Minister of electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) approved by cabinet includes a R2.2-trillion rand roadmap aimed at ending the country’s energy crisis and driving economic growth.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Ramokgopa said: “We are looking into how we can achieve universal access, decarbonise the South African economy and get people into jobs. Electricity is a structural constraint to the South African economy and that’s why the economy has barely grown.
“That’s why you have these levels of unemployment in the country, and of course, the poverty levels in the country. That’s a result of an economy that is not growing, an economy that’s not creating jobs.”
He said power shortages in 2023 worsened the crisis and made it difficult for the finance ministry to balance the national budget.
The IRP is a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy that outlines the allocation of SA’s primary energy resources, ensuring that the country’s electricity demand is met both sustainably and cost-efficiently.
Electricity is a structural constraint to the South African economy and that’s why the economy has barely grown.
— Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, minister of electricity
Ramokgopa said now that power outages have been fixed, energy will be a catalyst for growth.
“The economy is about R7-trillion, so this plan represents 80% of our GDP. The first is to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. As you know, we have set ourselves a target of growing the economy by more than three percentage points by 2030. That is our commitment. An economy cannot grow if the lights are off,” he said.
Sowetan
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