Global Courant
South Africa’s Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, plans to enlist the help of the Chinese government to ensure consistent access to solar panels to meet the country’s growing demand for alternative energy sources. Ramokgopa will travel to China this week to meet with six of the country’s largest solar equipment manufacturers to facilitate the import of solar panels. This initiative comes in the wake of South Africa’s ongoing blackouts as state-owned Eskom struggles to meet the country’s electricity demand due to aging and poorly maintained coal-fired power plants.
South Africa currently has only two solar panel manufacturers, both of which have dedicated their entire production to major mining projects. As a result, the country is heavily dependent on imported Chinese panels. But even if stocks are available, there are significant delays of three to four months in getting the panels, as Ramokgopa stressed in an interview. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the South African government intends to inform Chinese manufacturers of its plight and enlist their help in expediting the supply process.
Aside from supply issues, Ramokgopa identified backlogs and inefficiencies in South African ports as potential barriers to importing equipment. The government has recognized this problem and is actively working on a solution, with the aim of streamlining the import process and eliminating unnecessary delays.
In addition to enlisting the help of Chinese manufacturers, Minister Ramokgopa has met with four major banks to discuss financing options for customers interested in installing rooftop solar panels. This initiative aims to make solar energy more accessible to South African businesses and households. Furthermore, the Pension Fund for Civil Servants is nearing completion of a financing offer for its participants to stimulate the use of sustainable energy. The government is also exploring alternative solutions to give lower-income households access to solar energy.
The South African government’s efforts to secure a reliable supply of solar panels and promote solar adoption are in line with the growing desire of businesses and households to reduce their dependence on the national grid. The country hopes to mitigate the impact of frequent blackouts caused by Eskom’s inability to meet the country’s energy needs by diversifying its energy mix and investing in renewable sources.
Minister Ramokgopa will travel to China to convey South Africa’s energy challenges and ask for prompt support from Chinese manufacturers to address solar panel supply constraints. The government hopes to overcome barriers to widespread solar adoption and pave the way for a more sustainable energy future for the country by encouraging collaboration and exploring financing options.
Main image: News24
