Agriculture dept launches R1.2bn blended finance instrument for alternative energy solutions

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has, together with the Land Bank, launched a blended financing instrument to aid farmers in accessing alternative energy solutions amid the electricity supply crisis. While State-owned energy utility Eskom has been providing load curtailment agreements to stakeholders in the agriculture industry, government deemed it prudent to help minimise interrupted production from loadshedding further, particularly for large energy users.
/by

Mantashe aiming to secure Cabinet approval for ‘IRP 2023’ in Sept

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is aiming to seek Cabinet approval to publish an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for public consultation during an upcoming Cabinet meeting in September. Speaking on the sidelines of a critical minerals summit in Sandton, Mantashe indicated that he would be presenting the document, which he dubbed ‘IRP 2023’, at a Cabinet committee meeting during the first week of September with the aim of making a presentation to Cabinet itself at the subsequent meeting of the executive.
/by

Western Cape legislature left fuming after Ramokgopa’s 11th-hour cancellation

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has once again snubbed the Western Cape legislature’s ad-hoc committee on the energy crisis.  Ramokgopa was expected to brief the committee on the impact of loadshedding on the province on Tuesday, but informed the committee chairperson at the eleventh hour that he would not be able to make it. 
/by