The acting head of the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO), Advocate Sandra Coetzee, says “time is of the essence” for finalising South Africa’s gas-to-power (GTP) plans in light of the prospect of possible electricity supply shortages arising from the underperformance of Eskom’s coal fleet. Coetzee, who was appointed in July, says gas will definitely play a role in South Africa’s transitioning electricity system, as it offers the flexibility required to complement variable renewable energy plants. In addition, GTP plants can be built relatively quickly and have lower emissions than coal-fired stations.
