Date: 21/02/2003
Source: Department of Public Enterprises
Title: Radebe: Opening of Eskom's Wind Energy Farm
REMARKS BY MR JEFF RADEBE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, OFFICIAL OPENING OF ESKOM'S WIND ENERGY FARM, KLIPHEUWEL, WESTERN CAPE, 21 FEBRUARY 2003
"Eskom and Africa begin to sail before the Wind"
All of those who have spoken before me have expressed their delight at being able to participate in today's events. Let me express my appreciation to Eskom and the organisers for my invitation as well. It is always a delight to be able to travel into the beautiful rural areas of our country. When we are able to travel to these areas to open a high technology, up-to-date world standard experimental wind farm that is neither a blot on the landscape and which is aesthetically handsome in its own right, it becomes a truly memorable event.
My colleague, Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has outlined the policy of government towards renewable energy sources and their importance to our long-term growth. Thulani Gcabashe has elaborated on some of the technical details of this particular project and the Chairman of Eskom, Reuel Khoza, has elegantly described the place of this wind farm project in NEPAD and hence Africa's future development. I cannot add to the details that they have offered, and so I would like to move away from the terrain of the restructuring of public enterprises with which, I suppose, I am most associated, to reflect more on the spiritual and environmental aspects of this project.
Ladies and Gentlemen, today's events started before the dawn and the early morning winds and breezes that grace this part of our land. As we gathered about these tall and graceful turbines, we celebrated together in a humble yet poignant ceremony to name these amazing machines. Humble, because we witness the invocation by traditional leaders whose people's origins stretch back into the mists of time when men and woman first inhabited this part of the African continent, of the natural power of mother earth, and of the wind in particular. It is a poignant ceremony because we are drawn by the silence of the moment to acknowledge that all our energy is harnessed from nature. Most often this is done disrespectful of the urgent need to invest in renewable and sustainable forms of energy so that many hundreds of generations that follow us may live and enjoy the earth as we have done.
At the same time we remind ourselves that the wind farm project is not an anti-modern, anti-technology programme that has leapt from some sudden romantic vision of a return to a pre-industrial age. In very practical ways, wind power is beginning to make a significant impact. For example, in Europe in 1999, wind power covered the average domestic electricity consumption of 7 million people. Worldwide over 10 000 MW have been installed. The technology has developed by leaps and bounds over the past 5 or so years, bringing with it dramatic efficiencies and reduced costs. It has been reported that a further fall of between 10 and 20% in the cost of wind energy will occur by 2005, bringing it well below the energy cost per kilowatt hour of new coal-fired environmentally-friendly power stations.
As we can see quite clearly from the turbines here, a large area of land remains available for other purposes as well. In Europe and America the turbines have not adversely affected farm animals. Bird life, perhaps more surprisingly, has not been affected either, except for one specific area in the US for its own peculiar reasons that have no relevance for this facility. In fact, it has been shown that other man-made structures, such as the power lines themselves, masts or buildings have affected them more directly. In South Africa and elsewhere, Eskom has been at the forefront of nature conservation efforts to ensure that not only maintenance costs are kept to a minimum, but also to see that our animal heritage is not disrupted. The Environment Impact Study identified particular types of birds that are of special concern to us, and these include White Pelicans, Blue Cranes, and several species of raptors, Egyptian and Spurwing Geese and White Storks. It also suggested that racing pigeons would not be affected either. Monitoring of bird habits and casualties has occurred since the inauguration of the turbines in August last year, and so far no bird incidents or deaths have been reported. This monitoring will continue for the three years of the experiment and Eskom will be assisted by a dedicated ornithologist to make sure that nothing slips through the exercise.
The EIA also concluded that no electromagnetic compatibility problems would be expected. For example, here at Klipheuwel, no electromagnetic interference is expected with the Telkom RF transmission station, the Telkom Teleport facility, the Sentech broadcasting station, or mobile telephone users outside the property of the facility.
Another interesting and ultimately useful aspect of the project is the ability to update the wind atlas of South Africa that will be used, amongst other things, to identify other suitable areas for wind power facilities if we decide to proceed. The Western and Eastern shorelines of our country are windswept. All of us are familiar with the Black Southeaster that howls down the mountain in Cape Town and sweeps across the Cape Flats, pushing and pulling rainy squalls in its wake. Likewise, many of our people in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape or even the Gauteng highveld have been ravaged by tornadoes that swept out of nowhere with devastating force. Our task is not to control these forces of nature, nor to attempt to bend their mighty power solely for our benefit.
Rather, we are attempting to secure access to the natural power with the least disruption to the environment, to the beauty of the landscape and to the cleanliness of the air we breathe. As always, as we develop new technologies for our country we do so for our continent. We are encouraged deeply by the partnerships we enjoy with many overseas, particularly in Europe and Denmark especially, who willingly share their knowledge and expertise that has been gathered over many, many years. Windmills of one form or another have ground maize or grain, have pumped water, or have lit up small areas for hundreds of years in Europe and Africa. Still today, one can see in our countryside the gap-tooth remains of many windmills standing forlornly next to water tanks and reservoirs on our farms. Today we stand in the shadow of an extraordinary modern version of the same principle.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to conclude by returning once more to where we started: the invocation of the power of the wind by our traditional leaders of the Khoi and San communities. Let all who can, note that through the naming ceremony we reach back to a time before machines, a time when women and men depended on nature for their sustenance, their development, their lives and their death. We should pause today, hoping that in line with the WSSD and other initiatives, we have at last woken up as humanity and steered a course away from the mad rape of our natural resources. We should explore once more with grater vigour the wealth that the globe can share with us.
I thank you once more.
