South Africa to invest 5.4 bln USD in first-phase renewable energy

The South African government on Monday announced that 47 billion rands (about 5.4 billion U.S. dollars) will be spent in developing the first-phase renewable energy.
This was revealed by South Africa's Energy Minister Dipuo Peters while she addressed the media in the administrative capital of Pretoria.
"It is part of the government plan to ensure that 42 percent of electricity generated in South Africa should come from renewable energy in a 20-year projection," said the minister.
Peters added he was pleased to announce that the country will carry out the program through Window 1 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program (REIPPP).
The REIPPP was introduced by her department in August 2011, with the first bid submission for Window 1 scheduled for November 2011.
Window 1 will seek 1,400 megawatts of renewable energy, giving the bidders in wind and solar projects until June this year to reach financial close, but the date has been postponed due to some factors.
"This investment will create job opportunities for a number of South Africans, especially in rural areas where these renewable power plants are located," said the official.
In this scheme, private companies would be assisted financially to engage in renewable energy programs, including producing electricity from nuclear, biomass, renewables (wind, solar and hydro) with the reduction of carbon emissions.
Independent power producers would have to approach the government, showing their capability to engage in renewable energy.
The minister said,"I will reiterate that the South African government is committed to renewable energy as part of our energy mix, and we will continue to implement the renewables program in accordance with the Integrated Resource Plan 2010-30."
In his State of the Nation Address in February, President Jacob Zuma announced a massive infrastructure plan, comprising the development project of the green energy in support of the South African economy.