of environmental requirements, to support economic growth and development.
 
The energy sector contributed negatively to overall economic growth in the first quarter of this year. The sector declined by 6.9%, making a 0.1% contribution to the overall GDP decline of 3.2%.
 
Policy and Planning
Since energy is a critical component of economic growth, we need to create a stable, predictable policy and regulatory framework that will lead to investment and growth in the sector. Improvement of legislation should also enable security of energy supply in the country.
The mandate of the department is to ensure the secure and sustainable provision of energy for the socio-economic development of our country. Guided by the National Energy Act 2008, government responsibility is to ensure that diverse energy resources are available in sustainable quantities and affordable prices to support economic growth.
 
Legislation
Work is underway to develop the Petroleum Resources Development Bill, which will ensure that we provide policy certainty for the upstream petroleum sector that is a relatively new sector in our economy, yet with great potential to grow GDP, contribute to the fiscus and create much-needed jobs.
The Gas Amendment Bill intends to leverage available gas resources; such as those in the Karoo and the recent discoveries in the Brulpadda fied. The Bill will assist us to implement gas-to-power projects.
We intend to finalise the National Energy Regulator Amendment Bill. The structure of National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) will be revised into 2 tiers with the introduction of a Review Board to deal with appeals. These changes are aimed at promoting efficient regulation of the energy sector.
Furthermore, this year, the Department will develop a proposal for Cabinet; on how the electricity sector should be restructured. The proposals will seek to address challenges experienced by municipalities, Eskom and other key stakeholders within the sector. Upon Cabinet approval, the Electricity Regulations Act will be amended in line with Cabinet’s guidance and be informed by the structure proposed in the end-state report.
 
IRP
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is in the process of being finalised at Nedlac. In September 2019, it will be tabled before Cabinet for approval. The IRP considers a diversified energy mix that includes all forms of energy technologies such as cleaner coal, nuclear, gas, hydro, renewables and battery storage.
 
As a country, we must avoid the currently polarised debate on energy, pitted as coal versus renewables. The debate should be about the effective use of all the energy sources at our disposal, to achieve security of supply.
 
Most coal-fired power stations will reach end of life between now and the year 2050, majority coming to an end between 2030 and 2040. Once updated and approved by Cabinet, the current IRP will outline the technologies that will replace the decommissioned coal plants. As we decommission, we should replace the lost power.
 
Future of the Independent Power Producers (IPP) Office
We are working closely with the Development Bank of Southern Africa to transition the current IPP Office into a legal entity that will continue to execute the mandate of the Department in bringing about security of energy supply.
 
Nuclear Energy
Given the long-term planning horizon for nuclear power plants, it is imperative that the planning work for the new nuclear power plants should commence now to ensure the security of energy security for the country. It is crucial for South Africa to plan for additional nuclear capacity beyond 2045 as we transition to a diversified cleaner energy future, in line with Chapter 5 of the National Development Plan (NDP). As we have stated on numerous occasions, the country would acquire nuclear at a price, pace and scale it can afford.
 
Koeberg, will also reach the end of its designed life by 2024. It is now embarking on the life extension project to extend the plant life by another 20 years, to around 2045.
Koeberg demonstrates the benefits of nuclear power, give reason to South Africa continuing with the nuclear expansion programme. Among these are the provision of ancillary services such as; grid balancing, back-up and inertia to intermittent electricity sources without which it would be a serious challenge.  The decay heat from the plant enables it to desalinate seawater; thus assisting to mitigate against water shortages.
The long-term vision is ensuring we are globally competitive in the use of innovative technology for the design, manufacture and deployment of nuclear energy systems in accordance with Nuclear Energy Policy; and international law – specifically, Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
 
Nuclear use goes well beyond being a source of electricity. South Africa is one of world leaders in the production of medical isotopes. Nuclear medicine through medical isotopes is already taking centre stage for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
 
NTP radioisotopes, which is a subsidiary of NECSA, is a leading global company with a proudly South African heritage. The company’s Moly-99 plant, which produces radio isotopes used for the treatment of cancer globally, was shut down in November 2017 due to procedural non-compliance with the requirements of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). The shutdown resulted in the loss in market share, which will take a long time to regain. This led to erratic production until July 2018, a problem that is now resolved, since the NTP developed a Plant Reconstitution Plan which was submitted to the NNR. Where you are a leader you have duty to protect market share and competitive advantage.
 
