The civil rights organisation AfriForum has urged Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, to ratify the new 100 MW limit for private power generation without a license. Should he fail to do so, Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa needs to force him to do it.
Ramaphosa announced this limit two months ago already and it was expected that the amended regulations of the Regulation of Electricity Act would be published in the Government Gazette.
Dr. Eugene Brink, Strategic Advisor for Community Affairs at AfriForum, says it is unacceptable that this significant step is taking so long. “Recently there was an explosion at Medupi and the country is living under a constant threat of power outages. This year has been one of the worst yet where loadshedding is concerned and it delays much needed economic growth and job creation,” says Brink.
“Eskom itself has requested that the limit should be increased in order to reduce the pressure on its generating capacity. The president has made this announcement and it should therefore be adhered to. If not, Ramaphosa needs to put pressure on Mantashe to do his job. This hesitation and the refusal to give any reasons for it is irresponsible.”
According to Brink the current licencing of private power generation is tiresome. “A higher limit can relieve the administrative burden, as fewer applications will need to be approved.”