Kokstad gearing to produce own electricity
By ANDILE MOSHOESHOE
The town of Kokstad may in the future be self-sufficient when it comes to electricity. Plans are afoot for this town to generate its own energy.
This however depends on whether the considerations and proposals made to the municipality bear fruit.
The company licenced to generate gravitational energy Umzi we-Africa has already presented its proposal to the full council to build the energy plant.
The plant will produce energy not only for Kokstad but for the entire Harry Gwala Region. The proposal is in line with what the government has announced that municipalities can now be able to apply to have rights of producing their own energy and power purchase agreements.
This is meant to relieve the country’s power producer, Eskom’s overload, which results in constant load-shedding. However, in this case, gravitational energy is not dependent on coal to produce energy but on gravity.
“Coal and nuclear are gradually being
phased out because they pose health risks”
Its simple rotating turbines like a windmill that keep rising up and down generating more than 200 megawatts a row that does not depend on water, wind or sun but only on gravity.
This simply means, it is an energy stored in an object due to its height above earth. Thembelani Nami and Paul Barkley who presented the proposal said this will however enhance the revenue of the municipality.
“The municipality will not depend on any company to generate energy but it will produce it on its own and sell it directly to the client,” Nami said.
He said this is part of the green energy Independent Power Producer (IPP) that can survive for more than 50 years.
However, it is not cheaper than the current coal or nuclear, while at the same time it has never been tested in South Africa but only in a US military base, Iran and Poland.
“The coal and nuclear are gradually being phased out because they pose health risks due to pollution,” he said.
He said it would create 70% job opportunities for locals during its construction phase, But the technical side will be coming from the US where it is designed and developed.
Kokstad municipal manager, Sipho Zwane said they will soon be meeting Umzi we-Africa for more information and clarity in this regard on June 19.
