eThekwini aiming to conclude first IPP contract in 2022 as city mulls hydrogen role

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal, is aiming to sign its first independent power producer (IPP) contract next year following the publication of the eThekwini Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP) in 2020, which it described as the first IRP for a local government in South Africa. The head of the eThekwini Energy Office, Sbu Ntshalintshali, reported on Thursday that the municipality was making steady progress with its 12-stage implementation of the EIRP, which outlines a long-term clean energy strategy to 2050, by which stage the city aims to be carbon neutral.