By 2055, the Gauteng province would reduce its overall energy consumption by 18% from business-as-usual projections and its carbon emissions by 49% in relation to 2007 levels, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said on Friday.

Speaking at the launch of the Gauteng Integrated Energy Strategy, Mokonyane emphasised that the province must, by that time, have a modern energy system where fossil fuel use and fuel poverty were markedly reduced.

The development of the strategy, which was aimed at directing the way energy was supplied and used in the province in the coming five, 16 and 46 years, was spearheaded by the Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing (DLGH).

Gauteng MEC for Local Government and Housing Kgaogelo Lekgoro explained that the strategy was aimed at improving the province’s environment, reducing its contribution to climate change and dealing with energy poverty, while still promoting economic development.

The premier pointed out that it was appropriate for such an initiative to start in Gauteng province, the economic powerhouse of the country, in order for similar strategies to be successfully rolled out in other provinces in the country.

Mokonyane stated that the province and the country could not afford to dither and procrastinate in terms of energy efficiency and alternative energy any longer.

She noted that the strategy would provide for the economic development and competitiveness of the province’s industries through the establishment of a low-carbon economy.

With the strategy, the provincial government was aiming to ensure that citizens had access to affordable, safe and efficient public transport, as well as access to affordable and efficient energy services, as part of plans to reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Further, Gauteng had to place emphasis on the low-hanging fruits in terms of energy-efficiency and renewable energy, as this offered significant scope to enhance the profitability of business and to contribute to the economic development of the province, said the premier.

Renewable energy and clean technologies could contribute 47% of the province’s energy mix by 2055, said Mokonyane.

“Empirical evidence, both from our own research and from independent sources, has confirmed that within Gauteng, solar energy and energy from landfill gas are the most obvious short-term renewable energy sources, with the potential to tap into renewable energy from wind and concentrated solar power from outside the provincial boundaries,” added Lekgoro.

He emphasised that the province could become a hub for the development, research and manufacture of clean energy technologies, with the provincial government promoting innovation through investment and public–private partnerships.

STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

Meanwhile, the DLGH representative Kemraj Ojageer explained that the department would now focus on the implementation of the strategy.

Going forward, it would work on establishing an energy office for the province, and develop a budget for its activities. Ojageer noted that it would not look only at government to fund the office and its activities, but also at obtaining financial support from industry, international organisations and donor funders.

Further, the DLGH was planning to finalise an implementation plan for the strategy by the second week of April.

It would also undertake more detailed energy modelling and scenario assessments and was hoping to start publishing a provincial state of energy report each year.

A monitoring framework for the strategy would also have to be developed, said Ojageer.

The DLGH was planning on finalising most of these aspects by the end of this year.