The Plan was accepted, with an agreement to start up the production facility in a safe and sustainable way.It is imperative that going forward we strike a balance between ensuring safety and growing our market share in this field, in order to maintain our competitive advantage.
 
Pelchem
We will work towards the promotion of partnerships between the entities within the department. With Pelchem and Mintek being in one department, doubling the production of high value diagnostic products and the manufacturing infrastructure to supply products on a commercial scale as part of beneficiation initiatives, will be attended to. We must ensure a sustainable and self-sufficient Pelchem.
We will engage relevant departments to also play their role in the revitalisation of the state pharmaceutical company to secure supply of critical medication for our health system.
 
State owned entities oversight
Stabilising the entities reporting to the Department is critical in the current year. These entities are critical in assisting us to execute our mandate. To have senior management and Boards in an acting capacity hampers our ability to be efficient. We are moving with speed to ensure that the entities are adequately resourced, functional and productive. Key appointments at Board and executive management level are a priority in the next six months.
 
PetroSA turn-around
 
We note recent challenges in the governance of PetroSA. In the best interests of governance, we will ensure that there is stability in the leadership of PetroSA, at all levels. We will pay attention to the long-term sustainability of the company. PetroSA has also commenced with forensic investigations into allegations of wrongdoing that may have taken place in the past few years.
 
Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF)
The forensic audit into developments at the SFF is complete. We are considering various options of how to deal with the issues it highlights, taking into account other affected parties and needs of our country.
 
Development of a gas industry
There is increased demand for access to affordable energy sources. South Africa is currently dominated by electricity, which is consumed by key economic industries like mining and manufacturing. Increasing electricity prices have had a direct impact on the cost of doing business in South Africa.
 
To mitigate against this, the department is exploring greater use of natural gas. The current supply of natural gas in South Africa is mainly from imports via the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investment Company’ (ROMPCO) pipeline. We, therefore, need to explore more economical options to bring natural gas into the South African market, including accelerating our own natural gas exploration activities such as the Karoo Shale Gas and the deep-sea discoveries.
 
The Department will, in the current period, implement importation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with Coega Industrial Development Zone as the hub. Mozambique will be engaged to explore possibilities of increasing and extending the supply of gas beyond 2023, as we consider our own gas fields.
 
The Grand Inga Project
South Africa has entered into a legally binding Treaty with the Democratic Republic of Congo. We play a vital role in ensuring that investment into the development of the project is realised, as we have guaranteed power offtake for the first phase. Post phase one South Africa will have a right of first refusal on equity and power offtake for any of the subsequent phases.
 
Implementation of bilateral and regional engagements with Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to realise cooperation on Hydro-Electricity power. These discussions will enable the development of a power transmission line solution for the benefit of all parties involved.
 
Access to electricity
We are making progress to meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), to ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
Between April 2014 and March 2019, through the electrification programme, we have connected an additional 1,285 million (one million two hundred and eighty-five thousand) houses to the national grid, which brings us to a total of 7.6 million household connections. Recent StatsSA figures show that electrification now stands at 87% of households in our country.
The Department will place more focus on the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, which still have high levels of households to be electrified. Urban migration into provinces like Gauteng and the Western Cape requires an integrated approach to human settlement and service delivery as it threatens to reverse the current electrification gains.
In this current financial year 2019 MTEF an amount of R16.2 billion was appropriated for the electrification programme, with a plan to connect 590 000 (five hundred and ninety thousand) households in the next three years.
We must, however, decisively address the high cost of energy which creates a situation where people have access but, cannot afford to use the energy.
 
Regulation of petroleum and petroleum products
South Africa remains a net importer of refined petroleum products like petrol and diesel, as well as petrochemicals. Investing in a new crude oil refinery and an associated petrochemical plant is necessary to reduce the amount of refined petroleum products imported.
 
We should ensure that South Africa is a hub for crude oil refining in the region. In this regard, we have identified an opportunity with Saudi Aramco (the National Oil Company of Saudi Arabia) as an investor in the refinery in Richards Bay. The proposed investment will be in excess of 10 billion US dollars. CEF and Saudi Aramco have concluded a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Memorandum of Cooperation.
 
