Energy Summit
25 September 2007
Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Welcome to Gauteng. Let me at the outset thank the organisers of the
conference for choosing to host this important summit in our province. The
province by its very nature has to take a very keen interest in matters of
sustainable energy supply.
As a province regarded as South Africa's economic powerhouse and a province
that contributes a third to the country gross domestic product, we understand
the importance of sustainable energy supply to economic growth and social
development.
We also understand our strategic role in helping South Africa to achieve its
goals of halving poverty and unemployment by 2014. We have accepted that in
order for us to help the country achieve this goal we have to grow the economy
of Gauteng by eight percent. Achieving this level of economic growth requires
that we pay close attention to the energy requirements in Gauteng now and in
the future.
Gauteng has seen unprecedented and sustained economic growth since the
mid-1990s, reaching a growth rate of 5,8% in 2005. This growth attracts people
and the total number of households increased by 17% from 2 475 million in 2002
to 2 983 million in 2005 as a result of population growth and in-migration of
people from other parts of the country and the continent.
Increased economic activity and population growths create demand for energy
supply and efficiency is required to meet this demand on a sustainable basis.
Our efforts to position Gauteng as a globally competitive city region require
that we pay particular attention on energy.
As a government of Gauteng we believe that there is a need for us and the
national government to investigate a common approach to energy efficiency, the
sustainable use of non-renewable energy sources, alternative energy sources and
carbon credits.
This summit is therefore critical in developing that common approach that
should guide all us as we try to find solutions to the challenges of
sustainable energy provision.
In a densely populated urban centre such as Gauteng, the environment also
assumes particular significance. The approaches that we propose should help us
to ensure that we achieve environmental sustainability in the medium and long
term.
We welcome you in Gauteng; we wish you well in your deliberations and look
forward to the recommendation of your summit.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
25 September 2007
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gauteng.gov.za)
