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Crisis 'won't stop power plans'
01/04/2008 21:02 - (SA)
Sherilee Bridge
Johannesburg - South Africa is to continue with its electrification programme despite the country's power crisis, said Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Rand Show, Sonjica said the country would continue to roll out electricity despite the programme being challenged.
President Thabo Mbeki last month gave his assurance that the electrification of underdeveloped areas would continue, but given the county's power pressures, might call for a harder push of alternative energy sources.
Sonjica said the challenge was altering the perception that alternative energy sources, such as solar power, were inferior to power from the grid.
The perception is that solar power is weak and cheap power. "It is as if we are not respecting our people," she said.
What needed to be communicated was that solar power was a cleaner form of energy, one that could help mitigate against environmental damage and climate change.
Eskom rejects application
Close on 3.5 million homes have been given access to electricity since 1994, bringing the number of electrified households to about seven million.
Sonjica said the residential sector used only 17% of the total electricity consumed.
But 35% of the maximum demand (or peak demand) was attributed to households.
Eskom has rejected an application for bulk electricity to a new mixed housing development on the West Rand.
Reports in financial media last week said the flagship public-private partnership near Kagiso in Mogale City was to provide 9 315 residential units, and Eskom's rejection triggered fears that Eskom had the potential to derail many other similar initiatives.
The project developers said they had a commitment from Eskom before starting construction.
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