MUNICIPAL
NEWS WELCOME TO THE CITY OF GEORGE MUNICIPALITY MATLOSANA Advances feasibility study for renewable energy CITY OFprojects PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Alderman Leon van Wyk, the The City ofMayor Matlosana Municipality Executive of George, recently is situated approximately 164 km Alan addressed Western Cape Premier South West Johannesburg, Windi’s 29th of Energy Digicon. During the strategically located 16 onNovember the N12 Digicon on Thursday, Treasure Route, is the North West 2023, Mayor Van which Wyk provided insights Province’s primary tourism corridor. into the progressive approach George Municipality is taking in its renewable The scenic N12 starts from the city’s energy initiatives, expanding power mix, and in making the city energy Mpumalanga and is the gateway to resilient. the Western Cape Province. The route takes you from eMalahleni, to the “In the initial phaseProvince of our renewable vibrant Gauteng and the energy efforts,” Mayor Wyk said, Sterkfontein Cradle ofVan Humankind “we areHeritage completing 1-megawatt World Site,our and continues to (MW) Solar PV Plant and a Solar PV Plant Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Kimberley, for the Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Beaufort West, up until George. Works.” He outlined the upcoming phases, saying, “Our next endeavour It is the Transformation of the N12 is a 9-megawatt Solar PV Installation, Treasure Route that has unlocked requiring the addition of a 20MVA regional opportunities in substation, transformers,and and resulted switchgear massive activity and mobility along the equipment. Technical aspects are being Matlosanato portion of the It addressed align with ourcorridor. commitment hassustainable a multi-dimensional character that to energy solutions.” has created employment, enhanced commuter movement, enhanced investment The Georgeopportunities, Municipality increased has so far installed or is in the process of economic activity, etc. installing the following PV plants in George: WHY VISIT THE CITY OF MATLOSANA? • 400-kilowatt peak (kWp) PV at the Outeniqua wastewater treatment Create unforgettable memories facility at our quality business and leisure accommodation venues which • 500 kWp at the PV Gwaing include conferencing, wedding and Wastewater treatment facility spa facilities. The City has a wealth of attractions for visitors: • 400 kWp PV plant at the Denneoord New Water Works facility • Adventure tourism Wildlife tourism •• 20 kWp PV + 40-kilowatt hour • (kWh)Medical battery tourism storage for the • Wellness tourism Electrotechnical Services building
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Municipal Focus Focus Municipal
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4 kWp PV + 10 kWh battery storage for the Tourism building
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1 kWp PV + 5 kWh battery storage for Schaapkop substation
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1 MWp solar farm (ERF464 – Municipal land)
Createtounforgettable According the Engineering Council at our of memories South Africa (ECSA), a project goes through various phases before quality business and implementation. It starts with inception, leisure accommodation concept, and viability, followed venues which includeby a design phase which is then procured, and conferencing, wedding construction commences. Due and spa facilities. to funding and process constraints, the Municipality has decided to proceed with the HUB MATLOSANA AS A MEDICAL inception, concept and viability stages of various specific projects. This would then To us health care is of paramount pave the road for project importance as a healthyimplementation. city is productive and constitutes prosperity. We boast well-developed medical facilities, which enhances and • Large Scale Solar Farm the competitive advantage •promotes Utility-scale Batteries of Matlosana as a major Medical Hub • Possible Wind Turbines the North West Province. Services •inHydro Generation general and private medical •include: Hydrogen Gas Turbines fascilities, casualty/trauma and dental services. clinics an focus on primary This studyMost will provide implementation health careon services. plan based the various technologies.
This includes:
The Municipality plans to appoint specialists for the study and conclude it before the end of the financial year. Looking forward, Mayor Van Wyk shared plans for an additional 30 MW Solar PV and a 100MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BES) to address load-shedding challenges and enhance energy resilience. The city prides itself on having five private hospitals, two government Acknowledging funding challenges, hospitals, including largest Mayor Van Wyk noted,the “We’ve applied to state hospital in thefor North West the National Treasury support through Province 15 clinics including the Budgetand Facility for Infrastructure, mobile clinics. also boasts unfortunately notItapproved duethe to only fully contained oncology unit in the current financial constraints. Exploring North Westwe Province, which offers alternatives, are considering private a comprehensive servicethrough at four an sector funding, potentially Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.” pathological laboratories and has the latest MRI scanner at the He concluded by addressing legislative radiology unit. hurdles, stating that the current Municipal Finance Management Act PRIME LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT (MFMA) restrictions pose challenges in implementing long-term contracts of N12 Development Route was more than three years needed for such identified by the municipality projects. Ongoing collaboration with as a flagship project for golden Provincial Treasury and Western Cape opportunities in the following sectors: Provincial Government aims to explore housing, business, industrial, heritage, amendments to the MFMA, facilitating mining, tourism, sport as well as the realization of large-scale electricity recreation. provision projects.”
