Public hearings into the draft second integrated resource plan, or IRP2010, which was published over the weekend, have been scheduled for the first week of November.

The Department of Energy has also indicated that those wishing to make a presentation at the hearings, the dates and venues for which still need to be decided, would have to indicate that fact by October 18.

The feedback derived from the hearings and written comments will reportedly be considered in the revision of the IRP2010, which is still expected to be tabled before Cabinet before year-end.

However, while Business Unity South Africa (Busa) welcomed the released of the initial documentation, it also argued that stakeholders "should be afforded at least 60 days instead of only 30 days to comment".

The organisation argues that socioeconomic impact assessment of the final plan should be undertaken, which "should be completed for public review prior to finalisation of the plan".

Busa also wants the energy plan to include an "implementation strategy", which clearly assigns responsibility and funding to the various role players.

"In order to begin to meet the targets of alternative sources of electricity, the policy environment for independent power producers needs to be finalised urgently," it said in a statement, adding that an enhanced role for the private sector would be "indispensable" to a dealing with South Africa's supply deficit.

The business body also welcomed the release of a medium-term risk mitigation strategy. But it said that appropriate consultation was necessary.

"It is recognised that security of electricity supply is likely to be under severe pressure in the next three to five years, and in order to avoid the negative economic consequences of a lack of supply, a contingency plan to address this risk must be implemented urgently."