SAREC Campaign

November 23, 2016

SAREC responds to state capture report and expidition of round 4 projects

The South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) has responded to the disclosures in the Public Protector’s State Capture report, which were released last week. The renewable energy body, which acts as an umbrella body to the various renewable energy technologies such as the wind, solar photovoltaic and hydro energy, is of the opinion that Eskom’s delay in issuing final budget quotes to preferred bidders in Round 4 and Round 4 extension of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is definitely not economically motivated.

The South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) has responded to the disclosures in the Public Protector’s State Capture report, which were released last week. The renewable energy body, which acts as an umbrella body to the various renewable energy technologies such as the wind, solar photovoltaic and hydro energy, is of the opinion that Eskom’s delay in issuing final budget quotes to preferred bidders in Round 4 and Round 4 extension of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is definitely not economically motivated.

 

There are 26 preferred bidders across a range of technologies, none of which have reached financial close due to Eskom’s refusal to sign further PPAs. “These projects represent a combined value of R50bn in investment into the country that has been put on hold, which is ludicrous when considering our current economic climate,” said Brenda Martin, Chair of SAREC and CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association.

She continued saying, “The people of our country need jobs and our industry can provide them, considering that the unsigned projects represent over 13 000 jobs”.

The total number of jobs expected during the construction period of these projects is 13,444; where a job is defined as 1 job = 12 person-months and 1 person-month = 160 working hours. Added to this is the over-all number of jobs for South African citizens during the operations period is expected to be 1,909 per year, for a 20-year period.

“It is clear from these figures that these projects represent a very significant investment in the South African economy and are vital stimuli for job creation, local content, and local economic development,” added Martin.

SAREC believes that this deliberate refusal to comply with the ministerial determination on renewable energy challenges the prioritisation of green energy as outlined in the National Development Plan. It also has a negative impact on achieving government’s green industrialisation objectives and undermines the renewable industry’s efforts in bringing much-needed foreign investment into the country.

Furthermore, the delay is also hindering local manufacturing opportunities, social development programmes and the benefits of community ownership, all of which are common features of all REIPPPP projects.

“Over the past several months, Eskom has repeatedly avoided signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy independent power producers (IPPs) and has failed to provide valid reasons for doing so,” said Martin. She continued saying, “At the same time, Eskom’s Head of Generation, has engaged in a sustained attack on the renewables industry, in an attempt to undermine renewable energy and protect their own narrow interests”.

The industry has expressed confidence in the Presidency’s office, citing a cabinet statement issued on 22 August 2016, by the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe who said that “there is no way that government will change course [on the IPP programme]”.

“We therefore urge Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown to take coordinated action and ensure that policy and procedure are adhered to without further delay,” concluded Martin.

FACTS:

  • Since the inception of REIPPPP in 2011, the renewable industry has attracted more than $14 billion in direct foreign investment, created more than 20 000 jobs in construction, and 35 000 operational jobs.
  • REIPPPP has also brought about a dramatic drop in renewable energy tariffs, so much so that new-build renewable energy is now significantly cheaper than new-build coal or nuclear power.
  • Solar photovoltaic energy: the tariff has fallen from R3.65/kwh in Round 1 to R0.62/kwh in Round 4.
  • Wind energy: the cost has fallen from R1.15/kwh in Round 1 to R0.62/kwh in Round 4.
  • This price is significantly lower than the tariff prices for coal from IPPs (R1.03/kwh), Eskom coal (R1.05/kwh to R1.16/kwh) and nuclear power which is estimated at between R1.17kwh to R1.30/kwh.
  • REIPPP enables South Africa to transition away from a coal and carbon intensive power sector to a clean and sustainable future.

–Ends–

SAREC aim’s to promote the renewable energy sector in South Africa and represents a number of industry associations across a range of renewable energy technologies, like Wind, Solar and Biogas. SAREC comprises four industry associations, these are SAWEA, SAPVIA, SASTELA and SESSA.

http://www.sarec.org.za/

Issued by: TM Communications tina@tmcommunications.co.za/media@tmcommunications.co.za
Issued for: SAREC Issue date: November 2016

November 23, 2016

SAREC VIEW ON RESIGNATION OF CEO OF ESKOM

The South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) noted and responded to the resignation of Eskom’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brian Molefe, calling on a shift of attitude from the country’s electricity public utility.

The South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) noted and responded to the resignation of Eskom’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brian Molefe, calling on a shift of attitude from the country’s electricity public utility.

SAREC has in the main had a constructive working relationship with Eskom around the globally successful Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme (REIPPP) since its inception in 2012. “We have, however, found the increasingly irrational and inaccurate criticisms leveled at renewable energy and the REIPPP programme by Mr Molefe and Mr Koko in recent months difficult to fathom, particularly since neither has ever sought to engage with the industry directly through well-established platforms to do this,” said Mike Levington, board member of the South African Renewable Energy Council.

Failure to follow clearly understood communication channels has led to the undermining of investor confidence in the South African IPP sector, confusion around energy policy, loss of jobs in a fledgling domestic renewable energy industry and anger amongst local communities who should have already been receiving the benefits of job creation and socio-economic dividends if Eskom was fully supportive of the REIPPP programme.

“We hope that the appointment of a new Chief Executive will lead to constructive communication between Eskom and SAREC as well as reinvigoration of momentum in the REIPPP programme, the financial close of the Redstone CSP project from Round 3, the 26 projects from Round 4 and the Small IPP programme, and the announcement of the Expedited Round preferred bidders,” added Levington.

SAREC says that the renewable energy sector has been ready for almost 12 months to play an active contribution towards the Nine Point Plan as articulated by President J G Zuma in his most recent State of the Nation address, directly in resolving the energy challenge as well as encouraging private sector investment. It is expected that after the closing of Rounds 4 and the Expedited Round, the REIPPP programme will have been the cause of greater than R250 billion of investment into South Africa.

“With the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the current climate negotiations in Marrakech, we also hope that Eskom, NERSA and other government stakeholders realize the potential that renewable energy can play in meeting both South Africa’s climate change commitments as well as empowering its citizens through access to more affordable electricity. It is potential that our regional neighbours, BRICS partners and the world at large are embracing – so should we,” said Levington.

SAREC is confident that with the imminent release of the Integrated Resource Plan approved by Cabinet for public comment, and a clear vision for the future role of renewable energy technology, the sector will be able to play an even larger role in supporting investment, job creation, local manufacturing and socio-economic development in the areas of South Africa that are most in need.

–Ends–

SAREC aim’s to promote the renewable energy sector in South Africa and represents a number of industry associations across a range of renewable energy technologies, like Wind, Solar and Biogas. SAREC comprises four industry associations, these are SAWEA, SAPVIA, SASTELA and SESSA.

http://www.sarec.org.za/

Issued by: TM Communications tina@tmcommunications.co.za/media@tmcommunications.co.za
Issued for: SAREC Issue date: November 2016

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