The City of Ekurhuleni has committed R2.2 billion for investment in energy infrastructure over the next three years.
“We are pursuing a renewable energy strategy that will generate 10 megawatts of energy by 2021. This is part of our local strategy to ensure energy stability in our region without completely relying on the national grid,” Ekhurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina, told delegates at a Manufacturing Indaba held at Emperor’s Palace in Ekhurhuleni today (Wednesday).
He said this was part of the city’s 10-point Plan for Development to increase its scale of investment in public infrastructure to improve ease of doing business.
“One cannot industrialise without a sustainable, stable electricity supply,” Masina commented, adding that the city’s overall infrastructure expenditure framework was focused on making the costs of business cheaper.
“We have structured expenditure on capital projects to include a massive investment in strategic assets that will enable private sector investment,” he said.
Furthermore, said Masina, the city’s ambitions extended to improving the logistics network of Ekurhuleni as part of improving its industrial infrastructure. “Our goal is to become the strategic logistics centre for South Africa.”
