During an oversight visit to the Garden Route District Municipality, Municipal Manager Mr. R Stevens during his presentation revealed that a R1.2 billion solar farm has been approved by National Treasury for the Kannaland Municipality.
The project will be a Public-Private Partnership between Kannaland Municipality and InnovSure to provide an alternative source of green energy to the municipality.
Deidre Baartman, MPP says: “This is fantastic initiative as this investment will create job opportunities and the company will further invest R42 million per annum in the Kannaland Municipality for critical infrastructure projects and further assist the Municipality with smart technology.”
MPP Baartman adds: “Government cannot tackle the country’s energy crisis on its own. It is vital that we break down national government’s monopoly on energy generation and provision, and bring in the private sector to diversify this industry as a matter of urgency. The Kannaland solar farm is a prime example of this”.
During off-peak periods, the solar farm will also be able to draw energy from Eskom and release it during peak hours by means of storage capacity, or wheel it to nearby municipalities such as Mossel Bay.
MPP Baartman concludes: “I will be monitoring this development closely to ensure that the Western Cape attains energy independence from Eskom to grow our provincial economy and create much needed jobs”.
The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to cutting red tape, and using innovation to grow our provincial economy, create jobs, and provide dignity where we govern.