Cape Town – President of the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie, has taken to social media to propose a potential solution to Eskom’s well-documented energy crisis.
This comes after Eskom’s recent escalation of load shedding to stage 6.
McKenzie proposed his idea on Facebook, stating that Eskom “needs 1 000 megawatts to keep the lights on”.
“Eskom apparently needs 1 000 megawatts to keep the lights on, let’s create 11 000 megawatts within the next five months which will keep the lights on in 2023 and is 11 times more than what you need,” suggested McKenzie.
He proposed that Central Karoo be used as the place to create renewable energy as, according to him, it is the most suitable place in South Africa for it.
“We have sun during the day, wind at night, vast tracts of land and evacuation capacity, you cannot find a better place anywhere in SA,” McKenzie wrote.
The Patriotic Alliance leader called for all red tape to be relaxed.
“We need all red tape to be relaxed or cut out, we need government to declare a State of Energy emergency, ban unions, cut red tape,” he said.
“Get to work immediately,” he added.
Explaining how to generate the 11 000 megawatts for Eskom, he suggested that 110 solar companies be invited to each construct a 100-megawatt plant.
“Invite a 110 solar companies to immediately each construct a 100 megawatt plant, give them an off take from ESKOM, you will have thousands of up-takers. Let them start immediately, you can even use state money and start a state renewable company but I wouldn’t advice that, let the private sector do it,” he said.
He said that this would result in Eskom having 11 times more energy than what they reportedly required at the beginning.
“The lights will be on in 2023. We just need political will and decisiveness from the government,” McKenzie added.
He also proclaimed his determination to lead the project he proposed.
“I can lead this and have it all done in five months, send me !!!!!!!,” exclaimed McKenzie.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
