De Lille gives green light to integrated renewable energy programme

With recent studies showing the department of public works and infrastructure as the largest property portfolio responsible for annual electricity and water consumption of an estimated 4 021 gigawatt hours and 39 million kilolitres, Minister Patricia de Lille gave the go-ahead for the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme (iREREP) to commence.

De Lille said: “The Request for Information (RFI) for the iREREP is aimed at testing the market for additional ideas and information which comprehensively looks at ways to deliver mutual value through strong partnerships across government and the private sector.”

She added that the programme would be the largest involved in the procurement of renewable energy and resource efficiency for public facilities.

“The department, as the largest landlord and facilities manager in the country, has a responsibility to not only deliver and manage quality infrastructure, but to combat climate change through its mandate; such as providing buildings for government service delivery,” she said.

“The iREREP project over 30 years aims to achieve savings and revenue of over R401 billion by 2050 which can be reallocated to other government priorities; over R253 billion direct contributions to the GDP; 3 800 new small businesses will be developed, the majority being black-owned, and skills development opportunities for more than 117 000 people.”

Chief director of property management operations in the department Nkosana Kubeka said the project was in the pilot phase which focused on clusters of buildings, but a full roll-out would target different buildings.

“We are currently engaging provinces and local municipalities to make sure the facilities are included.

“We will be packaging the request for a proposal and will issue the details in terms of the number of facilities later.”

Head of infrastructure and investment in the presidency Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the project was part of the aggregate contribution towards the interventions as articulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the economic reconstruction and recovery plan.

“One of the interventions requires us to unlock R1 trillion of private sector investments over a period of four years.

“This presents a pristine opportunity for public and private sector to partner in addressing the issues around inefficient design of public assets.

“This will also contribute towards our nationally determined contributions and net zero emissions as Cabinet committed to a green transition which will also be part of what South Africa will be taking to Conference of the Parties 26,” he said.

The minister said the programme received National Treasury approval for phase one.

It was registered to be implemented in collaboration with the private sector.

The private sector would be fully responsible for both the technical and financing aspects of implementing the programme.

The RFI will be open for 30 days.

The request for proposals for the programme is expected to take place in January next year.

– asandam@citizen.co.za