South Africa eyes industrial boost through IRP
Energy minister Gwede Mantashe outlines the benefits expected from the country’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 beyond energy security
The South African government is seeking a range of benefits from its IRP 2019—including industrial development, self-sufficiency and regional co-operation—in addition to its core aims, according to minister of minerals resources and energy Gwede Mantashe on the sidelines of the Africa Oil Week conference in Cape Town. South Africa updated its electricity supply blueprint in mid-October with the cabinet-approved IRP, which sets out its preferred generation mix to meet expected electricity demand to 2030. The IRP’s purpose is to reconcile its three aims of ensuring energy security, minimising costs and meeting environmental commitments. While the future of gas production in Africa “looks pos
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security






