More than R17bn has been spent by SA on importing solar panels, inverters and lithium-ion batteries in the first nine months of this year, deputy minister of energy & electricity Samantha Graham-Maré announced on Friday.
She said in a statement that this brought the total expenditure on renewable energy imports since 2014 to more than R180bn.
“This massive demand for renewable energy solutions presents a clear opportunity to not only address energy access and affordability, but also to generate substantial economic growth,” Graham-Mare said.
“By unlocking the potential of local manufacturing and skills development we will reduce our reliance on imports, create jobs and ensure that SA’s energy transition is a win for our economy and our people.”
Graham-Mare said the government was moving swiftly to implement the SA Renewable Energy Masterplan (Sarem) with a focus on driving local manufacturing of renewable energy components and products.
“By advancing Sarem, we will create a sustainable local manufacturing base in key industries where SA has a competitive advantage” the deputy minister said.
“This is an essential step towards achieving affordable and accessible energy, reducing our carbon footprint and promoting long-term economic growth.”
The master plan focuses on fast-tracking the development of local renewable energy manufacturing capacity, while not attempting to compete where it is not feasible, such as in solar panel manufacturing. The government will also prioritise investing in skills development and workforce training.
“The renewable energy sector is poised to become one of the largest drivers of economic growth and job creation in SA,” said Graham-Maré.
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