The Free State premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, envisages the planned Energy Security Indaba will provide solutions to enable the province to unlock its full potential for solar energy generation. Speaking yesterday, 25 October, at a media conference, he announced the plans of the energy conference, adding that it will attract about 500 experts in the energy field from the public-private sector.
The event will be under the theme “Powering the Future” and will be at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs), in Bloemfontein.
Dukwana said the discussion would be centred around two sub-themes, “Energy Mix Opportunities, Technologies and Investments”, as well as “Energy Regulations, Infrastructure and Efficiencies”.
“Serving as a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing and advice, the Energy Security Indaba will also be an attraction for energy investment, for exploration and collaboration between the public-private sector.
“Important stakeholders such as higher education institutions will be part of the discussions to safeguard energy security and the economy of our province,” said Dukwana.
He said the provincial government was hopeful to influence policymakers and potential investors to invest in ambitious new solar projects the provincial government was currently developing. These are the Xhariep, Bethulie area, and Lejweleputswa, the Goldfields area.
“We will open a whole new vista of opportunities, whereby we will traverse the complex and yet not insurmountable task of creating jobs, growing our gross domestic product (GDP),” said Dukwana.
He said high-level dignitaries that have confirmed attendance include the premiers from six provinces: Panyaza Lesufi of Gauteng, Dr Zamani Saul of the Northern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane of the Eastern Cape, Nomusa Dube-Ncube of KwaZulu-Natal, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane of Mpumalanga, and acting premier of the North West, Nono Moloyi.
Sihle Zikalala, minister for Public Works and Infrastructure, will also attend the gathering.
