Government energy investments

Government says it will keep the development of the energy sector high on its priority list as this is key to easing constraints to economic growth. The Economic Sectors, Employment and Infrastructure Development cluster, chaired by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti, on Tuesday, briefed media to give an update on the implementation of the Nine Point Plan.

 

The plan, which was announced by Jacob Zuma in the 2015 State of the Nation Address, aims to put the country on a sustainable growth path, where the energy challenge is resolved, among other goals.
In a statement, the cluster said progress has been made to stabilise electricity supply, which is a crucial resource to keep industry and business powered. Through the Eskom maintenance programme, the restoration of the Duvha unit, connection of the Medupi unit 6 and customers using electricity sparingly, there has been no load-shedding since September 2015.

 

Government has invested R83bn in Eskom, which includes R60bn that was converted from a guarantee to a grant. Moreover, R23bn was secured from the sale of government’s Vodacom shares.

 

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