13 C
Cape Town
Friday, July 25, 2025

Electricity Minister: Private sector collaboration crucial to end power crisis

Published on

 

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says collaboration between government, business and society is imperative if South Africa is to overcome the current electricity crisis gripping the nation.

 

The Minister was speaking during the launch of the Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF) on Thursday afternoon.

 

ALSO READ: Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa appointed Minister of Electricity

 

The RMF is a collaborative effort between the government and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) to provide resources and expertise that will assist in fully implementing the Energy Action Plan.

 

“The establishment of the Resource Mobilisation Fund is a significant step in this regard. It is only through a collective national effort that we will be able to end load shedding and enable our economy to grow.

 

“The RMF is an example of the collaborative approach between government and social partners which the President has always prioritised. Most importantly, it shows what we can achieve if we roll up our sleeves and go beyond debate and discussion to engage in real, practical action on the issues that confront our society,” he said.

 

Ramokgopa explained that the fund is expected to play a critical role in assisting the government to implement its Energy Action Plan (EAP) with more drive.

 

“The RMF will provide crucial expertise and resources to turbocharge the work of NECOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] and ensure that we put the best minds in our country and indeed across the world to work on this problem.

 

“The tremendous support that this initiative has already received from businesses and philanthropies alike is evidence that we can work together as Team South Africa to get our country back on track. We look forward to a strong partnership with the RMF as we move to ensure swift and full implementation of the President’s plan,” he said.

 

 

Minister Ramokgopa said although the RMF comes as a boon for turning around the current energy crisis, the government has already been hard at work to bring more urgently needed megawatts onto the power grid.

 

Some of the work done includes:

 

  • Eskom is implementing a detailed Generation Recovery Plan to improve its performance, focusing on six power stations that contribute the most to load shedding.
  • The licensing threshold for embedded generation projects has been removed which has opened the way for private investment in electricity generation.
  • A new determination for close to 15000 MW of new generation capacity from wind, solar, and battery storage has been published and project agreements for 2800 MW from bid windows 5 and 6 have been signed.
  • A Request For Proposals for 513 MW of battery storage has been released which will be followed shortly by the release of Bid Window 7.
  • The Minister of Finance has announced significant debt relief for Eskom totaling R254 billion, as well as a substantial fiscal support package, which includes tax incentives for businesses and households to invest in rooftop solar.
  • Red tape has been cut and the regulatory requirements for energy projects have been streamlined to reduce the time that it takes for new generation capacity to the grid.

Latest articles

Banyana winger has successful surgery after semifinal leg facture

    Banyana Banyana winger Gabriela Salgado is on the road to recovery after undergoing successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco,...

Erasmus names Springbok squad for Australia leg of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship

  Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship against Australia, featuring 24...

World Brain Day: Over 40% of Dementia Cases Could Be Prevented

  As the world marks World Brain Day on Tuesday, 22 July, South African health experts are warning that dementia is no longer just a...