Question NW1825 to the Minister of Energy

Reply:

The revised IEP and IRP will be released to the public after Cabinet Process and Approval. Once Cabinet has approved the final IRP and IEP they will be gazetted for access to Public and also submitted to Parliament.

2295. Mr M M Dlamini (EFF) to ask the Minister of Energy:

1. (a) Why has her department not yet signed the power purchase agreements for renewable energy with independent power producers and (b) by what date is it envisaged that the power purchase agreements will be signed;

2. does she intend to oppose the application for an interdict preventing the power purchase agreements from being signed; if not, why not? NW2534E

Reply:

1. (a) The Minister has addressed the nation on the matter of outstanding Power Purchase agreements for bid window 3,5 and 4 on Friday 01 September 2017 during the media briefing.

(b) It was committed that the PPA for bid window 3,5 and 4 will be signed by the end of October 2017.

(2) Yes, as the interdict will prevent government from being able to implement a mix of energy generation options that is envisaged to support our mandate on reliable, affordable energy security for the Country.

 

2296. Mr M M Dlamini (EFF) to ask the Minister of Energy:

1. Whether the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) as contemplated in the Electricity Regulation Act, Act 4 of 2006, will be re-published for comment; if not, why not;

2. on what dates will the IRP and IEP be promulgated;

3. whether she intends to remove the restraints on renewable energy from the draft IRP and IEP before it is published; if not, why not;

4. why does the draft IRP and IEP make provision for new coal-fired and nuclear power when it has comprehensively been shown by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research that renewable energy with additional storage capacity and gas is the most cost-effective and feasible plan for South Africa’s energy future? NW2535E

Reply:

1. The process for consultation on IRP and IEP has been concluded with the public. The current process is to finalise the policy document and gazetting the final document for implementation. Consultation on the policy is concluded and final documents will be published.

2. Target for promulgation is end of February 2018.

3. Minister will not interfere with the policy development process outside the prescribed laws, as this will be illegal.

4. The final IRP and IEP will be communicated and promulgated once concluded, currently we don’t have a final position to communicate.

 

2344. Mr G Mackay (DA) to ask the Minister of Energy:

Whether, in relation to recent activities at the Central Energy Fund, she will furnish Mr G Mackay with copies of (a) a letter drafted by a certain person (name furnished) to her predecessor to obtain a ministerial directive on 6 October 2015, (b) her predecessor’s response dated 3 June 2016 and (c) the subsequent ministerial directive of her predecessor; if not, in each case, why not; if so, by what date in each case? NW2589E

Reply:

The investigation on the sale of strategic fuel fund is still not concluded and therefore all documents that relates to the matter will not be released until all process are concluded. Once all processes have been concluded all reports and all any other documents will be referred to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee for consideration. We are expecting that all the work will be concluded by latest November 2017.