By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has emphasised that power ships will inevitably form part of the country’s emergency energy procurement.
Ramokgopa said that it is inevitable that “we are going to go to powerships.” “I am talking powerships, not Karpowership.” “Our intention is to protect South Africa’s economy and ensure the country’s energy sovereignty, added Ramokgopa.
Ramokgopa addressed the closing session of the Enlit Africa Energy Conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday afternoon.
He said that it was vital that as much additional energy be brought online to ease the load shedding burden.
“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.”
The minister highlighted that environmental requirements in the rollout of power ships would be met.
Ramokgopa presented a DMRE document on loadshedding that shows electricity and fuel costs “continue to erode company profitability, compromising jobs,spillover effects on tax collections and service delivery capabilities.
He said direct loadshedding accounted for at least 659 000 job losses in 2022. That number is expected to rise over 800 000 this year.
Loadshedding directly accounted for R61bn in economic losses in 2022 – this expected to rise to R77bn for 2023.
This undermines the fiscus to be able to pay for social payments and to take care for the poor.
Ramokgopa said he understood the task that lay before government, “We are not appointed to lament the problem, we have been appointed to resolve the problem.”
He added that the he work towards fulfilling the Energy Action Plan launched by president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramokgopa said it was imperative to expand the grid in parts of the country, where the infrastructure is able to absorb and transmit additional energy.