integrated energy plan
13 February 2009
Government today, Friday, 13 February 2009, announced the establishment of
the country's National Energy Coal Forum.
This followed a meeting convened by the Director-General of the Department
of Minerals and Energy, Advocate Sandile Nogxina, in Cape Town yesterday. The
meeting was attended by major mining companies such as BHP Billiton,
Anglo-Coal, Exxaro; South African Mining Development Association (SAMDA);
Eskom; junior mining companies; National Union of Mineworkers as well as
officials of the Department of Minerals and Energy.
Sandile Nogxina, Director-General of the Department of Minerals and Energy
said: "Coal supply for domestic energy use is a huge challenge which requires a
collective effort from all the stakeholders. Rapid domestic energy demand
growth going forward will result in a tight demand-supply balance over the next
ten years. The watershed decision, therefore, to form this forum will help in
ensuring that there is certainty and balance in dealing with this issue."
Brian Dames, Eskom's Chief Officer for Generation Business, who also
attended the meeting, added, "We are grateful for the support and excellent
co-operation we have received from the coal mining industry in the past and we
are confident that the formation of the coal energy forum will enable us
further to develop these partnerships."
Nogxina concluded that the establishment of the forum will "ultimately help
us in the development of the country's national energy coal plan as well as the
national coal transportation plan."
The forum will be expanded to include Transnet, the Department of Transport,
the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism as well as other companies and labour unions that were not able to
attend Thursday's meeting.
The meeting also decided to establish a working group representing all the
stakeholders in order to draw up the terms of reference which will guide the
work of the forum. The working group, chaired by Eskom's Ras Myburgh will do
its work as a matter of urgency and report to the forum within two weeks.
Enquiries:
Bheki Khumalo
Tel: 012 679 9032
Cell: 082 773 2388
Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
13 February 2009
