Govt meets energy sector players to rev up economic growth

The meeting with stakeholders in the sector got into first gear on Thursday and continued on Friday.

 

The government has noted that reviving the economy and placing it on an upward trajectory is critical.

 

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy says in a statement released on Friday that various factors that can contribute to economic growth will need to be resolved.

 

The Ministries of Mineral Resources and Energy, Public Enterprises and Trade Industry, met with coal producers and various representatives of the Independent Power Producers (IPP), to pave the way forward.

 

"The meetings form part of government's ongoing engagements with stakeholders to discuss the state of the economy and the role of electricity in contributing to economic growth in key sectors such as mining, manufacturing and energy," reads the statement.

 

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy adds that the government welcomes inputs and commitments made by the various stakeholders in these discussions.

 

"Which considered security and reliability of electricity supply, the sustainability of the sectors and that of the economy."

 

The department says stakeholders in the sector have so far committed to engage further and create working mechanisms to take these discussions forward positively and collaboratively.

 

"Sustained economic growth will go a long way in addressing the challenges faced by critical sectors of the economy and the people of South Africa."