Cape Town – Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says higher stages of load shedding in South Africa do not indicate an imminent grid collapse.
Ramakgopa said this while delivering his maiden speech during the budget vote of The Presidency in Parliament on Wednesday.
According to EWN, the minister said that a grid collapse was highly unlikely.
He also outlined his plan to increase the country’s energy supply in the short term.
Ramokgopa echoed the president’s warning of increased load shedding during the winter, but assured that a national blackout or grid collapse was highly improbable due to multiple safeguards in place.
“The winter outlook indicates an increased risk of supply shortfall against expected demands.
ALSO READ | WATCH | ‘This load shedding has made a mess of our country’ – Mbalula
“A national blackout or grid collapse remains highly improbable as multiple safeguards are in place to ensure it does not occur,” the report quoted him as saying.
Ramokgopa said the interventions government was exploring included importing power from Lesotho and Namibia.
Earlier, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that the South African government’s commitment to resolving the energy crisis “as quickly as possible”.
Ramaphosa highlighted the progress made in implementing the Energy Action Plan, including the reform of private electricity generation.
“Our overriding priority now is to end load shedding and to achieve energy security. In July last year, I announced a detailed plan to address the energy crisis. I have since established the National Energy Crisis Committee to ensure that this plan is fully implemented and appointed a dedicated a Minister in The Presidency to provide a single point of execution.
“Over the past nine months, we have made progress in implementing the measures that we outlined in the Energy Action Plan,” he said.
[WATCH] “We can all make a difference by switching off lights and appliances not in use… to save energy,” – President Cyril Ramaphosa. #loadshedding#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/l7kOqbRHst
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 31, 2023
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@SAgovnews
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
