The energy crisis remains one of the biggest challenges in Gauteng and the whole country. As part of the energy crisis solution, the Gauteng Provincial Government plans to work with City Power to curb the electricity deficit. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi during his delivery of the 2023 maiden State of the Province Address on Monday, 20 February 2023, said the Gauteng Government has been working towards finding solutions to the crisis.
The Premier said the Gauteng Government will engage the City of Johannesburg’s City Power as well as Tshwane’s Rooiwal facility to support them to expand and generate more power.
“We will meet with owners of Kelvin Power Station (a private power station) to establish how we can partner with them to limit loadshedding in Gauteng.
From next week, we will advertise a call for proposals for alternative suppliers of energy that can contribute to solution of the energy crisis and the reindustrialisation of Gauteng.
“We have established an energy crisis response team that engages with the National Energy Committee and working with local government and energy experts,” he said.
In addition to approaching local municipalities to assist, Premier Lesufi said the Provincial Government acted with urgency and convened the inaugural energy solutions expo to solicit views on what exists in the market with the idea of creating partnerships to assist in finding lasting solutions.
“We were pleased with the overwhelming response from the industry experts who provided much-needed knowledge on what we can do in the immediate, and medium to long term.
Commercial banks, development financial institutions and other funding institutions are eager to partner with us to respond to this challenge,” said Lesufi.
To make headway in their efforts to curb the energy deficit, Gauteng will release R1.2 billion towards resolving the energy crisis in Gauteng.
“In few weeks, we will appoint six developers who will commence the construction of an 800 megawatts solar farm in Merafong.
This will be followed by the installation of roof top solar panels in government buildings especially hospitals, clinics and schools,” he said.