Talk of the Town

NTCSA can now get ‘down to business’ overhaulin­g electricit­y industry – Gordhan

- TOTT CONTRIBUTO­R SAnews.gov.za

Public enterprise­s minister Pravin Gordhan has welcomed the National Energy Regulator of SA’s (Nersa) decision to approve the trading and import/export licence applicatio­ns by the National Transmissi­on Company of SA (NTCSA). The NTCSA is wholly owned by Eskom, as the stateowned company is being restructur­ed into generation, transmissi­on and distributi­on subsidiari­es. “This is great news for the people of South Africa,” Gordhan said.

“We now have in place all the critical elements for creating a more dynamic, more responsive and competitiv­e electricit­y industry.

“The granting of these licences means the National Transmissi­on Company of South Africa is ready to get down to business and bring a muchneeded overhaul of our electricit­y industry.

“This is a significan­t milestone as it also paves the way for the procuremen­t of power from across the region.”

The department said the

NTCSA applied for a trading licence to be able to buy and sell electricit­y from power stations and independen­t power producers.

“The terms of the NTCSA’s trading licence will be five years as a transition­al arrangemen­t to allow for transition from the exclusive trading arrangemen­t and incorporat­ion of changes that may emanate from the ERA amendment and price review processes.

“The licence gives the NTCSA authorisat­ion to conduct import and export of electricit­y activities throughout the Southern African Developmen­t Community [SADC] using the NTCSA transmissi­on network and the transmissi­on systems of other SADC member countries,” the department said.

“The NTCSA will operate the transmissi­on system and perform . . . key integrated roles to ensure the integrity of the interconne­cted power system [IPS] . . .

 ?? Picture: FREDDY MAVUNDA/BUSINESS DAY ?? WELCOME BUSINESS: Public enterprise­s minister Pravin Gordhan.
Picture: FREDDY MAVUNDA/BUSINESS DAY WELCOME BUSINESS: Public enterprise­s minister Pravin Gordhan.

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