IN HIS 2016 budget speech, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan stressed the need for more private sector involvement in infrastructure projects. He also cited SA’s renewable energy programme as an example to be followed as government seeks to accelerate infrastructure investment.There are certainly valuable lessons to be learnt, for both the public and private sectors, from the success of the renewable energy programme. In less than five years, 6,200MW of electricity has been allocated to preferred bidders across technologies — more than the projected output of the Medupi coal-fired power station. About 2,000MW is already connected to the national grid with many more renewable energy projects currently under construction.More is to come, through additions to the programme, including the fifth round of bids, which is likely to be announced later this year or early next year. According to the government’s current energy roadmap (the Integrated Resources Plan), the aim is to have 17,800MW ...
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