28 April 2010
Minister of Energy, Ms Dipuo Peters
Honourable Premier and MECs present
Honourable executive mayor
Members of the business community
Leaders of various community formations
Distinguished guests
We meet just a day after Freedom Day, a day of celebrating the hard-fought and hard-won constitutional and non-racial democracy we have come to enjoy.
Programme director,
Let me start by reminding you that South Africa is a developing country. However, we do not want to be a developing country forever. That is why we are working hard to make the quality of human development and the quality of life to reach the levels of the best around the world. In this regard, all of us, as government, industry and communities, have to continuously work harder to achieve the sustainable development levels that would help us to eradicate poverty.
We must do this not only to improve our lives, but also to ensure that the generations that come after us, can continue to benefit from the prudent actions of their fore-bearers.
We are pleased to be visiting Winterveldt today. The people of this area derived wealth from available natural resources such as land. Families survived through agrarian activities and various small trading arrangements within and outside the region.
It is therefore very appropriate that we launch a new solar energy water heating scheme within this very innovative community.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We mentioned in the State of the Nation Address that we were working on implementing the use of alternative forms of energy in the country.
We have enjoyed over 13 years of democracy without any risk of electricity supply failure.
It became natural for people to use electric heaters, stoves, kettles and geysers. This has led to South Africa becoming one of the highest electricity users per capita in the world.
We took energy for granted. Things have changed drastically. You will recall that the period 2007 and 2008 saw a number of noticeable disruptions in the electricity supply.
Large sections of the country were plunged into darkness as a result of Eskom not being able to meet the electricity demand nationwide. That state of affairs led government to look at other means of ensuring that the available electricity supply can still be shared with the industry and the commercial sector.
One of the quick interventions was to change ordinary light bulbs that we were used to, and convert to the use of more energy saving light bulbs. That programme has resulted in significant energy saving, though not enough to abate the challenge that we are still facing.
We are told by the experts that if nothing is done, the load shedding experience of 2007 to 2008 will certainly repeat itself in 2011 onwards.
We cannot afford that. We therefore need to work harder to save energy. It is not an unlimited resource.
That is the reason today we launch this solar water heating project. People use various methods to heat water, ranging from a stove, kettles and pots to water geysers for those who can afford them.
Fortunately, water should not necessarily be heated by electricity. There are other cheaper and cleaner forms of energy to do the job. We want to spread the message that we can all enjoy free hot water, while at the same time saving money and the environment.
In government we are converting water heating for hospitals, clinics, prisons, barracks and other government buildings to solar water heating. You will see a lot of that happening in the next few years.
Solar water heating like most of you here have experienced, is an option that has many benefits as compared with other forms of water heating. Once installed, you have free hot water.
We want the rest of South Africa to experience what you have experienced in Winterveldt by adopting this advanced technology of water heating. The second phase of this programme will supply at least 10 400 additional solar water heaters in Tshwane alone during the course of this financial year.
This programme will also be expanded to cover all household types, public buildings such as hospitals, clinics, schools and correctional facilities in the Tshwane Metropolitan area.
In other words, with full exploitation of renewable energy technologies, it is possible to ensure that no one is left out as the resources are dispersed and available closer to the point of use.
I trust that bread winners will notice a difference in their budgets as a portion of their incomes previously spent on heating water will be spared.
Phase three, also starting during 2010 to 2011, will target all and will be executed over a longer period. This means that ultimately, we will reach all households.
This programme is labour intensive and will create many jobs for our people in the local manufacturing, installation and maintenance sectors.
We want to see many of our people being trained during installations, in order for them to get the necessary skills. They should be able to perform maintenance work around their areas and generate some income.
Since solar water heating does not need electricity, open coal or wood fires, we will see an improvement in the quality of the air we breathe.
We will also see an improvement in the management of forests as there will be a reduction in the number of trees that are cut down for firewood purposes.
As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, solar water heating project can also be registered as a clean development mechanism project under the Kyoto Protocol. It can generate an income for the country to further implement similar activities.
As we continue to look for other alternatives to save energy, let me remind all that we must continue to save electricity. We must switch off our appliances when they are not in use. Let us share this responsibility as citizens of this country and electricity users.
We must remember that electricity tariffs have increased and will continue to increase in the near future. We cannot afford to waste even a single unit of electricity.
We will depend on you to report any wastage of resources to relevant local authorities, ranging from streetlights that burn during the day to broken water pipes.
I urge all of you to use and enjoy solar water heating, an efficient and environmentally friendly way of heating water. Working together we can do more to develop our country and improve access to basic services. It is my pleasure today to launch the National Solar Water heating Programme.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
28 April 2010
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)
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