In 1998 the Government of South Africa indicated that it is an objective of the State to encourage the entry of multiple players into the generation market. This would ensure both diversification and security of electricity supply.
In 2003, a White Paper on Renewable Energy was approved in South Africa in terms of which it was stated that a target of 10,000GWh of energy is to be produced from renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, solar and small-scale projects by 2013. Since 2011, independent power producer (“IPP”) procurement programmes have been conducted with great success in South Africa, and it is likely that the Department of Energy will continue relying on these programmes to procure electricity from IPPs. This has attracted many international and local private project developers and investors to South Africa.
In this blog post we provide an overview of the IPP procurement programme framework in South Africa.
Background
Eskom, a state-owned utility company, currently generates about 95% of electricity used in South Africa.
In line with the objectives of creating efficient, effective, sustainable and orderly development and operation of electricity supply infrastructure in South Africa, the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006 (“Electricity Regulation Act”) was enacted. The Electricity Regulation Act provides that the Minister of Energy may publish determinations for new generation capacity. In these determinations, the Minister can specify the amount of new generation capacity required to ensure the continued uninterrupted supply of electricity, the types of energy sources from which this electricity must be generated and the procurement procedure for such new generation capacity.
The Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity GNR.399 of 4 May 2011 (GG: 34262), published under the Electricity Regulation Act (“Regulations”), further provide that the abovementioned determinations must set out whether the new generation capacity will be established by an IPP and who will be responsible for the procurement of the new generation capacity. These Regulations do not apply to the purchase of new electricity generation capacity and electricity by persons other than organs of state.
These Regulations also specify that the Minister of Energy must develop an Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) together with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to determine long and medium-term plans for the provision of clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity. The Integrated Resource Plan was launched in 2010 and updated in 2013 (see http://www.doe-irp.co.za/content/IRP2010_updatea.pdf). This provides for a twenty year projection of electricity supply in South Africa and stipulates that 40% of South Africa’s electricity must be generated from renewable sources. The Minister of Energy issues determinations based on the new power generation requirements in the IRP.
In 2012, the Minister made determinations for the procurement of electricity from:
The REIPPP Programme is generally regarded as being one of the most successful public-private partnership initiatives in Africa and the Department of Energy refers to it as its flagship programme.
According to the “Overview of the IPP Procurement Programme” published by the IPP Office on 31 March 2015, the REIPPP Programme has resulted in the investment of approximately $14 billion in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, of which approximately 28% constitutes foreign direct investment.
Overview of IPP Procurement Programmes
Under IPP procurement programmes a competitive tender process is followed. This is structured in rolling bid-windows which allows for continued participation.
The exact bid rules for each IPP procurement programme depends on the request for proposals issued in respect of that programme. However, generally the bid rules relate to (i) commercial, legal, financial and technical requirements, and (ii) socio-economic development criteria.
The socio-economic development criteria aim to broaden the positive impact that the IPP procurement programme will have, particularly in the area where projects will be undertaken by successful bidders.
The socio-economic development criteria include the following.
As indicated above, the Minister of Energy published a number of determinations on 18 August 2015. The table below provides a summary of the amount of electricity to be procured and from which sources such electricity can be generated under each of these IPP procurement programmes.
Click here to view table.
The IPP office postponed the bid submission date for bids pursuant to the 2015 Cogeneration IPP Procurement Programme pertaining to its 1,800MW generation capacity from 1 October 2015 to 11 November 2015. The successful bidders of this programme have not yet been announced.
Conclusion
South Africa has an energy shortage and is required to substantially increase its generation capacity in an environmentally sustainable manner. The REIPPP Programme has been able to provide for additional energy to be fed into the grid within a reasonably short period of time. Following the success of the REIPPP Programme, the Minister of Energy has published determinations for electricity from other sources to be procured by IPP procurement programmes and has published a determination for further electricity to be procured from renewable sources.
In addition to ensuring additional generation capacity, the IPP procurement programmes will also increase the entry of multiple players in the generation market.
Source......
In 2003, a White Paper on Renewable Energy was approved in South Africa in terms of which it was stated that a target of 10,000GWh of energy is to be produced from renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, solar and small-scale projects by 2013. Since 2011, independent power producer (“IPP”) procurement programmes have been conducted with great success in South Africa, and it is likely that the Department of Energy will continue relying on these programmes to procure electricity from IPPs. This has attracted many international and local private project developers and investors to South Africa.
In this blog post we provide an overview of the IPP procurement programme framework in South Africa.
Background
Eskom, a state-owned utility company, currently generates about 95% of electricity used in South Africa.
