* To sign deals worth 47 bln rand on Nov. 5
* To expand green energy procurement by 3,200 MW
JOHANNESBURG Oct 29 (Reuters) – South Africa has given the
green light to an initial $5.4 billion worth of clean energy
projects that will allow it to procure 1,400 MW of electricity
and help reduce reliance on coal-fired plants, the energy
minister said on Monday.
The government has selected 28 wind and solar projects in
the first stage of the programme, with the contracts expected to
be signed on Nov. 5, E nergy Minister Dipuo Peters said.
“These bidders will be investing about 47 billion rand ($5.4
billion) in power generation and will create a number of jobs
during construction and operation of these power plants,” Peters
said in a statement. The plants are due to be operational
between 2014 and 2016.
Africa’s largest economy depends on coal for 85 percent of
its electricity supply of around 41,000 MW. Last year it
launched a process to procure cleaner energy to reduce carbon
emissions and bolster electricity supply.
A key producer of platinum, gold, iron ore and coal, South
Africa has been struggling to meet fast-rising demand for power.
The process of adding more renewable power to the grid has
dragged on for years and raised doubts about the government’s
ability to deliver on its plans.
It has also chosen another 19 renewable energy projects
worth 1,043.9 MW in the second stage of the programme, which it
hopes to finalise by late March next year. A third bidding round
will close on May 7.
Continued…
