Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says South Africa will seek to build a nuclear plant for electricity generation at “a scale and speed that we can afford”. File picture: Fikile Marakalla, GCIS
THE MINISTER of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said that South Africa is seeking to construct a nuclear power plant at a scale and pace that aligns with the country’s financial capacity.
Speaking to the media during the Cabinet Lekgotla in Tshwane over the weekend, Ramokgopa emphasised the long-term importance of nuclear energy as part of the country’s baseload power supply. He assured transparency in the procurement process.
However, the minister also expressed concern about electricity affordability. He highlighted the challenges faced by poorer communities, particularly those in townships, who struggle to cope with rising electricity costs.
Ramokgopa attributed part of the problem to underinvestment in maintenance and protection of the distribution grid by municipalities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa led the first lekgotla of the government of national unity (GNU), outlining the programme of action for the seventh administration. The nuclear plant project is a significant step toward securing South Africa’s energy future.
“In the long term, we need to ensure that we anchor the baseload and nuclear is an important part of that intervention,” Ramokgopa told the media.
“We are working on the framework for procurement because we don’t want to discredit the process through a procurement process that is not transparent. We will do it at the scale and speed that we can afford as a country.
“The poor and those that are located in the townships are finding it exceptionally difficult to afford the increases in electricity. The pricing and the tariffs are prohibitive and a lot of our people across the length and breadth of the country are not in a position to afford electricity.
“Those are challenges on the distribution side … and we know that over a period of time municipalities have underinvested in the maintenance, replenishment and protection of the distribution grid and of course we are paying the price now,” he concluded.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Also speaking to the media during the lekgotla, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, emphasised that affirmative action policies, including broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE), will not be scrapped during the seventh administration.
Tau said that these policies are foundational principles underpinning the establishment of the GNU.
He said that the priorities related to social justice, equity, and redress. He emphasised that the coalition government is collectively committed to addressing transformation and ensuring redress based on these foundational principles.
Regarding the future, Tau acknowledged the need to learn from past experiences and adapt. He stressed the importance of introducing greater opportunities while maintaining transparency and accountability. The administration’s agenda includes a strong focus on both industrialisation and transformation, he said.
“The question is what do we do going forward? Of course, we need to look at the next wave of [BBBEE] … where there are lessons to be learnt, we take those lessons into account and where there are greater opportunities to be introduced we need to be able to introduce those.
“We have placed this firmly on the agenda of the programmes that would be driven by this administration and that is why we always say we are focussing on industrialisation, but we are equally focussing on transformation,” Tau said.
The minister also underscored the importance of economic growth and development for South Africa.
He said that as a key priority during the seventh administration, the government aims to build upon the momentum of Operation Vulindela.
Tau said the focus will be on network industries, including energy, logistics and the digital economy. He pointed out that the progress made in these areas will serve as a springboard for further economic growth, with a strong emphasis on industrialisation and re-industrialisation.
Additionally, Tau highlighted the deliberate focus on transformation. By broadening the base of entrepreneurs and participants in the country’s economy, South Africa aims to create much-needed jobs, he said. This strategic approach aligns with the nation’s goals for sustainable development and prosperity.
Source: SAnews.gov.za