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1 April 2009

South Africa's Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, today announced that South Africa continues to suffer from a perilously low electricity reserve margin. Following the success of Earth Hour over the weekend and with winter fast approaching, she has urged South Africans to realise that urgent steps still need to be taken to ensure the stability of our energy supply.

The minister said that the government commended the Earth Hour initiative and hopes that it promotes awareness of the fact that the country is still facing serious energy crises. "South Africa is one of the least energy efficient nations in the world and the least efficient in Africa," she said. "We also hold the number 11 spot on the top 20 greenhouse gas emitters list and are responsible for 42% of Africa's emissions. Every kilowatt of electricity you use produces one kilogram of carbon dioxide; one of the main greenhouse gases."

Just two years ago, the minister warned that South Africans needed to start saving 10% of their electricity usage every year for the next five years or the energy supply would be threatened. In early 2008, periodic blackouts outraged all South Africans, yet by October of the same year only 0,4% had been saved. A healthy electricity reserve margin sits at 17 to 20%, an amount that ensures that sudden changes in demand or supply and power-plant maintenance do not cause blackouts, but South Africa's reserve margin remains much lower than that.

"The recent lack of blackouts has led to the assumption that our energy situation has been resolved," Minister Sonjica said. "Unfortunately this is far from true. We are in trouble unless we all begin to take responsibility for our habits of energy wastage." She also stated that it is essential that we ensure that South Africa is well prepared to handle the infrastructural developments around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"Worldwide, nations are rising up to the challenge of sustainable energy and conservation. Without all sectors including government, business, industry, mining and residential being conscious of our high energy consumption levels, we run the risk of negatively impacting not only business and social infrastructures, but also the environment," adds Minister Sonjica.

Furthering its commitment to this issue, the department's National Energy Efficiency Campaign continues to gain momentum across the country by aiming to unite, educate, and mobilise the nation to be energy conscious. South Africans have already witnessed the start of an integrated communications campaign, complemented by additional educational workshops and activations targeted at schools and the business sector.

Minister Sonjica concludes: "We are not alone in the energy emergency we face. Energy sustainability has become an issue that no country, industry or individual can afford to ignore. We can easily reach our 10% target simply by making small changes in our home and businesses."

For more information about the National Energy Efficiency Campaign, visit the http://www.savingenergy.co.za website.

Enquiries:
Bheki Khumalo
Cell: 082 773 2388

Zingaphi Jakuja
Cell: 082 766 3940

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
1 April 2009