Energy Centres (IECs) Investment Conference
18 October 2006
The Department of Minerals and Energy will be hosting the Integrated Energy
Centres Investment Conference. The event will take place on Thursday, 19
October 2006, at Cedar Park Hotel, at 08h00. The purpose of the Investment
Conference is to invite potential stakeholders to come on board to enable the
DME to roll out more IECs.
The Department of Minerals and Energy initiated the Integrated Energy
Centres programme in 2001 as a response to the State President's call for
government departments to participate in the Integrated Sustainable Rural
Development programme. An Integrated Energy Centre (IEC) is a one-stop energy
shop owned, usually operated by the community co-operative and organised as a
community project. It provides energy solutions to communities, access to
affordable, safe and sustainable energy services.
The main objective of the IECs is to bring affordable and sustainable energy
services and information closer to poor communities. Underlying this is a
strong social responsibility aimed at poverty alleviation, job creation and
capacity building. Currently each IEC is controlled and managed by a registered
community co-operative with a Board of Directors. Activities at the IECs are
co-ordinated with other development initiatives through Integrated Development
Plans (IDPs) of municipalities.
The DME together with the current partners which are Sasol and Total will be
presenting their experiences around the IECs. In the evening the Minister of
Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica will host a gala dinner to encourage
other oil companies to invest in the IECs programme. The gala dinner will be
held at Hilton Hotel, at 18h00.
Enquiries:
Ms Bontle Mafuna
Chief Director: Communication
Tel: (012) 317 8086/8185
Fax: (012) 322 0810
Cell: 082 571 4310/ 082 773 2388
E-mail: bontle.mafuna@dme.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
18 October 2006
