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Laun ching the City of Cape Town's energy month initiatives, acting mayor Saleem Mowzer on Thursday mooted the possibility of giving rebates to poorer communities to use cleaner energy.

"It is something the city will have to look at... (but) at this stage we can't say we are in agreement... we will have to conclude the investigation (into rebates first)," said Mowzer at a media briefing.

According to Mowzer this suggestion would be addressed by the city's committee dealing with rates and tariff policy.

Osman Asmal, the city's co-ordinator for environmental planning, said Cape Town has already initiated a pilot project at the Kuyasa housing development, which sought to bring renewable energy closer to communities.

"We have installed solar panels and solar hot water, insulated ceiling and special lights," said Asmal, adding that the money saved in paying for electricity provided households with more disposable income.

"Energy is an important component of socio-economic development in our city through electrification of informal settlements and low cost housing developments to eradicate poverty," said Mowzer.

On the possibility of giving rebates to big industry, Mowzer said the city was in ongoing discussions with large commercial and industrial concerns.

"(They) would be very keen to participate," he said of the discussions for big industry to participate in utilising the more expensive, cleaner energy sources, such as the Darling wind farm project.

Mowzer said at this stage the city has not agreed to give big industry a rebate should they choose to use clean energy.

He said the city was endowed with a strong energy base, which was reinforced with the development of new energy sources, including renewable and cleaner energies such as wind, solar, hydroelectricity, biomass and gas.

Mowzer said the city's energy efficiency initiatives also entailed an international dimension, with efforts being made to secure an energy cooperation with the city of Nablus on the West Bank.

"We believe the city (of Cape Town) and our officials are in a very strong position to assist them in restoring electricity, (and) rebuilding infrastructure," said Mowzer, adding that many inhabitants of the city of Nablus had no access to power and running water.

He said the talks, at the initiative of the Palestinians, has been ongoing for some months since 2003, and would hopefully conclude an agreement at the end of June.

"We are currently in discussion with their officials, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs," said Mowzer, indicating that once talks had been finalised, the matter would go to the mayoral committee for consideration.

He said the agreement would take further South Africa's solidarity with the Palestinians and the cooperation between the two national governments.

The city's key energy partners for the energy efficiency month include the Department of Minerals and Energy, Eskom, Sustainable Energy Africa and large energy users from the commercial and industrial sectors. - Sapa  

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