Plans for energy, infrastructure and growth for jobs were all on the agenda in Premier Alan Winde’s annual State of the Province address.
He emphasised the ongoing electricity crisis as he set out the plans for the year ahead.
“As leaders we feel a deep sense of responsibility to our citizens,” the Premier told the Western Cape Provincial Parliament last Thursday.
“I feel that fierce urgency now every time I talk to a citizen, a small business owner or a public servant. We are desperate for urgent action today for tomorrow.
“As the government of the Western Cape, we are delivering a clear difference for our residents now, not plans or platitudes, but recognisable, tangible action.”
Winde requested the provincial treasury allocate over R1 billion to respond to the energy crisis in the upcoming three-year budget period.
The budget will go towards:. responding to the short-term impact of load shedding now on government services; . securing diesel to keep essential public services running during load shedding;. helping buffer schools from load shedding;. providing poorer households with “power packs” that help reduce the impact of load shedding on daily tasks;. assisting SMMEs in assessing and implementing alternative energy options.
Renewable energy and the push towards a green economy, was also a highlight of the State of the province.
“In December I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with my Northern Cape counterpart, Premier Zamani Saul, at South Africa’s inaugural Green Hydrogen summit, held here in Cape Town.
“As the Western Cape Government we are working with our allies, in the case of GH2 the Northern Cape Government, the Saldanha industrial development zone (Freeport Saldanha) and international partners, such as the Namibian government, to make optimal use of the potential of green hydrogen.”
The Saldanha Bay Municipality is also part of the province’s Municipal Energy Resilience plan.
The aim of the project is to develop, support and builds capacity at municipalities across the province to implement renewable energy projects.
Across the Western Cape 6 756 PV applications have already been approved by municipalities, with a total capacity of 197 MW.
Saldanha was also highlighted for the investment and development on the region becoming a green hydrogen hub.
This includes work being done by Freeport Saldanha and possible plans by ArcelorMittal, which could see the local plant which closed in 2020, becoming operational in the coming years.
Infrastructure development was also discussed with the upgrading of Refinery Interchange on the N7 currently underway, and the construction of a by-pass linking TR02101 and TR02501 including an interchange around Malmesbury also mentioned.
“You, the citizens, the people of this extraordinary province are at the centre of everything we do, working today for tomorrow,” Winde said.
“This government is ‘citizen-obsessed’; we are obsessed with doing our best for the people to ensure all our citizens can find the dignity and well-being they deserve.”
. The State of the Province Address can be watched at www.wcpp.gov.za
