15 January 2020, Johannesburg — President Cyril Ramaphosa made commitments on Tuesday that government will remove the red tape inhibiting businesses and households from self-generation of electricity. In response, Melita Steele, Greenpeace Africa’s Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager, said:
“Greenpeace Africa welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to remove the uncertainties and inconsistencies around rooftop solar and self-generation from renewable energy. There is no doubt that this could be a game changer in South Africa, with the capacity to change the dynamics of South Africa’s electricity sector.
“South Africa has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world, and South Africans are hungry for a solution to the crippling power crisis that is leaving our electricity supply on a knife-edge, but until now the South African government has been painfully slow to embrace the opportunities offered by renewable energy.
“The President must now turn his promises into immediate action for them to have any kind of meaningful impact. At the same time, new determinations for renewable energy power producers should be made by Minister Gwede Mantashe to cushion us against Eskom’s devastating power supply crisis. Greenpeace Africa will be watching carefully to ensure that these actions are taken by the government.”
Contact details
Chris Vlavianos, Communications Officer, Greenpeace Africa, 079 883 7036, [email protected]