South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy said on 7 October that a proposed first Section 34 determination under IRP 2025 prioritises 4,600 MW of battery energy storage and 5,000 MW of gas-to-power.
The statement followed a government advisory inviting media to a 7 October announcement by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The figures describe proposed priorities, rather than establishing that procurement contracts have been awarded.
Proposed capacity priorities
The stated priorities are 4,600 MW of battery energy storage systems and 5,000 MW of gas-to-power. The Department described these as priorities in the proposed first Section 34 determination under IRP 2025.
Wider programme context
Ahead of the announcement, the government advisory previewed a diverse technology mix, a multi-year procurement pipeline and a State-led Power Parks Programme. The subsequent statement confirms the proposed battery and gas priorities, but the cited material does not detail the Power Parks Programme’s scope, timetable or funding.
Commercial implications and unanswered details
For energy businesses, the proposed capacities identify the technologies the government says it intends to prioritise through this determination. The cited statements do not establish specific procurement rounds, bid deadlines, contracting arrangements, project locations, financing or grid-connection schedules, so they do not provide those details for prospective participants.
