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17 September 2007
Energy is a vital part of every aspect of South African life. Energy issues
including those around electricity, liquid fuels, renewable energy and energy
efficiency have been extremely topical over the past year. This is mainly as a
result of the fact that demand for these energy sources has increased due in
large part to the phenomenal growth that the country has experienced in recent
years.
Owing partly to these facts, the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa
Sonjica, as head of the department tasked with ensuring security of energy
supply in South Africa, felt that it was imperative that it undertake a review
process focussing on the DME's White paper on Energy Policy (1998). The
Minister will therefore, be hosting an energy summit from the 25th to the 27th
of September 2007 at Sandton Convention Centre. The summit is aimed at
affording Energy stakeholders an opportunity to engage in a policy dialogue to
identify any gaps or policy shifts in the white paper.
A wide variety of stakeholders from government, labour, business sector and
civil society have been invited to participate at the summit. The expected
outcome of this summit is that it will enable the department to gather the
relevant insights that will enable us to critically appraise the white paper
from an informed position. This summit is a critical intervention by the
minister aimed at ensuring the achievement of the broader objectives of
government's policy on energy.
The Minister Sonjica and the Minister in the Presidency Mr Essop Pahad will
also be hosting the National Childrenâs Energy Summit parallel to the Energy
Summit from the 24th to the 27th of September 2007 at Kopanong Hotel, in
Benoni.
The objectives of the National Childrenâs Energy Summit are to communicate
government energy policies and programmes to children in an interesting and
friendly manner, and to jointly explore child appropriate energy conservation
strategies, as well as to expose and educate children about energy related
careers.
Enquiries:
Ms Bontle Mafuna
Chief Director Communication
Tel: 012 317 8086
Fax: 012 322 4954
Cell: 082 773 2388
E-mail: bontle.mafuna@dme.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
17 September 2007
