Solar power cheaper - Zuma

2010-04-28 22:19

Pretoria - A Winterveldt household with a newly-installed solar water heating system would find that it cut their costs, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

He was visiting the home of Daniel Mabhena, who is disabled, and who lives with his mother and four children.

"Their budget will be spared," he said in launching a solar water heating programme.

The government intends installing at least a million solar water heaters by 2014 to reduce the water heating load on the national grid. Zuma said South Africans took energy for granted.

This had resulted in the country being plunged into darkness in recent months. He urged people to work with the government to ensure that energy was wisely used.

With many South Africans still living in darkness - in, among other places, his hometown of Nkandla - the government was looking for ways of sharing energy between industry and households.

Zuma said the solar energy system would be implemented in hospitals, clinics and government departments.

"This is a system with many benefits," he said, urging all South Africans to convert to solar power.

About 10 400 solar water heaters are to be installed in Tshwane this year.

- SAPA

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