National Energy Act 2008

The bill seeks to ensure the availability of diverse energy resources to the economy while supporting economic growth and poverty alleviation. To this end, it intends to provide for energy planning, increased generation and consumption of renewable energies, contingency energy supply, energy feedstock and carriers, and energy infrastructure. It further establishes the South African National Energy Development Institute, responsible for promoting efficient generation and consumption of energy and energy research.


The Minister of Energy is charged with implementing the Integrated Energy Plan, dealing with all issues related to energy (supply, transformation, storage and demand) including plans related to GHG mitigation within the energy sector.


The South African National Energy Development Institute is responsible for promoting energy research and development. This function includes, among other things, directing, monitoring, conducting and implementing energy research and technology development in all fields except nuclear energy; fostering innovation, by making grants to educational and scientific institutions.