Some relief could be in sight for South Africa’s over-burdened national electricity grid with the proposed launch of a pilot study into the involvement of the private sector.

Speaking at the recent launch of the Mobilising Investment for Clean Energy report, the National Treasury’s deputy director-general, Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, said the national utility had been given the green light to raise funding for expanding the grid.

Engineering News reports that South Africa will need 1 400 km a year of new power lines by 2032 if it is to unlock the full potential of renewable energy.

‘Given this, we are working very hard across the government to pilot a model that can bring in the private sector to help us scale up that much-needed investment,’ said Lekhethe.

The study will take into account South Africa’s experience acquired while procuring generation capacity from independent power producers. However, the model would be adapted to suit the special requirements of the transmission sector.

18 June 2024
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