Midvaal Municipality eyes IPP collaboration in bid to reduce dependence on Eskom
The initiative seeks to establish a more reliable power supply and mitigate the impact of Eskom’s load shedding.
Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey-Makhaza/Eyewitness News.
JOHANNESBURG - The Midvaal Municipality wants to reduce its dependence on Eskom by inviting independent power producers to generate solar electricity for households.
The initiative seeks to establish a more reliable power supply and mitigate the impact of Eskom’s load shedding.
Midvaal is one of the most efficiently managed municipalities in Gauteng and is the only one that isn't indebted to Eskom.
Eskom is currently the sole electricity supplier to the Midvaal Municipality, providing 90 megawatts to its municipal grid.
The municipality now plans to collaborate with independent power producers, aiming to generate an additional 40 megawatts on top of Eskom’s 90 megawatts by March of next year.
This move would reduce Midvaal's reliance on Eskom by nearly 40%.
Midvaal Mayor Peter Teixeira has stated that the project is expected to be operational by March next year.
"We have gone out now on procurement to try and get a service provider or private company that can take over our entire electricity infrastructure in the Midvaal to operate and run it for a period of 20 years."
He said the municipality would continue to reduce its reliance on Eskom gradually over the coming years.