South Africa’s energy outlook is positive according to the picture painted by President Jacob Zuma in his 2016 State of the Nation Address (SONA 2016)

Zuma pointed out that progress has been made to stabilise the country’s electricity supply, with no load shedding since August last year.

According to the president, government has invested R83 billion in Eskom which has enabled the utility to continue investing in Medupi and Kusile, while continuing with a diligent maintenance programme.

“Additional units from Ingula power station will be connected in 2017, even though some of them will begin synchronisation this year.”

Zuma added that the multiple bid windows of the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme have attracted an investment of R194 billion.

“This initiative is a concrete example of how government can partner with the private sector to provide practical solutions to an immediate challenge that faces our country,” he noted.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead the president says government will select the preferred bidders for the coal independent power producer, this year and requests for proposals will also be issued for the first windows of gas to power bids.

The nuclear energy expansion programme remains part of the country’s future energy mix.

“Our plan is to introduce nine thousand six hundred megawatts of nuclear energy in the next decade, in addition to running Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant.  We will test the market to ascertain the true cost of building modern nuclear plants.”

Zuma emphasised that the government will only procure nuclear on a scale and pace that our country can afford.