ENERGY PLAN
Cleaner power is a win for Cyril Ramaphosa — and a loss for Eskom
Energy policy was one of the main political battlegrounds during Jacob Zuma’s presidency
In a win for President Cyril Ramaphosa, SA will steer clear of nuclear in favour of cheaper and cleaner power sources, although coal will remain a key part of electricity generation. The long-awaited draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), released on Monday, was welcomed as a credible energy plan after years of policy uncertainty. Energy policy was one of the main political battlegrounds during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, whose preference for a costly nuclear strategy was mired in allegations of corruption and state capture. Those struggles led to chronic delays in updating the IRP. "Once again we are seeing the difference being made by a Ramaphosa administration compared to the corrupt Zuma years when our electricity planning process was paralysed as he tried to force nuclear into the mix," said Anton Eberhard, a professor at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. "The absence of nuclear clears the way for more rational discussions around new power investments." The...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.