Question NW4250 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
18 December 2015 - NW4250
Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1)With regard to the presentation made by Rand Water to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on 25 February 2015 regarding water outages in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, why has Rand Water not implemented its own recommendations, specifically with regard to the installation of independent power supplies at its pump stations; (2) by which date will all the pump stations operated by Rand Water have independent power supplies installed?
Reply:
- Rand Water has 24 primary, secondary and tertiary sites with an additional 74 energy supply points which requires extensive planning for the energy matrix to complement current energy supplies. Rand Water has targeted smaller tertiary sites with smaller energy requirements for installation of mobile energy supplies. However, the larger municipalities such as Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are part of a larger energy mix. Presentations by potential energy suppliers points to a requirement of between R3 and R10 per KWh which will have a knock-on effect on the potable water tariffs. It is estimated that the total matrix of energy requirements will cost an estimated R20 billion. Given the required capital injection, Rand Water’s investigation informs that it will take up to five years for energy to be produced.
- The procurement of electricity for Rand Water’s pumping stations from Independent Power Producers has started with proposals sought for the most appropriate technology for large scale and long-term electricity generation plant, and its deployment and utilisation to cover the whole of Rand Water. The assessment has been concluded and enabling further tendering process towards the acquiring of the Independent Power Producers. The tender process will be concluded by first quarter of the year 2016.
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