Cape Town – Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says that power ships will be a crucial part of the country’s emergency energy procurement.
Speaking at the Enlit Africa Energy Conference, Ramokgopa emphasised the government’s efforts to stabilise the electricity grid. He stressed the importance of bringing additional energy sources online quickly to alleviate the burden of load shedding.
“Essentially generation mounted on the ships, it takes them on average about three months to get it on stream. We have to get those things on stream as quick as possible,” EWN quoted Ramokgopa as saying.
Ramokgopa assured that environmental requirements would be met during the implementation of power ships. He clarified that he was referring to power ships as a solution in general, rather than specifically mentioning the company Karpowership.
“I’m talking about power ships, I’m not talking about Karpowership as a company, but a solution. I think it’s important that you know that so that we are able to reduce the stages of load shedding. There is no self-respecting country that folds its arms and watches the economy collapses when in fact there are solutions that exist,” he said.
Additionally, Ramokgopa highlighted the need for grid capacity expansion, stating that Eskom would need to install 14 000km of power lines to meet future demand projections.
According to eNCA, the minister said that rolling blackouts had the potential to cripple the economy.
“The problem statement in short is that load-shedding has got the capability of crippling the South African economy and undermining the progression of this democracy that we term the rainbow nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula remained confident that load shedding will be resolved decisively by the end of the year.
“I know from where I’m sitting [and] from the work that is being done by government and ministers and so on [that] before the end of the year, load shedding should be something of the past…
“I can assure that load shedding will be reversed and it will be dealt with decisively,” Mbalula said.
South Africa’s power crisis has deepened over the past year.
To manage the shortfall, Eskom imposes daily power cuts. They have worsened, with people forced to endure blackouts of up to 12 hours a day on some days.
The shortages are blamed on insufficient investments in the country’s ageing or poorly designed coal-fired power plants, corruption, crime and sabotage.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
