All due process will be followed in terms of regulatory and legislative requirements. Budget and execution of the professional services will determine the final budget and delivery programme.
‘Approximately R1 billion has been set aside for the refurbishment and extension of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme and approximately R200 million is earmarked for the maintenance of Steenbras.
‘The investment in Steenbras and the maintenance programme is crucial to fulfilling our commitment to protect customers from a stage or two of load-shedding where possible, with plans to expand protection with up to four stages in the near future as part of the load-shedding protection plan. Importantly, all Capetonians benefit directly or indirectly from the City’s power generation management and load-shedding protection as it also protects critical City infrastructure used for service provision and protects the City’s electricity network,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.
The budget allocations enable the City to begin the process of delivering on the Mayor’s Energy Priority Programme to end load-shedding. It includes:
· R220 million on embedded independent power purchase
· R288 million on the Power Heroes programme which looks at voluntary power reduction in return for an incentive
· Estimate R1 billion investment in Steenbras (over the next nine years) subject to all due diligence and legal and regulatory processes
· R640 million on solar PV; R53 million Cash for Power programme, which involves selling excess power back to the City
· R50 million in Battery Storage
· R32 million on waste-to-energy
