The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity will on 16 - 17 October 2023 host the second iteration of the South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS) at the Century City Convention Centre in Cape Town.

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.

This makes green hydrogen a key component of South Africa’s future energy mix and features as one of the Big Five Frontiers in the South Africa Investment Strategy.

The inaugural SAGHS, held in November 2022, showcased South Africa as a large-scale, low-cost, world-class green hydrogen production hub and total value chain investment destination. 

The 2023 Summit aims to take the next step by focusing on the production and application of Green Hydrogen and paving the way for machines on the ground whilst concretising Power to X.

Regional and continental collaboration by African states is key to achieving green hydrogens potential as a vector to re-industrialise South Africa’s economy in a manner which is sustainable.

This years’ Summit will also  be more Pan African, with Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa having assumed the chairship of the African Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) on behalf of South Africa September 2023.

AGHA is a voluntary coalition of African countries with significant green hydrogen production potential seeking to promote continental green hydrogen cooperation.

SAGHS 2022 pronounced on South Africa’s solid green hydrogen policy foundation. SAGHS 2023 will build on this and make important announcements around:

a.​ Progress in finalising the South African Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy;

b.​ The development of a Northern Cape Province Green Hydrogen Masterplan;

c.​ Progress in developing the Western Cape and Gauteng Green Hydrogen Strategies; and

d.​ Cabinet’s approval of the South Africa Investment Strategy, which features Green Hydrogen as one of the Big 5 Frontiers being nascent sectors with significant growth and investment potential.
 
Members of the media are invited to cover the Summit as follows:
 
SUNDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2023

Media Briefing on Announcements

Time: 13h00 for 14h00
Venue: Urban Square Hotel, Century City
 
MONDAY, 16 - 17 OCTOBER 2023

Summit Plenary and Panel Discussions - (All panel discussions will be open for the media – programme to be shared with Media that RSVPS)

Venue: Century City Conference Centre, Western Cape
 
Members of the media who wish to cover the summit and the media briefing are required to register for accreditation by no later than 16h00 on Monday, 09 October 2023 on the following registration link:

https://rsvp.rsvpagency.co.za/rsvpagency/page/en/self-registration?code=glQWE8KFR9D1JHYEN
Website: https://greenhydrogensummit.org.za/

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

The Minister in The Presidency for 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: Sunday, 01 October 2023
Time: 11h00
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,  Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity, on 082 084 5566

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: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Time: 13:00
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 in  the Ministry of Electricity, cell 082 084 5566
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, today, 21 September 2023, co-hosted the South African Transmission Financing Seminar with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where experts and stakeholders from the energy and financial sectors shared key insights on the financing and development of South Africa’s electricity transmission infrastructure for sustainable energy security in South Africa.

The development and expansion of South Africa’s electricity transmission infrastructure is critical to enable diverse energy generating sources-which are geographically located in various parts of the country - to contribute to the country’s electricity grid.

Convened at the JSE head offices in Johannesburg, the Chairman of the JSE Mr Phutuma Nhleko in his welcoming remarks emphasised the importance of partnerships in finding solutions and said, “As a key player in the economy, the JSE is encouraged by government’s commitment to partner with the private sector in exploring alternative funding opportunities for maintaining, modernising and expanding the national grid.”

Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted a number of key aspects during the opening of the seminar. 

He outlined South Africa’s current transmission status quo which illustrated the requirement of transmission infrastructure expansion. The Minister further shared the transmission expansion plan and the subsequent planned major projects alongside key challenges facing transmission. 

Key among these challenges is the  financing and funding gap that’s required to fulfil transmission infrastructure development.

Insufficient investment in the transmission system, government’s financial constraints, and governance deficiencies have resulted in Eskom delaying investment in the maintenance, refurbishment and expansion of the national grid infrastructure.

An estimated amount upwards of R 250 billion is required to fund the expansion of South Africa’s grid.
 
The discussions were framed in  four focus areas, under chatham house rules and unpacked the various financing requirements and potential solutions for the transmission expansion and modernisation programme.  

Central to the discussions were how to  protect the country’s long-term socio-economic interests while balancing sustainability obligations and international commitments to climate change and decarbonisation. 

The key thematic aspects addressed the synergising of private sector and government collaboration, the options and size of available financial resources, as well as international insights to build local resilience, capacity and expertise. 

The Minister described the seminar as useful and said, “The conversations were able to provide insights of how peer countries which had our similar  challenges were able to resolve their electricity problems and the possible ways to finance grid expansion” . 

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Ministry of Electricity on 082 084 5566 and Pheliswa Mayekiso, JSE on 084 486 0502 and Pheliswam@jse.co.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will this afternoon, 20 September 2023, account in the National Assembly by replying to questions for oral reply.

The Minister oversees the implementation of the Energy Action Plan which principally aims to end load shedding and achieve sustainable energy security in South Africa.

The Minister will answer questions from members of Parliament on a range of issues pertaining to electricity including the operation of Kusile Power Station Units, Komati Power Station, cross-boarder power purchases and planned maintenance, amongst other issues.

Details are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Time: 15h00
Venue: National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town

Livestream links: Parliament of RSA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzKKqH8ZkRo / 
Twitter - https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1yNxaZaeyrRKj
 

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane in the Ministry of 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 on 21 September 2023, host a Transmission Financing Seminar with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) to galvanise discussions on the financing of South Africa’s Transmission Development Plan which seeks to expand, support and secure the sustainability of South Africa’s energy mix and electricity supply.

The development and expansion of South Africa’s electricity transmission infrastructure is a critical cog to enabling diverse energy solutions-which are geographically located in various parts of the country - to contribute to the country’s electricity grid. This will significantly strengthen and increase South Africa’s electricity supply and capacitate the energy sector in meeting global decarbonisation targets and ensuring South Africa’s long-term energy security and energy sovereignty.

The Seminar will bring together Government, energy industry veterans and potential private sector investors to engage in a critical conversation on South Africa’s transmission infrastructure requirements for long-term energy security; explore alternative funding mechanisms for maintaining, modernising and expanding the national grid and an exchange on international experience of countries that have had similar challenges and what models were pursued to overcome these challenges.

Minister Ramokgopa will deliver a keynote address at the beginning of the seminar. The Minister’s address will be streamed on GovernmentZA and PresidencyZA digital platforms (direct links will be shared will all media on 21 September 2023).

The event will take place under Chatham House Rules.

The event is closed to the media. 

The Minister will brief the media and the end of the seminar as follows:

Date: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Time: 16h00
Venue: The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Sandton
 
Media that would like to attend the media briefing should RSVP by sending their details to Kutlwano Huma on 078 133 1483 by no later than 13h00 on Wednesday, 20 September 2023. 

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Ministry of Electricity on 082 084 5566 and Pheliswa Mayekiso, JSE on 084 486 0502

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency responsible 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: Sunday, 17 September 2023
Time: 10:00
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 in  the Ministry of Electricity - 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. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the briefing as follows:
Date: Sunday, 10 September 2023
Time: 10:00
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 in the Ministry of Electricity, 082 084 5566

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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