Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson on Friday launched the Ngwaabe Integrated Energy Centre (IeC), in partnership with Shell, at Feta-Kgomo, in Limpopo’s Greater Tubatse municipality.
The IeC programme is a Department of Energy initiative established in response to a White Paper on energy policy, which advocates for increased affordable energy services for disadvantaged communities to stimulate economic development. This is done through securing an investor-friendly climate by encouraging diversity of energy supplies and energy carriers.
“Currently, the centre provides employment for 16 local residents of the Ngwaabe village. This is true empowerment of black South Africans and I call upon more energy companies to invest in the programme as part of the transformation agenda,” said Joemat-Pettersson.
She added that the promotion of diverse energy sources was also important for the nation’s effective and efficient energy usage.
In contributing to the local community’s use of varied energy sources, the IeC will open up a space for cleaner alternative energy products.
She noted that, going forward, government also intends to integrate clean energy technologies into this IeC and others, encouraging a response to climate change.
“We live in a country that is a part of the global village. Whatever happens in the globe affects us as South Africans. We believe that, through the IeC programme, we are contributing to uplifting the socioeconomic conditions of our people,” she said.