‘Immediate interventions’ to aid energy supply announced by Mantashe
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced short and medium-term interventions to address electricity and energy crisis facing the country.
The intervention includes steps to allow Independent Power Producers (IPP) to come on stream sooner as well as enable the department to have a sense of immediate generation options available.
The ailing power utility Eskom moved from stage 4 to stage 6 for the first time on Monday due to technical problems at Medupi impacting additional generation supply.
The department's spokesperson Nathi Shabangu says the lead time for generation projects under normal circumstances is anything from 36 months onwards.
"The publication of the Request For Information will enable the department to have a sense of immediate generation options available, 3 to 12 months, to help fill the short-term gap.”
He says the intervention will also initiate a drive for the use of more Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
"The electricity regulator, Nersa, will be met to conclude on matters of concurrence so it can assist the ministry to respond to the challenges. Despite these immediate interventions, the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 is the blueprint that sets a clear path for the security of energy supply and electricity for the country."