Deputy President David Mabuza says government is exploring alternative energy generation avenues that will ensure not only stability is brought to the country\u2019s power grid but that there is a just energy transition onto a lower carbon footprint.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Deputy President was responding to oral questions during a sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin the framework of the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, alternative energy generation measures are being explored and implemented to augment electricity supply, and improve the stability of the grid.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cFurthermore, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy has issued determinations on the required new generation capacity, in concurrence with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He said government understood the impact of load shedding on people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAs government, we are cognisant of the negative impact of load shedding on the country\u2019s economy, and the inconvenience and hardship it causes to the country.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, load shedding is a last resort lever to protect the system from blackout which is a total loss of the electricity network.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mabuza said government has created a regulatory environment that is conducive to opening up the market for alternative power generation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must make the point that Eskom\u2019s load shedding is not as a result of limited market role for alternative power generation, but mainly, a result of breakdowns encountered from the old and aging power generation infrastructure. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAn improvement in the reliability and predictability of the coal fleet requires adequate financial resources and generation capacity surplus on the system to execute the required additional reliability maintenance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cTo achieve this, Eskom is driving the Generation Turnaround Programme,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He said as coal-fired units and stations are shut down, it is essential that new generation capacity be added to the grid to ensure energy security.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, the country has an immediate need for 4 000 megawatts to 6 000 megawatts of additional generation capacity per year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Deputy President said as part of government\u2019s just energy transition strategy, Eskom has proposed an extra 8 000 megawatts of clean energy projects to be added to the grid over the next two to five years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a mix of greenfield renewables and gas projects, as well as coal power plant repurposing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment is also considering various changes which will speed up the acquisition of Independent Power Producers and to reduce further red tape.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Deputy President said an announcement in this regard will be made once all the necessary tasks have been completed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Deputy President David Mabuza says government is exploring alternative energy generation avenues that will ensure not only stability is brought to the country\u2019s power grid but that there is a just energy transition onto a lower carbon footprint.The Dep…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n