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That year, desperate to find a solution, Cape Town announced plans to buy its own energy from independent renewable energy sources. The cost of the fall and the exponential growth of renewable energy technology they have made it possible. Amazon will announce it recently built his own solar farm To feed its data centers in South Africa and thus isolate them from disruptions in the national network. If companies can do it, why can’t cities?
The answer lies in a complex network of regulations and restrictions. The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, in consultation with the South African National Energy Regulator, has the sole decision-making power where South African citizens get their energy, how it is sold and what source it is used to create. In practice, this gives Eskom, the state’s supplier, a monopoly on energy production and supply.
Six years ago, Cape Town asked the ministry to give it the authority to buy renewable energy from independent energy producers. These producers would first deliver energy directly to the Cape Town through the grid, and if the Cape Town generated more electricity than it needed, all the surplus would be taken to the rest of the country.
Amazon recently announced that it will build its own solar power plant to power its data centers in South Africa, thus isolating it from disruptions to the national grid. If companies can do it, why can’t cities?
The request ended the struggle of the courts over constitutional disputes who makes such decisions. In view of the force of the South African constitution protecting the rights of citizens, the case has become a greater struggle for the rights of a reliable citizen.
Cape Town did not win the case, but the ongoing debate created political pressure. It was announced by the government in October 2020 change in electricity regulations this allows municipalities to find methods to generate electricity or buy it from independent producers.
However, the minister still has the final authority to sign new electricity agreements with cities. In addition, President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed his commitment to the “centralized state-owned enterprise” model in a February union speech, in which he explained the various ways in which his government could gain more power over the country. The energy struggle between South African cities and the national government is entering a new phase and is arguably more aggressive.
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