The South African Minister of Energy, Ms Elizabeth Dipuo Peters and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, launched an international partnership today with partner Governments, and the European Investment Bank, in a bid to scale-up and secure long-term funding to enable the growth of the renewable energy industry in South Africa.
Joining Minister Peters in signing the Declaration of Intent on the South African Renewables Initiative (SARi) were:
- Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for the Government of the United Kingdom;
- Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment and International Development for the Government of Norway;
- Norbert Röttgen, Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety for the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany;
- Martin Lidegaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Building for the Government of Denmark;
- Simon Brooks, Vice President for the European Investment Bank.
The Declaration of Intent was signed in the South African city of Durban, which is hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties, COP 17/CMP7.
The South African Renewables Initiative (SARi) aims to mobilise domestic and international funding, and sector expertise, to support South Africa to implement its ambitious plans for the scale-up of renewable energy.
South Africa’s Minister of Energy, Minister Dipuo Peters, noted that: “South Africa has a large potential for renewable energy, with over 18 GW already included in the current Integrated Resource Plan. South Africa already benefits from international partnerships in the energy field, but this is different: The South African Renewables Initiative will not only contribute towards the growth and deployment of renewable energy, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced energy access, but, equally importantly, it will also enable South Africa to boost the development of new green industries, and new green jobs in renewable energy and its value chain. “
“It will also serve to meet South Africa’s commitment, which President Zuma announced in Copenhagen in 2009, that South Africa would reduce carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 and by 42% by 2025” Minister Peters concluded.
Expanding on the opportunity, South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies noted that “Renewable energy is an opportunity for Africa. African countries need to become producers as well as consumers of tomorrow’s technologies. As South Africa begins to rollout large scale renewables, we are seeking to do this in a way that maximises industrial and job creation benefits“
”By working together with international partners, we can ensure that there is the funding, investment environment, and skilled workforce in place to enable the renewable energy industry to grow and thrive. The South African Renewables Initiative aims to unlock the environmental, industrial, and economic benefits that large-scale renewable energy offer to South Africa, without imposing an unacceptable burden on our economy, public finances or citizens.” Minister Davies concluded.
Endorsing this, the international partners emphasised that: “SARi will not only provide a means of supporting investment in South Africa, but, as an initiative, will serve as a source for exchange of expertise as well as shared learning and inspiration with other ambitious national initiatives and international collaborations for green growth.”
For more information on the South African Renewable Initiative, please go to
www.sareenewablesinitiative.gov.za
For the dti Sidwell Medupe
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
For the Minister of Energy
Ms ZodwaBatyashe
Cell: 082 455 9796
E-mail:Zodwa.Batyashe@energy.gov.za
For the South African Renewables Initiative
Kathy Berman
Cell: 082 808 3712
E-mail: kathyb@spaceconsulting.co.za
For the European Investment Bank
Richard Willis (Durban)
Tel: +352621 555 758
E-mail willis@eib.org
