State utility Eskom planned to award the technology supply contracts for Phase 3 of its residential mass rollout (RMR) programme by June, depending on the quality and completeness of the tender submissions, spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe has told Engineering News Online.

He said the tender period for Phase 3 closed in January and was currently undergoing final evaluations for contracting.

“We expect the [winning bidders] to be able to supply the first technology within six to eight weeks of the contract being placed. However, the success and lessons learnt from the current turnkey projects could affect the timeline of the installer model,” Phasiwe noted.

He explained that Phase 3 formed one of two sections of the RMR programme, namely the “turnkey” section that would see that winning bidders supply and install the technologies.

Meanwhile, the parastatal informed that the closing date for the request for proposals for the manufacture, supply and delivery of various technologies for the future ‘install-only’ programme of the RMR had been brought forward to March 12 from April 5.

The initial closing date was February 25, but Phasiwe said that, following a clarification session on February 14, prospective suppliers required an extension of the tender submission date. 

“Due to congestion at the Eskom tender office, the earliest date was April 5.  Subsequently, the date of March 12 became available,” he indicated.

The winning bidder would supply a technology basket that would include compact fluorescent lamps, light-emitting diode down lighters, pool timers, geyser timers, low-flow shower roses, flow restrictors and geyser blankets.

Phasiwe further stated that the current RMR was targeted at reducing electricity demand in South Africa over the next two winters to relieve the pressure on the country’s electricity network.

“Eskom will decide whether this will be extended, based on the electricity system requirements, market saturation and financial constraints in the years following,” he added.