Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said it was critical for Cities like Nelson Mandela Bay to support all the plans that seek to generate additional energy capacity for the economic sustainability of the region.
The Minister said this during a working visit to the Metro to do a site inspection at one of the independent power generating plants, Dedisa Peaking Power. The Minister is on a two day visit to inspect work that has been done by Municipalities and independent power producers in the efforts of generating additional power capacity.
As part of the visit the Minister will also host a business stakeholder engagement session on Wednesday, to give progress on the energy turnaround plan.
Dedisa plant is located in the Coega SEZ in Gqeberha. The facility supplies electricity to the National Grid during peak demand hours as well as during emergency situations. In addition to its generating capabilities the facility can also be used to regulate network voltage to stabilize the grid.
Minister Ramokgopa also expressed the department’s commitment to support Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to recommission an old has turbine power generator that was decommissioned in 2018.
The generator was decommissioned because the last operator faulted on its contract and the plant could only generate a maximum of 4 MW.
When in full operation and capacity the generator can generate up to 40 MW, equivalent to 2 stages of load shedding, a situation that can bring a huge relief to Nelson Mandela Bay, more especially the business sector.
The Metro is implementing a process plan to recommision the generator. A company has already been appointed to do an assessment.
“We are encouraged by the commitment of the Minister to assist us to recommision the generator. Through his intervention, we will be in a position to fast track and get the generator back online earlier than we envisaged,” said NMBM Executive Director for Electricity and Energy, Luvuyo Magalela.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor said he was confident following the visit by the Minister as the Minister gave time frames to the commitments that his office made.
“We are also pleased that the Minister will engage businesses as we have already made progress with the business sector. From the engagements we have had with businesses, they have made commitments to help us in generating additional capacity. This visit comes at the perfect time,” said Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk.
NMB Communications
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