Kouga Municipality
is set to spend over R8 million over the next three months on the
electrification of the current Ocean View housing project, as well as critical
bulk infrastructure.
This after
receiving R8.1 million from the Department of Energy (DoE) through the
Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) grant at the end of March this
year – R2 million more than the original grant awarded in October last year.
Kouga
Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks said, “The DoE increased the grant amount
after the appointment of a contractor one month before the set appointment date
– acknowledging Kouga’s commitment towards improving the lives of those less
fortunate.”
He further
said the project will consist of two parts.
Hendricks said
the first part will see the electrification of the first 200 houses being
constructed as part of the much-needed Ocean View 1 500 housing project in
Jeffreys Bay.
He said an
additional transformer will, furthermore, be installed at the Ocean View
substation to accommodate the increase in electricity load.
Hendricks
said the second part of the project will secure the upgrading of the 66kv line
feeding Jeffreys Bay – securing energy reliability to Jeffreys Bay.
“Unfortunately,
the cost to replace the complete line is approximately R40 million. However,
every rand invested in this project, is well received,” said Hendricks.
Work is set
to commence within the next two weeks, and it is estimated that the project
will be completed by the end of June 2023.
