Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will on Monday, 11 September 2023, undertake an oversight visit to Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga.

The Minister will be assessing progress on units that are planned to return to service.

During the visit, the Minister will receive an update report, which will be followed by a site inspection of the units.

The units are expected to contribute to to the grid and improve the aggregate energy availability.

The Minister’s visit is in line with the national effort to ensure South Africa has enough energy to ultimately end load shedding. 

Media is invited to attend and cover the visit as follows:
Date: Monday, 11 September 2023
Time: 11:15
Venue: Kusile Power Station, Mpumalanga

All members of the media who wish to attend are requested to fill in access forms by no later than Friday, 08 September 2023 at 12:00. The forms can be requested from Kutlwano Huma on 078 133 1482

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566 or tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will tomorrow, 05 September 2023, provide an update on the  performance of the  electricity grid. 

Media is invited as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Time: 10:00
Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDdjOWNhYTUtNTNhMi00MzI0LWJlOTEtMjg3Y2EzY2ZhZWIz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226f4f833e-289f-4387-a0c3-745773c86227%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f2e98e75-4918-4463-9cad-2454b96421da%22%7d

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Ministerial Spokesperson, on 082 084 5566 or tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has concluded his working visit to Nairobi Kenya, where he was  handed chairship of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) on the sidelines of the Inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) which took place from 04-06 September 2023.

Green hydrogen and its associated large scale renewable energy production has the potential to support the expansion of the electricity transmission infrastructure, to add additional renewable energy generation capacity and to support the local development of renewable energy. As such it is a key component of South Africa’s future energy mix to achieve sustainable energy security.

AGHA was formed in May 2022, by six African countries, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa, to drive decarbonisation through green hydrogen. 

The alliance seeks to intensify collaboration and  supercharge the development of green hydrogen projects on the African continent in line with the Just Energy Transition. 

It focuses on public and regulatory policy, capacity building, financing and certification needs to mobilise green hydrogen production for domestic use and export.

The inclusion of the Ethiopia and Angola’s membership were also announced alongside South Africa’s chairship.

Minister Ramokgopa expressed that he will use the Chairship to advance the green hydrogen agenda on the continent in line with the objectives of the alliance and support opportunities for peer to peer learning, technology transfer, economic and employment opportunities. 

During the ACS, the minister participated in panel sessions where he shared lessons on South Africa’s energy outlook and the role of green hydrogen in supporting energy security and driving green industrialisation.

On the margins of the Summit the Minister engaged in multiple high level bilateral meetings to explore energy collaborations and meaningful partnerships in the energy space. 

The minister’s participation at the Summit is underpinned by a commitment to consistent, sustainable and affordable energy supply for South Africa. 

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane on 082 0845566 or tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has arrived in Nairobi, in the Republic of Kenya, to participate in the Inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) which takes place from 04 – 06 September 2023, under the theme “Green Growth and Climate Finance for Africa and the World”.

The Summit is hosted by the Government of Kenya as the African Union’s (AU) Chair of the Committee of African Heads of States on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The ACS will draw African Heads of State, global leaders, and multiple stakeholders to deliberate, collaborate and exchange knowledge and experiences on climate change action and sustainability in Africa.

Joining the South African Delegation led by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, Minister Ramokgopa has been invited to participate in a Ministerial panel focusing on "Africa's Green Hydrogen, Industry & Trade Potential".

This session which takes place today, 04 September 2023, will outline Africa’s potential for green industrial production and massive untapped green hydrogen production potential, providing the opportunity to meet local, regional, and global demand for energy, industrial feedstock, and derivative products such as fuels and fertiliser and to drive significant economic growth.
 
On Tuesday, 05 September 2023, the Minister will participate in the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) forum, where he will engage in a Panel session on Financing green hydrogen in Africa – from Bridgetown to Nairobi.

LOAD SHEDDING STAGE 5

The Minister is concerned about the current load shedding stage 5 situation and is in constant contact with the leadership of Eskom’s Generation team to ensure that units are returned to service as speedily as possible.

ACS SUMMIT LIVESTREAM LINKS

Non-attending media can follow the proceedings of the Summit on the following livestreaming links set up by the ACS:

LinkedIn Live Schedule: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7103313166712864768/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/CCXHKjaH0F0?feature=share
Website: https://acs23.org/live-stream

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Ministerial Spokesperson, on 082 084 5566 or tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

The Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will host the weekly media briefing to update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the briefing as follows:

Date: Saturday, 02 September 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: GCIS Auditorium, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield, Pretoria

Live Streaming details:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA 

NB: For this week, the media briefing will take place on Saturday instead of Sunday. 

