Eastern Cape premier says renewable energy could boost the province's economy

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet says by developing the local renewable energy sector, energy security can be improved in the province.

Delivering a keynote address at a renewable energy conference underway in East London, the premier said that this could also contribute to the stability of the national grid.

Kiviet says her government has already developed a sustainable Energy Strategy which will contribute to the economic development of the province.

The three-day conference is being backed by the European Union, which is supporting several projects in the Eastern Cape.

The conference aims to showcase renewable energy opportunities in the Eastern Cape.

Meanwhile, one of a host of energy company's taking part in the conference is Philips South Africa.

Spokesperson and representative at the conference, Jack Carne, says many rural areas, such as large parts of the Transkei, are completely off-grid with no access to electricity.

However, he says that by the end of 2015, Philips has committed to supplying 100 light centres to villages around the country that currently don't have power.

"We will move in there and we will provide four 12m masts, onto these masts we will erect a solar panel, solar powered LED flood light with a battery box sufficient to give these guys 4 hours of light. It is a completely automatic system and once it is installed it is self maintained" Carne said.