House Chair, thank you very much, hon Minister, given the fact that South Africa's use of coal burning fossil fuels will only peak around 2030 due to the high amount of reserves we have available and given that our new coal-fired power stations, Medupi and Kusile will ostensibly run until 2075; South Africa is clearly on the trajectory that will see the greenhouse gas emissions rise in the next decade for they taper off and begin to fall in post 2030 and beyond.
My question is therefore that more focus should be around the long-term energy mix plans for the department, particularly the role around nuclear and renewable energy resources now, especially post 2030. How do you then see these sectors developing and do you intend on deregulating energy supply in South Africa in favour of creating more enabling environment for the independent power producers in this regard? Thanks.