He said that renewable energy was here to stay. “It is the policy of our government and renewable energy is going to save the world.”
He said, as energy minister, he was determined to push forward the growth of the renewable energy sector to “not only fire up our energy but also to develop the communities where these projects are based.”
Radebe was invited as a guest of Kouga Wind Farm, which provided the funds for a custom-built R4m library for residents of the impoverished Sea Vista community in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.
The minister called on the Sea Vista community to take ownership of the library as a community asset which would help to break the cycle of poverty. “Education is the future for our children and a library is the fountain of knowledge in a community. Treasure it and be its protectors because our children will depend on it to improve themselves,” said Radebe.
Situated approximately 70km southwest of Port Elizabeth – between Oyster Bay and St Francis Bay – the Kouga Wind Farm delivers 80MW of grid-connected capacity in the quest to power the country’s low-carbon future.
According to the Department of Energy’s national integrated resource plan, the renewable energy sector is targeted to provide 42% of SA’s energy requirements by 2030, with wind farms playing an increasingly productive role.
Kouga Wind Farm mitigates over 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions each year and helps to create a brighter, cleaner future for the surrounding communities.
