KwaZulu-Natal needs to bolster its gas capabilities if it wants to do its bit to curb the power challenges gripping the country.
This was the word from Silas Zimu, special adviser to electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, at the KZN Growth Coalition's 18th annual dialogue in Durban on Friday.
“As the Eastern Cape and Western Cape are good in wind, while the Northern Cape is good in solar, KZN has to wake up to its gas capabilities. We are importing gas from Mozambique ... if KZN can speed up the programme of gas to power we won't need to import power,” said Zimu. He argued that KwaZulu-Natal infrastructural transmissions were unrivalled, but said lines from Dundee to Empangeni were underused and more power could be funnelled to Gauteng. Zimu added that more than 60% of Eskom-generated power remained in Gauteng, hence grid challenges in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
“This is another opportunity. This country never invested in the private sector. All power stations were planned [and developed] by Eskom and put into commercial operation by the private sector,” said Zimu, adding that this was evidenced by how power stations were maintained. “If you look at a number of employees per power station, where for every 300 Eskom employees you have 600 private contractors, that coalition should be improved.”After his appointment, Zimu assisted Ramokgopa in the “mammoth task” of visiting 18 power stations.
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