Exhibitor

81% of electricity in Africa is supplied by fossil fuels and the dependence on fossil fuels is expected to continue until 2035.

Coal-fired plants represent 45% of total generation and natural-gas-fired generation currently stands at 25%.

Rapidly increasing electricity demand in South Africa has meant the government has ambitious plans to expand the sector to reduce continued blackouts and ensure more widespread security of supply.

Only 55% of the rural population has access to electricity with government plans to achieve universal access to electricity by 2014.

The Integrated National Electrification Program (INEP) is creating new infrastructure, while maintaining its existing framework, to ensure that previously unconnected households have access to electricity.

The Department of Minerals and Energy and Eskom have a policy ‘National response to South Africa’s electricity shortage’, which includes initiatives to work on the country’s electricity distribution structure and fast-track electricity projects by independent power producers (IPPs)

• Currently 55% of the rural population does not have access to electricity. South Africa has set a target of 2014 to create universal access to all.
• Eskom (the largest electricity provider in Africa) is seeking interest from parties that wish to take over and return a number of power stations to service.
• Eskom is supporting increased investments through government and international financial support and rising domestic prices.
• A renewed focus on coal, nuclear, renewable and hydro use.
• Competitive bidding to be introduced for a number of projects in 2011, overseen by the Ministry of Energy and National Treasury.