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System
Pretoria

The article published on 27 August 2023 by Daily Investor titled “Ramokgopa accused of misleading South Africa” is in itself misleading.
 
The Ministry of Electricity has noted numerous inaccuracies in the article that qualify the article as misleading.
 
It states that Minister Ramokgopa signed a joint memorandum of understanding with eight Chinese companies during the 15th BRICS Summit to ensure that all public health facilities, schools, and police stations in South Africa have alternative sources of energy.
 
This is factually incorrect as the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with eight Chinese companies focuses on enhancing South Africa's energy security through infrastructure and technology development, human capital development, and research amongst other objectives.
 
The substance of the agreement that Daily Investor is reporting about, instead, relates to the Exchange of Letters and resultant Technical Assistance Programme, under which the emergency equipment will be donated by the Chinese Government to South Africa.  
 
This agreement, unlike what the Daily Investor incorrectly reported, was signed during the People’s Republic of China’s Head of State Visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings on 22 August 2023, not in Johannesburg.

Under the programme the first shipment of equipment will include 450 petrol generators, which will be deployed to critical facilities, including hospitals and clinics.
 
The Minister has been consistent in stating that the facilities will be identified by Provinces.
 
Furthermore, the details and potential benefits of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with the eight Chinese companies were not in any way scanty, as purported by Hilton Trollip in the article, instead the substance and details of the agreement were openly presented during an open signing ceremony attended by media.
 
Mr Trollip’s misleading inaccuracies, as expressed in the article, could have been countered with facts, had the Daily Investor given the Ministry a right to reply before publishing a one sided article.
 
 
Media enquires: Ms Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will host the weekly media briefing to update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. 

The Minister will provide a status update on Tutuka Power Station.  

Members of the media are invited to attend the briefing as follows:

Date: Sunday, 27 August 2023
Time: 10h00
Venue: GCIS Auditorium, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield, Pretoria

Live Streaming details:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA  

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA 

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will tomorrow, 24 August 2023, pay a special visit to Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West. 

The town of Lichtenburg, which is the municipality’s economic hub, has been without electricity due to debt owed to Eskom and technical challenges on the distribution network. 

During this visit, the Minister will engage with the local agriculture and business sectors to assess the impact of the challenge and further explore short- to medium-term interventions that can alleviate the crisis. 

Date: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Time: 11h00
Venue: Ditsobotla Local Municipal Chambers

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson to the Minister for Electricity, on 082 084 5566
 
Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will tomorrow, 23 August 2023, sign a Joint Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Chinese Entities on behalf of the Government of South Africa.

The MoC will be entered into during a signing ceremony in Johannesburg with eight Chinese Entities which are global leaders in the energy space.

The agreements are part of South Africa’s continued effort to strengthen partnerships to advance energy security and our energy transition.

The signing takes place on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit, a day after China’s State Visit to South Africa where the Minister for Electricity signed a Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Green Energy and an Exchange of Letters between South Africa and the People’s Republic of China on the donation of emergency power equipment.

The Minister will brief the media on the planned outcomes of the MoC and take questions during the signing ceremony which will take place as follows:
 
Date: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Time: 08h30
Venue: Old Mutual Place, Sandton

Members of the media who wish to attend should RSVP with Kutlwano Huma on 078 133 1482, by no later than 18h30 today, 22 August 2023.
 

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson to the Minister for Electricity, on 082 084 5566
 
Issued by: Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will on 21-23 August 2023 host and participate in various engagements as part of strengthening the electricity sector cooperation with BRICS Member States.

The engagements are aimed at enabling the development of new energy generation, forging support for a common position in advancing Africa’s energy security on the Just Energy Transition, and technical support for the transition and access to modern energy sources. The Minister's meetings will advance a call for a common BRICS position on the transformation of the global energy architecture and governance.

Amongst the engagements for the Minister of Electricity during BRICS Summit Week:

Monday, 21 August 2023

- Bilateral with China State Grid

- Meeting with TBEA and China National Electricity Engineering Company

- Meeting with CNG
 
Tuesday, 22 August 2023

- BRICS Business Forum
 
Wednesday, 23 August 2023

- BRICS Cultural Show
 

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity on 082 084 5566 / Tsakane@presidency.gov.za
 
Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria