By: Natasha Archary
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will be heading to China to secure solar panels for South Africa.
Ramokgopa will visit China in the next few weeks to, according to Bloomberd, strike a deal with China’s solar panel manufacturers.
The Minister is hoping the procurement on new solar panels will give South Africans alternatives, should they wish to install solar panels to their homes.
This after government announced that home owners would be able to claim up to 25% of the cost of new and unused solar panels.
Most of the country’s solar panels are imported from China, with only two local manufacturers in South Africa, Ramokgopa says this is insufficient as demand for alternative energy grows.
“There are only two solar panel manufacturers in South Africa, but they’ve committed all their output to major projects being implemented by mining companies, while all others are being imported from China.
Even when there is supply, you still have to wait three to four months, we will say to the Chinese that we are sitting with this problem, can you accelerate for us?
Backlogs and a lack of efficiency at South Africa’s ports could also constrain equipment imports.”
Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in an interview
Last month, Ramokgopa shared that the possibility that South African would experience Stage 8 loadshedding cannot be ruled out.
Ramokgopa said it would be very irresponsible to declare by decree that there will be no Stage 8.
As much as Eskom and his team are doing all they can to reduce the stages of loadshedding, Ramokgopa says he is aware that any stage, from 3 to 6 is unacceptable.
Also read: Joburg residents face another 5-day water cut next week
