[ Home ] [ Key issues ]

National Electricity Emergency Programme

Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters announced energy saving initiatives in the National Council of Provinces on 22 April 2010:

Government will introduce a financial incentive scheme will be introduced for project developers who will be able to claim a rebate for energy they have saved from the electricity system.
Government will retrofit an estimated 100 000 public buildings to comply with energy efficiency standards.
President Zuma will launch the Solar Water Heater (SWH) programme on 28 April whereby solar water heaters will be progressively deployed in all residential dwellings.
The Department of Energy will launch the Working for Energy Programme. The primary objective is to the feedstock created from clearing alien vegetation to produce power.

Government on 25 January 2008 announed the National Electricity Emergency Programme to deal with the problems with electricity supply. These problems lead to the national electricity supplier Eskom switching off parts of the electricity grid to lighten the load (load-shedding).

About the National Energy Efficiency Campaign
The World Bank's loan to Eskom
Government speeches and statements: 2010
Government speeches and statements: 2009
Government speeches and statements: 2008
Questions and answers on electricity tariffs: Bua Briefs 146, 23 October 2009
Speeches and statements by non-government bodies
e.tv series on energy
News articles
Documents
National Electricity Summit, 16 May 2008

The National Energy Efficiency Campaign

South Africa is one of the world’s least energy efficient nations. We use approximately 40% of Africa’s electricity, and are the 11th highest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world. Our national addiction to energy has led to the situation where our reserve margin is unsustainably low, and the reliability of our electricity supply is under threat. Our energy habits have adverse effects on our economy, our environment and our health.

The government and Eskom have committed to spending R97 billion to increase our energy capacity, but this will not be enough on its own. The government is reaching out to all South Africans through the National Energy Efficiency campaign to encourage all sectors of society to conquer their “energy addictions”. By growing a culture of activism around energy savings, we can take control of our energy situation and ensure a better future for all.

A website for the National Energy Efficiency Campaign provides more information on what you can do to save energy.

As energy champions, your willingness to participate in this campaign is important for its success. Your voices will add credibility to the campaign and will help to highlight the need for South Africa to become energy efficient and adopt a culture of energy savings. In addition, your involvement will help to highlight the severity of the challenges that confront the country’s energy infrastructure.

Your actions make a difference. Help us to Save It!

Game

A new game, called the Save It! Digital game, available free on the internet and on MXit, teaches youngsters to save energy.

The Save It! Digital game is available on MXit (in the Tradepost) and can be freely downloaded from the National Energy Efficiency Campaign's website.

The World Bank's loan to Eskom

The World Bank has granted a loan of the US $3.75 billion to Eskom, South Africa's power utility.

The loan will co-finance the Medupi power station and the country's first large wind and concentrated solar power (CSP) projects. Medupi's cleaner coal supercritical technology together with the country's first renewable energy projects, are a critical part of South Africa's responsible approach to planning for our future energy needs.

Statements

Government speeches and statements: 2011