Reliable power supply needed for economic transformation – ANC
The ANC’s head of economic transformation Mmamoloko Kubayi says economic transformation cannot be achieved with reliable power supply.
Kubayi spoke on Sunday during a dialogue on the ANC’s policy discussion documents.
The party released policy discussion documents some weeks ago as part of preparations for its upcoming policy conference.
The conference is set to be held in July.
Kubayi outlined the party’s plans for economic transformation, but warned it would be moot if there is no energy security.
“If we are to achieve what we are raising, there are things that we need to do. Interventions in terms of economic policies which are summarised in the following: Within the mineral and energy policy we are saying load shedding is crippling South Africa and that is an acknowledgement, and we have to restore energy security as it is critical for lifting confidence and investment and also creating jobs because the more we have load shedding, the more jobs are being lost and the more the country is not productive.”
Kubayi said government needs to remove red tape to ease the procurement of additional electricity capacity to the grid.
“We must improve Eskom’s performance both in terms of operationally and financially. The procurement of electricity in terms of the Integrated Resource Plan has to be improved. All we are saying is that let’s ensure that we implement the IRP.
“We want to see the reduction on the time it takes for approval.”
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