There are currently no plans to discontinue the use of coal as part of the country\u2019s energy mix, says Deputy President David Mabuza.<\/P>
The Deputy President said this when he responded to oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday.<\/P>
He said the country\u2019s energy generation is guided by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, which provides for the use of all energy resources available, including, among others, coal, gas and renewable energy sources.<\/P>
\u201cCurrently, there are no plans for the discontinuation of the use of coal as 99% of South Africa\u2019s electricity supply is derived from coal and 30% of liquid fuels are derived from the same commodity.<\/P>
\u201cCoal remains one of our largest natural endowments that will continue to form part of our energy mix in terms of the IRP 2019,\u201d he said.<\/P>
He said, however, that despite this, the country is committed to forging a low-carbon growth path that prioritises environmental sustainability.<\/P>
\u201cWe need to ensure that we deploy new infrastructure, technologies and solutions that enable us to adhere to ambient air quality standards, and protect the lives of communities from negative environmental externalities.<\/P>
\u201cGoing forward, the IRP 2019 proposes the use of high efficiency, low emissions coal technologies. Government is currently working on other measures such as the Gas Utilisation Master Plan and the Renewable Energy Master Plan.\u201d<\/P>
The Deputy President said government is exploring the development of the Nuclear Procurement Framework as proposed in the IRP 2019.<\/P>
He said these are part of the medium to long-term plans in ensuring security of energy supply.<\/P>
\u201cHaving said that, it is important to point out that, out of the entire fleet, there are planned optimised plant shutdowns that is aligned with the Integrated Resource Plan, to balance capacity, environmental, social and economic considerations.<\/P>
\u201cThis is inevitable because, in the main, these plants are approaching the end of their lifespan, and have become uneconomical, unpredictable and costly to run.<\/P>
\u201cNine coal-fired power stations will be shut down by 2035, thereby impacting significantly on the reduction of generation capacity,\u201d he said.<\/P>
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Source: South African Government News Agency<\/P>
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