Joburg ready to move away from Eskom and load shedding
Joburg ready to move away from Eskom and load shedding
SOURCE: BUSINESS TECH
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The City of Joburg says that it will publish the first Requests For Proposal (RFPs) for short-term energy supply from the private sector this month.
Addressing business leaders on Thursday (10 November), the city said that it is moving to insulate businesses and residents from continued rolling blackouts in the country, which is causing major economic harm
“We realized that if we were to insulate businesses from this, we need to procure up to 500MW of renewable energy over a period of 18 to 36-months. We are ready to start seeing the back of rolling blackouts so that the economy of Joburg works without interruption,” it said.
RFPs will be published from mid-November, it said.
The city said that its contribution to the national economy is almost 16%, while it contributes to 40% of Gauteng’s economy.
“The reality is that if Joburg’s economy collapses, it would send significant shockwaves across the country and the continent. (We) cannot be left without energy for hours on end. As the government, we are working so that you can work.”
Further plans are in place to support businesses in other ways, it said, which includes revitalising the inner-city.
“Despite the advances in technology that have enabled work without borders, an economic hub cannot function optimally without a functional inner city where businesses can operate, and residents can work, play, and pray.”
While Sandton and Rosebank, in the main, have benefitted from the degradation of the inner city, the city said that the location still holds economic significance.
“Over and above this, we have been encouraged by the outpouring of support and commitment from business and organised inner-city stakeholders who want to work with us in giving the Joburg CBD back its golden shine,” it said.
Through the Department of Development Planning, the mayoral executive team is building a new Joburg Inner City by taking back hijacked buildings for the purpose of mixed-use buildings and low-cost housing.
“These developments will have to comply with our Green Building Policy as part of our concerted effort to achieve low to net zero carbon performance for all new buildings in Joburg by 2030 while achieving a total net zero performance compliance standard by 2050.
“By increasing investment and prioritizing environmentally friendly construction in city projects, we have the opportunity to create 143,000 green jobs by 2030.”
In addition to this, a process to initiate the establishment of City of Johannesburg Special Economic Zones is currently underway, it said.
“The process is informed by the city’s steadfast plans to accelerate industrialisation and the localised production of goods and traded services within the metro, in pursuit of strengthening Joburg’s economic recovery.”
The transport, logistics and warehousing, as well as the ICT sectors will be targeted for these SEZs, it said, adding that the zones come with tailored incentives packaging for businesses, business support services, cluster development, and minimal red tape.
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