South Africa will resolve its electricity challenges, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Much as we are still dealing with the challenges of load-shedding with Eskom, if we look through the tunnel, we see the light. We are going to resolve our energy challenges,” he said.
Ramaphosa made the comments following his walkabout at the Redstone Solar Plant in Postmasburg in the Northern Cape on Thursday.
The 100-MW Redstone Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower project forms part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP).
The REIPPP aims to bring additional megawatts onto the country’s electricity system through private sector investment in wind, biomass and small hydro, among others.
At a national level, the REIPPP comprises 92 projects across the country, with a collective generation capacity of 6 296MW, to which the Northern Cape contributes 3 563MW, with 3 249MW already operational.
The Redstone CSP plant makes up 100MW of the remaining 314MW that is under construction.
Addressing media, Ramaphosa thanked the Saudi Arabian government for funding the project.
He said more than R12 billion had been injected into the project by the Saudi Arabian government. This contribution further cements relations between the two countries, with Ramaphosa having recently returned from an official visit.
During last week's visit, the two countries signed 17 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in various fields such as agriculture, fisheries, mining, renewable energy, security, transport and aquaculture.
Other MOUs signed are on the establishment of a Joint Business Council, cooperation in the field of military industries and procurements and geological survey cooperation.
“For all of us, this is a great day because we are no longer just turning the sod. We are actually seeing the real infrastructure build,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the project would attract investment to the country.
The Redstone CSP Plant project has to date created 972 jobs, with 1 500 expected at project peak. About 100 permanent jobs will be created during the operations and maintenance phase.
– SAnews.gov.za
