The President has signed the necessary documentation to bring Section 6 of the National Energy Act comes into effect in 2024.

Proclamation 118 was published in Government Gazette 48480 on 28 April 2023.

The National Energy Act act, which was signed into law in 2008, aims to:

• Ensure that diverse energy resources are available, in sustainable quantities and at affordable prices, to the South African economy in support of economic growth and poverty alleviation, considering environmental management requirements and interactions amongst economic sectors
• Provide for energy planning, increased generation and consumption of renewable energies, contingency energy supply, holding of strategic energy feedstocks and carriers, adequate investment in, appropriate upkeep and access to energy infrastructure
• Provide measures for the furnishing of certain data and information regarding energy demand, supply, and generation
• Establish an institution to be responsible for promotion of efficient generation and consumption of energy and energy research
• Provide for all matters connected therewith

Section 6 of the Act focuses on integrated energy planning. It calls on the mineral resources and energy minister to develop and, on an annual basis, review and publish the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) in the Gazette.

The IEP must deal with issues relating to the supply, transformation, transport, storage of and demand for energy in a way that accounts for security of supply; economically available energy resources: affordability; universal accessibility and free basic electricity; social equity; employment; the environment; international commitments; consumer protection; and contribution of energy supply to socio-economic development.

Section 6 will come into effect on 1 April 2024