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Mongezi Koko
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, during the groundbreaking ceremony of Eskom’s new 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State. Picture: Mongezi Koko/ EWN.
The Electricity Ministry has called for faster delivery times on Eskom’s new renewable energy projects, warning that South Africa cannot afford delays in adding power to the national grid.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa made the remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony of Eskom’s new 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State.
While welcoming the initiative as a major step in the country’s energy transition, the Minister made it clear that he is not satisfied with the current 18-month construction timeline.
The project is expected to be completed by November 2027 and forms part of Eskom’s broader plan to expand its renewable energy footprint.
Ramokgopa stated that those tasked with building the facility must move with greater urgency to help strengthen South Africa’s electricity supply. He praised Eskom and the ministry for the direction they are taking, but stressed that the country needs results sooner rather than later.
“And I think we painted ourselves in a corner, we’re about to free ourselves,” Ramokgopa said. “So we really came here to say, well done, congratulations. I could not have imagined of a better place. I guess it’s just a coincidence.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Ramokgopa also cautioned that South Africa cannot afford to fully privatise its power generation just yet, warning that the country still needs Eskom to anchor the grid.
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The solar facility will be built on more than 160 hectares of Eskom-owned land near Vereeniging, with operations expected to begin in late 2027. Eskom has identified several coal-fired power stations for repurposing as part of its Just Energy Transition strategy.
Among those attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae.
Ramokgopa emphasised that while South Africa is actively expanding its renewable energy footprint, the country is not yet in a position to completely hand over electricity generation to the private sector.
“It must be gradually introduced at the pace and scale that the country can afford,” Ramokgopa explained.
“I’m saying afford because the consequences of rushing can take us back to load shedding.”
The minister added that Eskom’s continued dominance in the country’s power generation allows the utility to show essential flexibility to municipalities struggling with debt.
Ramokgopa was responding to questions regarding the billions of rands owed to Eskom by the City of Johannesburg.
Despite the pressure over the escalating debt and concerns that non-payment could strain the power system, the Minister noted that he remains confident that the city and its utility, City Power, will honour their payment agreements.
He argued that Eskom’s position as the country’s primary generator means it can still work contextually with municipalities to find solutions, a safety net that would vanish under a fully privatised model.
“Premier Lesufi, if we were in that dispensation, Soweto would be dark, Alexandra would be dark,” Ramokgopa warned. “In a wholesale market, I give electricity to an end customer that can pay.“
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