Question NW660 to the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
05 April 2024 - NW660
Mhlongo, Ms N to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
(How is Eskom collaborating with stakeholders, like municipalities and industry partners, to enhance grid infrastructure such as transmission and distribution to promote energy security?
Reply:
Transmission is collaborating with industry stakeholders through the Department of Trade Industry & Competition (DTIC) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). We have been meeting with the DTIC and industry since 2022, specifically to evaluate industrial capacity, identify opportunities and support the growth of industrial capacity. One such identified opportunity is steel fabrication, where Eskom is working with the IDC to capacitate five new factories. Another one is construction contractors, where Eskom is undertaking an incubation programme with five companies and intends to assist in further capacitation. A memorandum of agreement (MoA) is presently being finalised and will be signed between Eskom and the IDC.
Eskom Distribution is working with municipalities and industry partners as follows:
1. Direct stakeholder engagements: Eskom is engaging with various stakeholders on new products, for example, we had community engagements in two provinces discussing the load-limiting programme. We are also engaging other provinces on the use of smart meters for load reduction, to ensure energy security with lower levels of loadshedding by voluntarily switching off loads in a systematic way.
2. Industry collaborations: Eskom is involved in the deployment of microgrids through the appointment of contractors to engineer, construct and hand over to Eskom. A total of 33 have been done to date, and more are on the way. These come with battery energy storage systems.
Eskom is also engaging various industry associations to discuss issues of interest and plans that are of mutual benefit, to take the industry forward.
3. Localization: transformer, line equipment, and construction companies - we are developing a Technically Evaluated and Accepted Products (TEAP) list. This shortens the time to tender and select companies that provide services. Localization creates employment and new players and sustains the local steel industry. The TEAP list is a living document that is updated as and when new suppliers enter the market. Products in the list meet the Eskom standards.
4. Training courses: Eskom Distribution offers training courses to engineers, even external to Eskom when requested to do so.