Nersa agrees with decision to procure electricity from SADC region

Source: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

“New generation capacity must be procured or purchased to contribute towards energy security and accordingly, up to 1,000MW should be procured from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region from a range of technologies/sources,” Nersa said on Friday, 28 July.

The energy regulator explained that this programme is implemented in order to close the widening energy gap in the country.

“The range of energy producers from the region will either be utilities from the host countries or independent power producers that are legally operating within the host countries,” Nersa said.

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Procuring power from IPPs

It also noted its agreement with the draft ministerial determination for the procurement of 2,000MW of new generation capacity from the Load Shedding Reduction Programme, which requires that the new generation capacity is established from energy generated from independent power producers.

“The electricity procured or bought shall target connection to the grid as soon as reasonably possible, taking into account all relevant factors, including prevailing energy security risks and the time required for efficient procurement,” Nersa said.

The energy regulator also concurred with the draft ministerial determination for the procurement of 800MW of new generation capacity from the Emergency Procurement Programme.