In line with the objectives of creating efficient, effective, sustainable and orderly development and operation of electricity supply infrastructure in South Africa, the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006 (“Electricity Regulation Act”) was enacted. The Electricity Regulation Act provides that the Minister of Energy may publish determinations for new generation capacity. In these determinations, the Minister can specify the amount of new generation capacity required to ensure the continued uninterrupted supply of electricity, the types of energy sources from which this electricity must be generated and the procurement procedure for such new generation capacity.
The Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity GNR.399 of 4 May 2011 (GG: 34262), published under the Electricity Regulation Act (“Regulations”), further provide that the abovementioned determinations must set out whether the new generation capacity will be established by an IPP and who will be responsible for the procurement of the new generation capacity. These Regulations do not apply to the purchase of new electricity generation capacity and electricity by persons other than organs of state.
These Regulations also specify that the Minister of Energy must develop an Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) together with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to determine long and medium-term plans for the provision of clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity. The Integrated Resource Plan was launched in 2010 and updated in 2013 (see http://www.doe-irp.co.za/content/IRP2010_updatea.pdf). This provides for a twenty year projection of electricity supply in South Africa and stipulates that 40% of South Africa’s electricity must be generated from renewable sources. The Minister of Energy issues determinations based on the new power generation requirements in the IRP.
In 2012, the Minister made determinations for the procurement of electricity from:
- coal resources, natural gas resources and imported hydro sources under the Baseload IPP Procurement Programme (see http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/36005_gon1075.pdf; updated in 2015 – see http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/39111_gon732.pdf);
- industrial cogeneration energy sources under the Medium Term Risk Mitigation Project (MTRMP) IPP Procurement Programme (updated in 2015 – seehttp://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/39111_gon731.pdf); and
- renewable sources under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Project Procurement (“REIPPP”) Programme,
The REIPPP Programme is generally regarded as being one of the most successful public-private partnership initiatives in Africa and the Department of Energy refers to it as its flagship programme.
According to the “Overview of the IPP Procurement Programme” published by the IPP Office on 31 March 2015, the REIPPP Programme has resulted in the investment of approximately $14 billion in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, of which approximately 28% constitutes foreign direct investment.
Overview of IPP Procurement Programmes
Under IPP procurement programmes a competitive tender process is followed. This is structured in rolling bid-windows which allows for continued participation.
The exact bid rules for each IPP procurement programme depends on the request for proposals issued in respect of that programme. However, generally the bid rules relate to (i) commercial, legal, financial and technical requirements, and (ii) socio-economic development criteria.
The socio-economic development criteria aim to broaden the positive impact that the IPP procurement programme will have, particularly in the area where projects will be undertaken by successful bidders.
The socio-economic development criteria include the following.
- Local Ownership – Generally, a certain percentage of the project must be owned by South Africans. Under the REIPPP Programme of 2012, 40% of each project was required to be owned by South Africans and 2.5% of each project was required to be owned by the local communities. Local communities would normally hold their ownership through community trusts or Communal Property Associations. Under the Coal Baseload IPP Procurement Programme of 2012, 51% of each project was required to be owned by South Africans.
- Socio-Economic Development – Bidders may be required to propose socio-economic development projects that it will contribute to if the bid is successful. Under the REIPPP Programme of 2012, the proposed socio-economic development projects varied from education, social and welfare, health care, enterprise development and infrastructure projects. Successful bidders are required to contribute a minimum of 1% of their revenue to the Socio-Economic Development projects and to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Energy on the initiatives they have engaged in.
- Local Content – Successful bidders are required to spend a certain percentage of the project value in South Africa.
As indicated above, the Minister of Energy published a number of determinations on 18 August 2015. The table below provides a summary of the amount of electricity to be procured and from which sources such electricity can be generated under each of these IPP procurement programmes.
Click here to view table.
The IPP office postponed the bid submission date for bids pursuant to the 2015 Cogeneration IPP Procurement Programme pertaining to its 1,800MW generation capacity from 1 October 2015 to 11 November 2015. The successful bidders of this programme have not yet been announced.
Conclusion
South Africa has an energy shortage and is required to substantially increase its generation capacity in an environmentally sustainable manner. The REIPPP Programme has been able to provide for additional energy to be fed into the grid within a reasonably short period of time. Following the success of the REIPPP Programme, the Minister of Energy has published determinations for electricity from other sources to be procured by IPP procurement programmes and has published a determination for further electricity to be procured from renewable sources.
In addition to ensuring additional generation capacity, the IPP procurement programmes will also increase the entry of multiple players in the generation market.
Source......
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