Mining Weekly reports that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde indicated following his last meeting with André de Ruyter, when the former Eskom CEO painted a bleak picture of SA’s energy situation, that the province has roped in former Eskom executive Alwie Lester to help tackle the crisis.
In an interview with Polity, Winde said his province already knew in 2022 that the energy crisis would worsen in SA by 2023. The Western Cape accordingly plans to inject R1-billion towards energy over the next three years. Plans are already underway to migrate places like Khayelitsha and Atlantis, off Eskom’s grid and onto the City’s grid. Discussing newly appointed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Winde said his party has been against the move because there were already two cabinet ministers in the energy sphere. Winde suggested the appointment of an energy expert rather than another minister. However, noting that he had worked with Ramokgopa during the new minister’s previous role as of Head of Investment and Infrastructure, Winde wished him well in his new position. He said he has already spoken with Ramokgopa to schedule a meeting to discuss the Western Cape’s energy plans and how it could benefit other provinces.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
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