Ramokgopa says focus now shifts from load shedding to increasing energy availability

CAPE TOWN - With the worst of load shedding ostensibly over, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the focus of his new ministry now shifts to increasing energy availability and broadening the country’s energy sources. 

Delivering the first budget of this new department to the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramokgopa announced that a new gas-to-power programme will feature prominently on his agenda. 

But several political parties have cast doubt on whether promises to raise the energy availability factor to 70% by the end of this financial year will be realised. 

Setting goals for the year ahead, Ramokgopa said new bid windows will be opened for renewable energy, battery energy storage and gas-to-power programmes. 

With gas as a major focus area, a master plan and implementation framework are to be drawn up to set the scene. 

“South Africa is approaching what analysts have termed a gas cliff, a structural supply shortfall arising from the imminent depletion of domestic gas reserves, declining imports and delayed infrastructure investments.”

Ramokgopa said the country’s nuclear intentions will also be reset. 

“Across the globe, nations are reevaluating nuclear not merely as a clean base load source, but as a strategic asset to secure energy sovereignty, stimulate innovation and drive industrial competition.”

There are an estimated 1.6 million households in the country which still do not have an electricity supply.

Ramokgopa said much work still needs to be done to expand the country’s transmission network and to maintain a declining distribution network.