By As the world changes rapidly, the supply of clean green energy has come under the spotlight, a number of economic and social issues need to be considered, especially at local government level.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 26 August 2024, give a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Municipal Just Energy Transition (JET) Conference at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
The two days conference is expected to be attended by Mayors, Technical Managers and Municipal Managers from all provinces.
According to the Presidency, the aim of the conference is to convene key stakeholders within the municipal sphere to chart the way forward for the effective implementation of the JET Municipal Portfolio set out in the JET Implementation Plan (JET IP) which was approved by Cabinet in November 2023.
The Presidency says the Conference will outline the local government electricity distribution context and highlight the key features of the JET IP and its Municipal JET Portfolio. Delegates will also deliberate the proposed institutional architecture for the Municipal JET Portfolio.
“Municipalities have a critical role to play in a successful energy transition, in improving South Africa’s energy security, and in ensuring that the country has sufficient reliable and affordable electricity to support expanded socio-economic development.
Given the widely varying complexities that confront local government, the municipal energy transition needs a focussed and collaborative approach across national, provincial, and municipal spheres of government to manage the significant financial, technical, and managerial challenges and risks of the transition.
This established inter-governmental relations (IGR) approach is spearheaded by the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and National Treasury (NT), along with organised local government structures, and will be key to finding sustainable electricity system solutions for municipalities of all sizes and capabilities,” said the Presidency.
The JET Conference is expected to kick off at 9am.
