South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan 2025 (IRP 2025), approved by Cabinet last week, includes 5,2 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2039 as part of the country’s future generation mix. This is the first time since the 2010 IRP that a specific new nuclear build target has been included in South Africa’s official electricity plan.
According to the updated plan, unpacked by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Sunday, October 19, new nuclear generation will be added in stages over the next 15 years to provide firm, low-carbon baseload capacity as ageing coal-fired plants are decommissioned and renewable generation expands. The Department of Electricity and Energy will develop a procurement framework for the programme with site selection, permitting and environmental processes expected to begin during the current planning period.
The plan also confirms that Koeberg Nuclear Power Station will continue operating beyond its original 40-year design life – extending its contribution to system stability during the transition period.
Beyond nuclear, the IRP 2025 sets out a diversified generation pathway that includes 11 270 MW of new solar PV as well as 7 340 MW of wind and 6 000 MW of gas-to-power capacity by 2030 alongside an accelerated transmission build-out to connect new generation to demand centres. The plan projects that over 105 GW of new capacity will be required by 2039, supported by an estimated R2,2 trillion in investment over the planning period. Coal’s share of the mix is expected to fall from around 58% today to 27% while non-fossil generation overtakes fossil fuels for the first time.
Ramokgopa said the phased approach will allow South Africa to secure technology partners, build local supply chains and develop the specialist skills needed for long-term operation. “We must ensure system reliability as we decarbonise,” he said. “That means investing in technologies, like nuclear, that can deliver clean baseload power for decades to come.”
Eskom welcomed the announcement. “The IRP 2025 is not merely a policy update. It is a clear investment roadmap informed by the input of over 4 000 interested parties during the public consultation stage. The IRP 2025 requires significant investment to be attracted quickly and that will only come from rules-based regulatory reform anchored in law to enable investors to deploy capital in South Africa with confidence and certainty,” said Dan Marokane, Eskom’s Group Chief Executive.