Fuel Pricing
The volatility of crude oil prices continues to have an impact of fuel prices and this in-turn contributes to wild swings in inflation.  South Africa remains an importer of both crude oil as well as petroleum products and these commodities are US dollar denominated.
To this end, the Department published a discussion document on the review of the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) structures of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin in the government gazette on the 23 November 2018. The main purpose of the review is to ensure that the Basic Fuel Price elements are aligned to the realities in the international markets. The BFP formula was last updated in 2004 and the international market dynamics have changed over time. The South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) and other stakeholders requested an extension of the submission deadline from the 31 January 2019 to the 31 March 2019.
 
Regarding the review, the Department has concluded the one-on-one consultations with all the stakeholders that submitted comments. There will be provincial workshops to finalize the review process once the report is approved. The details of these workshops will be communicated to stakeholders once finalised.
 
Conclusion
Honourable Chairperson and members, the decision to merge the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy is a positive one for our economy. It will bring synergy and alignment in our work. Me and the Deputy Minister Cde Bavelile Hlongwa have begun fruitful engagements with the department and the sector.
 
I thank you.
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Address by the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Bavelile Hlongwa on the occasion of the Department of Energy Budget Vote 11 July 2019, Cape Town

Date Published: 11 Jul 2019

Honourable Chairperson
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy
Honourable Members 
Invited Guests 
Ladies and gentlemen

I welcome the opportunity to participate in today’s debate on such a critical sector of our economy. We have received our marching orders from His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ours is to ensure that the seven priorities as outlined in the State of the Nation Address find expression in our work, as we execute our mandate.

Our responsibility is to ensure that the country has secure and sustainable security of energy supply that is affordable, in order to realise our aspirations of growing the economy and creating much-needed jobs in the spirit of Khawuleza as our people cannot wait much longer to deliver on our manifesto (the African National Congress).

Biofuels Regulatory Framework

In the current year, Government will finalise the regulatory framework for blending biofuels into the existing fossil-based fuels.  Introducing biofuels will reduce the amount of fuel imported and contribute to the moderation of the current account, as biofuels will offset volumes of imported refined product.  Importantly, the growing of feedstock for biofuels will create much-needed jobs in the agricultural sector and support - amongst others - the local sugar and sugar bit industry which continues to face challenges.

Upon finalization of the Integrated Resource Plan which the Minister mentioned, we intend to proceed with a Gas to Power Programme, with Coega in the Eastern Cape being the site for the first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Import infrastructure.  This will allow for a pipeline to Mossel Bay to be constructed to feed the PetroSA Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) Plant and also provide gas feedstock for Eskom’s Gourikwa plant.  A power plant in Coega which currently uses diesel will be converted to run on imported gas by March 2020.

National Solar Water Heater Programme

Honourable Speaker, the National Solar Water Heater Programme has been identified as a strategic programme with several benefits to the country, in particular the end users.

The programme will provide hot water through reliable, affordable, sustainable energy measures by tapping into the abundant natural solar resource while assisting the country to contribute towards the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and overall low carbon economy. It is important that as a Department we acknowledge that while it has taken a few years to turn around the programme which was beset by a number of challenges, all the weaknesses and lessons learnt from the first phase roll out of a rebate programme to the current social programme, have now been incorporated into the revised implementation contracting model. The programme has already been successfully tested through a pilot project in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, in the Eastern Cape, with a national rollout planned in 19 municipalities across the country from the third quarter of the financial year.

This programme will afford the beneficiaries the use of quality infrastructure for the solar geysers with local content requirements. The Department can confidently confirm that indeed South Africa has the local content manufacturing capacity for solar water heater manufacturing, however, a lot still needs to be done in building and supporting the manufacturing value chain so that it represents the demographics of the country. Across the manufacturing value chain, over 400 jobs were created, while around 2 000 learners are to be trained and capacitated by working with installation service providers.

I urge South Africans to be energy efficient wherever they are, as it is in the interests of the country to save more energy which can then be re-directed towards much needed local economic development. In the current financial year, the Department will be tabling the post-2015 National Energy Efficiency Strategy for Cabinet consideration and subsequent promulgation. More sectors of the economy have been incorporated into the strategy. I must acknowledge that it is encouraging to note the efforts and capacity from the private sector which have been demonstrated through initiatives in public and private sector energy efficiency measures which are also of international standards.

In the next three financial years, that is, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, a budget support programme of R120 million has enabled commitments by the Department to expand the Municipal Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) initiatives into the water sector infrastructure, by focusing on waste water treatment plants and fresh or potable water pumping systems. While the Division of Revenue Act makes provision for the reduction of electricity consumption in municipal infrastructure, I would like to urge municipalities to make firm commitments on these initiatives which if implemented as per the plans could save the country a lot in terms of reducing emissions, efficient resource utilisation, and monetary value.

