Progress with the government's plan to save energy through a mass roll-out of one million solar water heaters over three years has been dismal, with only several hundred having been installed 10 months into the project.
But its efforts to persuade South Africans to use low-energy compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) has been more successful, with some six million bulbs having been supplied and fitted by Eskom.
This is apparent from Minerals and Energy minister Buyelwa Sonjica's answers to parliamentary questions by the opposition DA.
Her answers come at the same time as a warning from Eskom that the risk of load-shedding and power black-outs remains, with electricity savings well below required levels.
Continues Below ↓
Eskom spokesperson Fani Zulu said this week that reduced electricity consumption over the past year had been a step in the right direction, but was still not sufficient to prevent the risk of load-shedding.
The DA's questions were based on a statement made by Sonjica last January and were intended to hold her to account, explained DA environment spokesman Gareth Morgan.
In her statement, Sonjica agreed that South Africa was facing "an emergency situation" relating to electricity.
She confirmed that a programme was in place with a target of installing one million solar water heaters over the next three years.
"The current cost of the solar heater is prohibitive - it is estimated to cost between R7 000 and R20 000.
"It is also reported that the South African manufacturing capacity is only 10 000 units per annum," she said.
"To eliminate these barriers, there is a subsidy of 20% to 30% depending on the cost of the unit.
"The potential savings of this programme is 650 megawatts (MW).
"The programme is targeting households, group houses - for example, army bases and mine residences - and commercial and industrial applications," she said.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
