IRP Factsheet English Final

A fact sheet by the Centre for Environmental Rights explaining the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and a September 2020 Ministerial determination to procure 1500MW of new coal-fired electricity from independent power producers in South Africa.

• The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a government strategy outlining South Africa's electricity needs for the following 10 years, specifying the required capacity and energy types, including coal, wind, nuclear, gas, and solar. A revised IRP published in October 2019 identified a need for 1500 MW of new coal-fired power and 3000 MW of new gas electricity, alongside renewables and battery storage.
• In September 2020, a Ministerial determination was issued to obtain 1500MW of new coal-fired electricity to be developed by independent power producers (IPPs), which are private companies that sell electricity to Eskom at a fixed price for distribution.
• Coal-fired power is a primary driver of air pollution in South Africa, which the government estimates causes at least 10,000 deaths annually and leads to illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and asthma.
• New coal-fired power stations are more expensive than renewable alternatives; specifically, two proposed independent coal plants would cost South Africa R20 billion more than a renewables-based electricity system.
• Coal-fired power stations contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in long-term effects on South African weather patterns and temperatures, including increased droughts, floods, and heatwaves.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). IRP Factsheet English Final. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IRP-Factsheet-English-Final-2.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. IRP Factsheet English Final. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IRP-Factsheet-English-Final-2.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=IRP Factsheet English Final |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IRP-Factsheet-English-Final-2.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndirp, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{IRP Factsheet English Final}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IRP-Factsheet-English-Final-2.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }