The grassy greens and browns of South Africa's semi-desert Karoo region are fast becoming dotted with flashes of silver and white, as solar and wind farms spring up across the vast, sun-soaked land in Northern Cape province.
recently found that IPP share dividends for communities have so far been spent largely on paying back loans to development finance institutions that enabled the trusts to buy their shares in the first place.
South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has attracted more than 200 billion rand to construct and run 77 solar and wind facilities, according to Intellidex. But to spread the benefits from this model of decentralised power production more equitably, Intellidex researchers said community involvement in the trusts should be prioritised.," said Neville Gabriel, executive chairperson of Sibona Ilanga, the community trust connected to Globeleq, a British renewable energy company with solar farms in De Aar.
"This town was going under about four years ago, shops were empty, no one was spending," said Oliphant."Today there are jobs, there is economic activity."Ntsikelelo Tshandu, a butcher from the nearby farming hub of Britstown, said the Sibona Ilanga trust had plugged money into his business, connected him to soup kitchens and kept him afloat during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Once up and running, the solar and wind farms employ 15-20 local people in cleaning and security, but their specialist workforce comes in mainly from big cities or other countries. "When the power cuts out, so does the internet," said social worker Bailey who conducts consultations online due to Covid-19.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'South Africa is ready and open for business': Ramaphosa addresses South Africa Day at Expo2020President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the South Africa Day celebrations at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Read more »
In 72 hours, 3 police officers shot and killed, 2 others wounded in South Africa - South Africa TodayThe management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is calling for greater cooperation from communities by actively joining the fight against crime to end the scourge of police attacks and killings. In the last 72 hours, five police officers in three provinces were shot and wounded, with three of them sadly succumbing to their […]
Read more »
The identity revolution in healthcare in South AfricaPromoted | Reliable identity authentication is the foundation of better, more efficient healthcare that puts the patient at the centre.
Read more »
South Africa invests R1 billion in massive Free State gas plantThe government is buying a stake in the Virginia Gas Project, which could potentially become the world’s biggest helium extraction plant.
Read more »