Mashatile: Lack of engineering skills adding to electricity crisis
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says South Africa is unable to fulfil its energy requirements because of a skills gap in the engineering sector.
He's acknowledged the negative effect the rolling blackouts have had on people but insists the government is working to put an end to them.
"We are unable to fulfil our energy requirements. This reality has adversely affected our economy due to prolonged load shedding diminishing accessibility to essential social services, including healthcare and education.
“As the government, we are addressing this issue by increasing maintenance requirements on existing and ageing infrastructure, high investment and capital required for new energy assets, and social and economic implications for a Just Energy Transition."
READ: Govt ‘aware’ of land reform problems – Mashatile
Mashatile was delivering the keynote address on Monday at the 9th UNESCO African Engineering Week and Conference in Pretoria.
He welcomed pledges to support the country's Just Energy Transition towards clean energy, which has grown to more than R200 billion.
The country is mobilising additional finance, including grants, to facilitate the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy. This will help reduce the impact of load shedding while keeping our environment clean.
