Power strategies for iLembe

This emerged from engagement between business operators, provincial and municipal officials in the iLembe district at a ‘Synergy for Energy’ seminar hosted recently by the Vuthela iLembe LED Support Programme (Vuthela). The latter is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and implemented in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism, iLembe District Municipality, and the local municipalities (LMs) of KwaDukuza and Mandeni to create an enabling environment for inclusive economic growth in the district.

Representatives of the district and its LMs, private developers, business operators, CoGTA, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, as well as the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism agreed that a secure and reliable electricity supply was critical to maintain present economic activity and to sustain future development in the region.

Various energy improvement measures are in progress. These include a R24 million Scada system being installed by KwaDukuza LM, which is due for commissioning by the end of 2023. Sections of KwaDukuza’s electricity supply network are also being upgraded to provide additional infrastructure and power capacity.

Allied strategies include implementing webbased automatic meter reading, auditing electricity resellers, weekly service connection raids and monthly inspections of meters. Due to these and other interventions, for example, electricity losses experienced by Mandeni LM due to billing errors, inaccurate reading, unmetered customers, meter tampering and illegal connections reduced by 15% in the past year.

Energy options being investigated

Going forward, several alternate and renewable energy options are also being considered by the public and private sector to produce additional power. These include using waste heat generated by industry, biomass fuels using waste from forestry, natural gas, wind generation and hydro-electric generators.

In terms of renewable options, a solar photovoltaic (PV) feasibility study has been conducted through the Vuthela initiative to augment Eskom power supplied to Mandeni’s Sundumbili Water Treatment Works (WTW) during load-shedding. The results of the study (based on the existing infrastructure and land area at the works) indicate that the site has sufficient space to install a combination of rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems to provide up to 9% of the total power required.

The entire system would cost about R5.2 million to install and about R60 000 a year to operate. Anticipated savings are approximately R4.8 million in the first nine years and about R12 million over 25 years. A longer-term solution that could eliminate reliance on the national grid completely would require additional land for a larger solar plant. iLembe District Municipality will now need to study the findings of the Sundumbili WTW feasibility study, consider funding models, institutional modalities for ownership and operation, and take a decision on implementing the system.

Allied to these measures, KwaDukuza established an Energy Office in 2021 to assess the energy sector and develop a policy around renewable energy sources like solar. The policy is nearing readiness for public comment. It aims to address issues around safety and compliance, installation regulations, and the technicalities of feeding solar power back into the national grid.