Page 13 - AfrElec Week 11 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

Ethiopia over GERD
RENEWABLES ESKOM
South Africa declares Eskom blackouts to hold Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has
written to the United Nations, African Union
three additional renewable back SA’s economic growth (AU), European Union and the United States
to formally request their mediation in a bitter
energy development zones South Africa’s economic growth would regional dispute over the filling of a giant dam
built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile River.
experience sluggishness as Eskom plans to
The South African Government has continue with blackouts particularly for the A statement released by the Sudanese
declared three additional geographic areas next five years, said economists. foreign ministry this week said Hamdok
as Renewable Energy Development Zones “Clearly the growth will be subdued had expressed concern over Ethiopia’s
(REDZs) bringing the country’s total than we would have expected,” said Jannie stated intention of adding more water to
REDZs up to eleven. The areas include Rossouw, head of the School of Economic the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian
Emalahleni, Klerksdorp and Beaufort West and Business Sciences at the University of the Renaissance Dam (GERD) for a second year.
and are expected to significantly increase the Witwatersrand, Xinhua reported. Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt have been
deployment of renewable energy projects in Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter said on locked for almost 10 years in inconclusive
the country. that South Africans should brace themselves talks over the filling and operation of the
The announcement was made in a for more load-shedding over the next five hydropower dam, which broke ground in
published Government Gazette notice years, citing ageing power plants which 2011. Both Egypt and Sudan lie downstream
signed by H.E. Barbara Creecy, Minister urgently required maintenance as some of the from the GERD, which Addis Ababa says is
of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. contributing factors. crucial to its economic development.
According to the notice, Emalahleni and This announcement came after President The Sudanese move came after Hamdok
Klerksdorp have been identified as strategic Cyril Ramaphosa late last year said his returned from Cairo last week and some 10
for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) administration wanted to boost the economic days after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
facilities, whilst Beaufort West has been growth this year after a 7 percent slump in el-Sisi’s own visit to Khartoum.
identified as strategic for both solar PV and 2020. During Hamdok’s visit, the Egyptian
wind developments. Dawie Roodt, chief Economist of the government officially “renewed its support for
According to the Department of Efficient Group, said issues of unstable power the Sudanese proposal to stop direct talks and
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), wouldn’t be good for the economy. establish international mediation”, headed by
the appointed geographic zones are critical “It’s bad for economic recovery,” he said. the AU, the Sudan Tribune reported.
for the expansion of South Africa’s energy Currently, Eskom is the only electricity Ethiopia had recently indicated its
mix and will increase renewable energy supplier in the country but Roodt said opposition to adding mediators to the
developments country-wide. private companies should be allowed to existing, AU-led process after the floating of
“South Africa has committed to a supply electricity in an effort to deal with the the idea by Sudan, but has yet to comment on
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and shortfall. Hamdok’s formal call for external mediation.
is working towards a low emission, climate Both experts said they expected businesses Ethiopia started filling the reservoir behind
resilient economy and society,” stated the to commence generating their own power as the dam last year after Egypt and Sudan failed
DEFF in an article by Engineering News. soon as regulations were amended. to secure a legally binding agreement over the
The fast-paced deployment of these “Throughout these five years, businesses GERD’s operation.
new REDZs is attributed to amendments and some people would take themselves off Ethiopian officials hope the dam, now
to procedures regarding Environmental the national grid,” Rossouw said. more than three-quarters complete, will
Authorisations (EA), in which the DEFF reach full power-generating capacity in 2023,
notes that despite renewable energy helping pull millions of its people out of
projects requiring EA under the National poverty.
Environmental Management Act, the process HYDRO
has been “shortened to allow for a smoother
implementation of alternative energy growth Sudan, Egypt take stake
in South Africa.” SOL AR
strong common line against

Week 11 18•March•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13