Electrification Programme Budget Allocations: Treasury briefing (aborted)

MINERALS AND ENERGY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
14 June 2006
ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME BUDGET ALLOCATIONS: TREASURY BRIEFING (ABORTED)

Chairperson: Mr E Mthethwa (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

MINUTES

The Committee had invited National Treasury to brief it on budget allocations for the electrification programme, but Treasury officials had informed the Chair that they could not attend due the Director General being involved in a ministerial committee meeting.

The Chair thought the Director-General might have been under the impression that the briefing would be about overall budget allocations. He had however cleared up the misunderstanding by informing the Director-General that the briefing would have to deal specifically with the budget allocations to the Department of Minerals and Energy for the rollout of electricity to households, especially since quotas had to be reached in order to meet the deadline set for 2012.

The issue was that the Department had alluded to the fact that rollout quotas could not be met with the existing allocations made by National Treasury. The Chair felt it important to meet with the Ministers of Public Enterprises and Minerals and Energy prior to the briefing by National Treasury. It would allow the Committee the opportunity to obtain vital information on the issue so as to be better informed at the briefing.

Adv H Schmidt (DA) and Ms N Mathibela (ANC) shared the Chair’s sentiments. The Committee agreed to the suggestion. The Chair also informed the Committee that a report on the issue was being prepared for presentation to the National Assembly. It was hoped that the report would be presented to Parliament by the end of the next week.

The meeting was adjourned.