Govt defends fewer renewables in new energy plan as gas gets a boost

The delayed decommissioning of Eskom's ageing coal-fired power stations and about 6 gigawatts (GW) of new gas-to-power plants are among the reasons that the government has decreased renewable power in its revised energy blueprint.

This is according to the director-general of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Jacob Mbele, who on Tuesday briefed the media on the draft Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) 2023.

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe gazetted the draft plan last week for public comment. The IRP is meant to show how the country's electricity supply will be balanced with demand in the coming years.