Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson wants South Africa to source most of its energy needs locally, and has started the process to appoint an expert panel to ensure this ideal is realised.
"We need to work towards energy sovereignty so that South Africa would no longer be as vulnerable as it currently is to geopolitical developments which are outside our control," Joemat-Pettersson said.
The minister placed much emphasis on nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source, emphasising that coal will remain an important source of energy even as the search for more environmentally friendly energy sources continues.
Solar, wind and hydro-electric energy sources will continue to be exploited more and more.
The minister said her department exceeded its target of providing access to electricity, with almost 300000 households newly connected to the national power grid last year .
Joemat-Pettersson committed the government to more affordable solar heating units, and to "structural changes in the industry", but did not elaborate.
The DA attacked the monopoly Eskom holds over electricity provision, with DA MPs Lance Greyling and Gordon Mackay arguing that independent power producers be given the opportunity to provide more power.
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