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2 December 2008

Tshwane: South African Deputy President, Baleka Mbete today reaffirmed a commitment by government to 'make every watt count' through a continued focus on sustainable electricity, energy efficiency initiatives and behavioural change to energy saving across the societal spectrum.

At a breakfast held in Pretoria today, she called for continued collective energy savings by all sectors, government, business, industry and mining and residential to ensure that a significant increase in electricity savings is achieved as a matter of urgency. In response, she received firm commitments from all sectors represented at the event to work in partnership to ensure the set objectives of electricity and energy savings are achieved during this summer period and beyond.

"We have all heard from major stakeholders about their commitments to addressing the current national electricity emergency with the sense of urgency it deserves. All of us now realise that we must act together to reduce our unnecessary and inefficient use of energy. All stakeholders recognised that electricity and energy in general is indeed the lifeblood for our society and our economy. All stakeholders are at one that there a need to see real action to take those commitments forward, based on the recognition that each one of us must act collectively and individually to manage the electricity situation," says Deputy President Mbete.

Deputy President Mbete also launched a summer energy efficiency campaign at the event, stating that the aim of the communications outreach to South Africans is to unite, educate, empower and mobilise the nation to be energy conscious. She also urged the champions to become our ambassadors by taking ownership of this national effort and help conserve electricity.

In 2008, government has addressed energy savings measures through a range of successful initiatives. For example, by retrofitting of over 4 000 National Government buildings alone and these initiatives have resulted in a saving of R56 million in energy costs.

In striving to support energy savings in the residential sector, government, in consultation with the commercial sector is spearheading initiatives such as its appliance labelling programme, and is also providing R300 million to provide energy-efficient light bulbs for poor households. In the business, industry and mining sectors, Government is in the process of implementing a suite of "leadership by demonstration" programmes and is introducing tax incentives for investment in energy efficient technologies.

In addition, Eskom has made positive inroads in driving energy savings during this year. Between January and November, the company installed 19,8 million CFLs achieving savings in excess of 420 megawatts in the evening peak. Eskom also provides a subsidy for households to purchase solar water heaters.

Increased savings are needed to permit maintenance of electricity plants, which usually takes place in January, when demand is relatively low because people do not need to heat their houses. If we do not address this, there is a risk of rolling blackouts if maintenance takes more time than expected, or if there are any breakdowns.

"We are all in this together reliant on one another, and need to 'make every watt count'," she said. "We need everyone to contribute and ask that everyone do whatever they can to save electricity. Taken together, every little bit adds up to a lot."

Enquiries:
Denzil Taylor
Cell: 082 561 3772
Bongiwe Gambu
Cell: 082 714 9463
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
2 December 2008