Tshwane metro’s aspiration for energy self-sufficiency and reduced dependency on Eskom by 2026 represents a laudable yet ambitious dream, according to local energy expert Chris Yelland.
The metro plans to shift towards greater green and clean renewable energy away from the power utility Eskom, through firing up the old Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations and sourcing more energy from independent power producers.
Tshwane said it was fast-tracking its energy plan and reducing reliance on Eskom.
The metro plans to lease the Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations to the private sector. It is also engaging independent power producers (IPPS) for expertise in generating alternative green energy.
These two processes aim to raise a combined 1 000MW of energy by 2026.
About 300MW is expected to come from the Rooiwal power station, 180MW from the Pretoria West power station and the remaining 520MW from alternative energy sources.
This was said during the inaugural Tshwane Energy Summit on June 19 and 20 at the SunBet Arena in Menlyn Maine.
The summit brought together more than 360 delegates and 18 exhibitors, including key decision makers, business executives, senior managers, as well as academic and research institutions, to help the City develop strategies to address the country’s energy crisis.
Yelland said the metro should be compliant with the air quality regulations of South Africa.
However looking at the two power stations, they are all coal-fired and will produce a lot of pollution.
“Pretoria West is right next to the inner city, and coal firing will mean the contravention of air quality regulations of South Africa. To transport coal is also quite expensive while the metro is financially bleeding.”
He said he believes that achieving a 1 000MW by 2026 will not be possible.
“The city needs to look at different forms of power supply than coal-fired power stations. This fundamentally means a new power plant.”
He said these plans will not be feasible unless the metro looks into new, clean renewable technology because “it wouldn’t be possible to restart these two power stations as coal-fired within the boundaries of the city at this time of age.”
According to Yelland, the metro doesn’t have the expertise to run these power stations, hence they are looking at proposals from different IPPS.
“If the city is looking at going green it should start building new power stations, including operating a battery energy storage plant instead of a coal plant.”
Yelland said the only option if Tshwane is looking at operating coal-fired stations, is that it would require new technology to deal with emissions which would mean Tshwane needs to spend more.
He said the city alone cannot do this work and that the metro should separate dreams from reality.
“They will have to start from scratch and I don’t think they will be able to meet their dateline of 2026.
“The stations have not been working for 10 years or even more, so there’s just a lot of damage, stealing of copper, vandalism so the recommission such will need time, money and expertise.”
Economist Dawie Roodt said this was an excellent move, should it materialise it will bring about growth to the local economy.
“It is a good idea to slowly move away from a monopoly like Eskom, and from a financial point of view it is feasible.”
Roodt said he believes that the city can pull this off.
“Tshwane is making great strides and all they need to do is lease everything to the private sector which will do the rest.”
He said following the massive increases from Eskom, Tshwane can generate revenue should they be able to produce and slowly shift from the national grid.
“Financially, it makes sense, this will be good for the economy of the capital city and I believe that without power nothing functions, with constant load-shedding industries collapsing. It will bring stability to see the capital city having an uninterrupted power supply,” Roodt said.
Another energy expert Tshepo Kgadima, commended Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink for the effort to reduce energy reliance on Eskom.
Kgadima said however the budget was way too little to achieve the 1 000MW by 2026.
“The city wants to power up coal power stations and if they want to be compliant they need high-efficiency low emissions technology which can cut down emissions by 90%.”
Kgadima said it would need to dig deeper into its pocket and get investors who at a combined total deliver R20-billion.
“Should Tshwane make this happen, it won’t reduce its reliance on Eskom but will generate revenue, and ratepayers will pay less electricity.”
Kgadima said the two power stations won’t be able to produce the expected power, however, the city and the private sector should look at installing or introducing, small modular reactor nuclear technology.
“If the city deviates from building the new power stations for clean, renewable energy sources they will never generate power. Instead, they will lose billions.”
He said his expert recommendation was that the metro must demonstrate that they mean business by investing no less than R20-billion into getting those power stations working again.
Kgadima lauded the city for coming forward and seeking help from the private sector because “it doesn’t have the money, nor the expertise to run these facilities”.
Kgadima said should Tshwane pull this off, it would mean energy security for the city as well as economic growth.
“If you have interrupted power supply you cannot talk about data centres, you cannot talk about artificial intelligence, you cannot create jobs.”
He said Tshwane needs an uninterrupted power supply due to the nature of the industries around the city.
“Tshwane has an automobile industry and needs power… constant power outages mess with supply and production.”
He said should the private sector start with the recommissioning or rebuilding, it can produce 500MW by 2026.
Kgadima said Tshwane should look at sourcing 500MW from IPPS by 2026 and get the other 600MW from Pretoria West and Rooiwal by 2027.
He said the R500-million investment could not get the stations running.
“That’s a non-starter, they will never produce power instead they will lose money. Tshwane needs billions from investors to avoid similar situations as the City of Joburg.”
Kgadima said for the city and private sector to produce 1 000MW, they need between R18-billion and R20-billion.
“For reliable supply for the next 50 years, billions in investment is needed. You spend R20-billion you will get 600MW reliable, clean energy at the lowest cost and in an environmentally friendlier way.”
He said the city needs to rebuild the power stations instead of refurbishing them.
Tshwane said 39 IPPs responded to its invitation to supply it with power in December last year but their bids are yet to be evaluated.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink acknowledged the good work Eskom has done to keep the lights on. However, he said there is still no guarantee that the dark days of prolonged load-shedding will not return.
“Therefore we must do the necessary now for an energy-secure future for our metro.”
On January 25, the Tshwane council approved the recommissioning of the stations.
The proposed 40-year lease of Rooiwal and Pretoria West power stations is expected to bring about 1 000 MW of alternative energy to the metro in three years.
He said one of the key drivers for economic growth is a reliable supply of affordable and clean energy.
“As a large metropolitan municipality, it is important that we put a lot of work towards generating our own energy to assist local industries, businesses and residents.”
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