Issued by the Department of Public Enterprises. 2002
Source: Department of Public Enterprises
Title: Radebe: Opening of Eskom's Wind Energy Farm
REMARKS BY MR JEFF RADEBE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, OFFICIAL OPENING OF ESKOM'S WIND ENERGY FARM, KLIPHEUWEL, WESTERN CAPE, 21 FEBRUARY 2003
"Eskom and Africa begin to sail before the Wind"
All of those who have spoken before me have expressed their delight at being able to participate in today's events. Let me express my appreciation to Eskom and the organisers for my invitation as well. It is always a delight to be able to travel into the beautiful rural areas of our country. When we are able to travel to these areas to open a high technology, up-to-date world standard experimental wind farm that is neither a blot on the landscape and which is aesthetically handsome in its own right, it becomes a truly memorable event.
My colleague, Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has outlined the policy of government towards renewable energy sources and their importance to our long-term growth. Thulani Gcabashe has elaborated on some of the technical details of this particular project and the Chairman of Eskom, Reuel Khoza, has elegantly described the place of this wind farm project in NEPAD and hence Africa's future development. I cannot add to the details that they have offered, and so I would like to move away from the terrain of the restructuring of public enterprises with which, I suppose, I am most associated, to reflect more on the spiritual and environmental aspects of this project.
Ladies and Gentlemen, today's events started before the dawn and the early morning winds and breezes that grace this part of our land. As we gathered about these tall and graceful turbines, we celebrated together in a humble yet poignant ceremony to name these amazing machines. Humble, because we witness the invocation by traditional leaders whose people's origins stretch back into the mists of time when men and woman first inhabited this part of the African continent, of the natural power of mother earth, and of the wind in particular. It is a poignant ceremony because we are drawn by the silence of the moment to acknowledge that all our energy is harnessed from nature. Most often this is done disrespectful of the urgent need to invest in renewable and sustainable forms of energy so that many hundreds of generations that follow us may live and enjoy the earth as we have done.
At the same time we remind ourselves that the wind farm project is not an anti-modern, anti-technology programme that has leapt from some sudden romantic vision of a return to a pre-industrial age. In very practical ways, wind power is beginning to make a significant impact. For example, in Europe in 1999, wind power covered the average domestic electricity consumption of 7 million people. Worldwide over 10 000 MW have been installed. The technology has developed by leaps and bounds over the past 5 or so years, bringing with it dramatic efficiencies and reduced costs. It has been reported that a further fall of between 10 and 20% in the cost of wind energy will occur by 2005, bringing it well below the energy cost per kilowatt hour of new coal-fired environmentally-friendly power stations.
As we can see quite clearly from the turbines here, a large area of land remains available for other purposes as well. In Europe and America the turbines have not adversely affected farm animals. Bird life, perhaps more surprisingly, has not been affected either, except for one specific area in the US for its own peculiar reasons that have no relevance for this facility. In fact, it has been shown that other man-made structures, such as the power lines themselves, masts or buildings have affected them more directly. In South Africa and elsewhere, Eskom has been at the forefront of nature conservation efforts to ensure that not only maintenance costs are kept to a minimum, but also to see that our animal heritage is not disrupted. The Environment Impact Study identified particular types of birds that are of special concern to us, and these include White Pelicans, Blue Cranes, and several species of raptors, Egyptian and Spurwing Geese and White Storks. It also suggested that racing pigeons would not be affected either. Monitoring of bird habits and casualties has occurred since the inauguration of the turbines in August last year, and so far no bird incidents or deaths have been reported. This monitoring will continue for the three years of the experiment and Eskom will be assisted by a dedicated ornithologist to make sure that nothing slips through the exercise.
The EIA also concluded that no electromagnetic compatibility problems would be expected. For example, here at Klipheuwel, no electromagnetic interference is expected with the Telkom RF transmission station, the Telkom Teleport facility, the Sentech broadcasting station, or mobile telephone users outside the property of the facility.
Another interesting and ultimately useful aspect of the project is the ability to update the wind atlas of South Africa that will be used, amongst other things, to identify other suitable areas for wind power facilities if we decide to proceed. The Western and Eastern shorelines of our country are windswept. All of us are familiar with the Black Southeaster that howls down the mountain in Cape Town and sweeps across the Cape Flats, pushing and pulling rainy squalls in its wake. Likewise, many of our people in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape or even the Gauteng highveld have been ravaged by tornadoes that swept out of nowhere with devastating force. Our task is not to control these forces of nature, nor to attempt to bend their mighty power solely for our benefit.
Rather, we are attempting to secure access to the natural power with the least disruption to the environment, to the beauty of the landscape and to the cleanliness of the air we breathe. As always, as we develop new technologies for our country we do so for our continent. We are encouraged deeply by the partnerships we enjoy with many overseas, particularly in Europe and Denmark especially, who willingly share their knowledge and expertise that has been gathered over many, many years. Windmills of one form or another have ground maize or grain, have pumped water, or have lit up small areas for hundreds of years in Europe and Africa. Still today, one can see in our countryside the gap-tooth remains of many windmills standing forlornly next to water tanks and reservoirs on our farms. Today we stand in the shadow of an extraordinary modern version of the same principle.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to conclude by returning once more to where we started: the invocation of the power of the wind by our traditional leaders of the Khoi and San communities. Let all who can, note that through the naming ceremony we reach back to a time before machines, a time when women and men depended on nature for their sustenance, their development, their lives and their death. We should pause today, hoping that in line with the WSSD and other initiatives, we have at last woken up as humanity and steered a course away from the mad rape of our natural resources. We should explore once more with grater vigour the wealth that the globe can share with us.
I thank you once more.
Issued by the Department of Public Enterprises. 2002
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