These initiatives are already being piloted in 13 municipalities across provinces. That is, 2 in Limpopo; 4 in Gauteng; 1 in Mpumalanga, 3 in Free State, 1 in Kwa Zulu Natal; and 2 in Western Cape.

Nuclear energy

The Department undertakes a number of projects which assist us to contribute to the education, skills and health priority of government.

The Minister mentioned briefly the important role of nuclear technology to our economy. Nuclear energy provides many important applications that improve the quality of the lives of South Africans. The Department has consequently identified the need to develop a Nuclear Research, Development and Innovation Policy and Strategy in order to resolve fragmentation challenges in this area, ensure better coordination, planning, prioritisation and alignment with national objectives and ensure funding is directed to priority projects and activities. We have established a National Committee that has embarked on work to develop this strategy.

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, NECSA, has a core mandate of nuclear research and development, and it has been undertaking this mandate primarily using the SAFARI-1 reactor, which is used for – among others - the production of medical isotopes, and has capabilities for fuel and material irradiation testing. Research and development at Necsa has contributed immensely to nuclear skills development within South Africa and the African continent, with artisan training, and we have produced engineers and scientists for research emanating from utilization of the research reactor.

This research reactor, which has operated safely for more than 50 years, is expected to reach its end of life around 2030.  A Ministerial Task Team has been established to undertake the feasibility work for the replacement of the reactor with a more modern, efficient and multi-disciplinary multipurpose reactor. We are already world leaders in this area, and it is in our interest to continue to grow our capability in this field, and take us to a new era of nuclear energy applications and beneficiation.

Community Outreach

Women

The department has developed and approved a Policy on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in the energy sector. A Draft Energy Sector Strategy on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Strategy has been consulted with stakeholders and is in the process of finalisation. We shall dare not betray the struggle for women empowerment. A struggle in which our gallant revolutionaries had to pay a price, as they suffered most under the apartheid regime. This spirit of Mama Winie, Lilian Ngoni, Bartha Gxowa, Adelaide Thambo, Sharlot Maxeke and many others shall forever give us courage to defeat gender parities in our communities.

Youth

Honourable Speaker, one of the stalwarts of the African National Congress, Oliver Reginald Tambo demonstrated his optimism about the youth of South Africa when he said, “We will have a South Africa in which the young of our country have access to the best that mankind has produced”. The department is finalising a Youth in Energy policy which will guide implementation of programmes and projects to integrate young people in the energy sector. Current projects implemented include the following:

School Energy Days – in partnership with the private sector, the department hosts school energy days targeting mathematics and science learners in grades 10 to 12 throughout the country. This event focuses on creating awareness of the energy value chain and career opportunities available in the sector to learners. Through this programme, a cumulative figure of about 12 000 learners throughout the country have been exposed to the energy value chain and related career opportunities.

Learners Focus Week - the Department hosts an annual Learners Focus Week (LFW) programme aimed at encouraging learners to enter into science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to supply critical skills in the energy sector. Through a public private partnership within the sector, this programme is contributing to the development of STEM based skills among the youth from disadvantaged communities. Under this programme, a total of 220 bursaries were secured between 2016 and 2019. The bursaries have been awarded to learners primarily in the most disadvantaged communities of our country, in the rural and township areas. This year alone we have awarded 57 bursaries, at a total value of R22.4 million. The learners are placed in different institutions nationally, including universities and technical colleges, and are enrolled in programmes such as engineering, actuarial sciences, and computer sciences.

Energy Access to disadvantaged communities

Recognising the challenges that currently exist with energy access for rural communities, the Department initiated a programme to enable access to petroleum products by remote communities. Through this programme the department works with the petroleum sector and gas companies to provide Integrated Energy Centres (IeC’s) which enhance access to energy, job creation and stimulate enterprise development in rural areas and townships. Noting the greater need for such facilities countrywide, the Department has completed a comprehensive Integrated Energy Centre strategy which will guide the rollout of IeCs into the future. The strategy focuses on good governance, funding, transformation, capacity building and commercial viability.

Conclusion

Honourable Members the work that lies ahead of us as we seek to grow this economy is enormous, but we are more than equal to the task. I know we are all in agreement that we want a South Africa that is growing and benefits all its people. We will rely on the support oversight of this House as we accelerate the execution of our mandate to achieve this objective.

I thank you.