Question NW2464 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
30 June 2023 - NW2464
Le Goff, Mr T to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) With reference to the replies to question 54 on 24 February 2023 and 213 on 1 March 2023, and given the current need to end load shedding, (a) on what basis were bids regarding the 3200 megawatts (MW) of renewables rejected due to insufficient space on the grid and (b) what are the reasons that only 1000MW was procured when grid space was available; (2) (a) on what document and/or information does he rely to determine whether or not the grid is full, (b) how does he verify the information to ensure that the grid is full or not and (c) on what date will the Grid Capacity Allocation Rules be revised to ensure that the projects that are not ready to come online do not continue to take up space on the grid; (3) whether, given the urgent need to end load shedding and the fact that there is over 3400MW available in the Eastern and Western Cape, the remainder of the 3000MW Bid Window 6 will be reopened to be further allocated; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
- (a) and (b) The projects could not be awarded the preferred bidder status, the basis being Eskom the grid owner and operator confirmed to the department that grid capacity was exhausted in areas where the said projects locations were proposed. The grid that was available could only accommodate 1000MW of projects in their respective proposed locations.
- (a) and (b), Eskom the grid owner and operator is the custodian of such information ( Eskom GCCA ) and it’s available to the public. (2) (c), Eskom as the custodian of the national grid, is best placed to address the actions that are being taken to resolve grid capacity constraints for future projects.
- The REIPPPP Bid Window 6 has closed and cannot be re-opened, as this is not provided for in the Request for Proposals (RFP) and public procurement prescripts.