Ramaphosa admits ‘significant impact’ of load shedding crisis on mining
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the energy crisis has had a significant impact on the mining industry.
He says a number of factors would need to improve for the industry to become globally competitive.
The president was speaking at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Tuesday.
"To realise these objectives, we need to: Firstly, achieve a secure supply of electricity. Secondly, accelerate economic reforms to improve the operating environment.
"Thirdly, tackle illegal mining and damage to infrastructure. Fourthly, improve the regulatory environment."
Ramaphosa said the mining sector's made strides in developing solutions.
He said it's working on generating its own electricity and has teamed up with Eskom to expand capacity.
"Through a regional power pool arrangement, we have already imported 300 MW of capacity from neighbouring countries and are working to increase this by an additional 1,000 MW. The successful renewable energy programme is being strengthened."
