Premier

Question by: 
Hon Wendy Philander
Answered by: 
Hon Alan Winde
Question Number: 
6
Question Body: 

In regard to the Western Cape Energy Council:

  1. What have been the key outcomes of the Council since its inception;
  1. whether any (a) outcomes or (b) findings of the Council will be presented to the national government in order to support or motivate for interventions required on provincial and municipal level; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
  1. whether there has been any feedback from national government departments and their entities to the Council; if so, what are the relevant details;
  1. in what ways do the Council (a) differ from or (b) overlap with the National Energy Crisis Committee?

 

Answer Body: 
  1. The Western Cape Energy Council (Energy Council) has developed an energy resilience strategy, with objectives, targets and timelines for the Province.
  1. (a) and (b) We have not shared the detail of the plan with national government, but have indicated our willingness to do so, especially with the newly appointed Minister of Electricity. I have invited the Minster of Electricity to attend the Energy Council or indicate his availability for the province to share its plans. The Director-General of the Western Cape Government, the Special Advisor on energy in my office and I met with the Minister recently at Leeuwenhof to discuss the energy crisis. 

 

  1. There has been interaction between the various provincial departments and their national counterparts, but not between any national department and the Energy Council.
    • The Department of Economic Development and Tourism and National Dept of Small Business Development have engaged on the detail of assistance that will be offered to SMME’s as indicated in the NECOM action plan;
    • The provincial Department of  Agriculture has engaged with national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on the impact of the electricity crisis on food security and sustainability; and
    • Provincial Treasury has engaged National Treasury on the detail regarding supply chain management efficiencies as declared in the national state of disaster.

 

  1. (a) There are certainly areas of collaboration:
      • Demand side management
      • SMME relief/Incentives
      • Promoting new generation
      • Grid infrastructure upgrades

 

        1. The Energy Council has two strategic objectives which are not explicit in the NECOM objectives:
      2. How do we offer immediate load shedding relief to citizens and businesses in the province; and
      3. How do we in the medium and long term reduce reliance on the national electricity system.
Date: 
Friday, March 10, 2023
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