The solar panels on the roof of the Springs Civic Centre appear to have gone missing.
It is not clear when the panels went missing or if the metro has an idea where they disappeared too.
The metro constructed and commissioned four solar PV plants between 2012 and 2017.
These included a 200kWp ground level solar PV plant at Leeupan and three 250kWp solar rooftop plants at Springs Civic Centre, Boksburg Civic Centre and Kempton Park Civic Centre.
These plants are grid-tied; they supply power to the buildings.
Also read:
Metro intensifies means to get rid of service delivery backlog
In 2017, the metro said the plan was to install 2MW of these solar plants in the next two financial years.
Former Springs mayor Gert Parsons says approximately 70 panels have gone missing and questioned why nobody had noticed.
“What is strange is why the panels have not been replaced by the metro’s insurance.
“Each solar panel costs approximately between R2 000 to R3 000,” says Parsons.
Additionally, Parsons questioned how the suspects got access to the roof of the building to steal the solar panels.
The metro itself has released little information regarding the solar panels.
For example, how much they cost, how much it was to install the panels and the related equipment like the batteries and inverter, or which contractor was appointed to install, operate and maintain the panels.
A document, first published in the Government Gazette in January 2017 by the City of Ekurhuleni, advertised for the appointment of a service provider to operate and maintain PV solar plants across Ekurhuleni when it was required from date of award until June 30, 2020.
The service provider appointed would cater for the existing and future roll-out projects.
Also read:
Metro responds to illegal dumping of carcasses
Included in the duties of the service provider was:
• Performing mechanical, electrical and performance checks and inspections on a monthly basis.
• Attending to trips and/or breakdowns within a reasonable period, taking into account the nature of the trip and ability to safely attend to such a trip.
• Ensuring the plant is kept clean and that weeds and grass be cleared under the panels on the ground level plant.
• The solar perimeter lighting must be well maintained, be on all night and off and charging during the day.
At present, it is not clear who was the service provider appointed.
The metro failed to respond in time for publication to our questions, which included questions regarding when the panels went missing, whether the alleged theft was reported, how the suspects got access to the roof and if the metro has done any security upgrades to ensure unauthorised personnel cannot get access to the roof.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
