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ROUND UP
CESA committed to partnering with Government for infrastructure service delivery
Consulting Engineers SouthAfrica (CESA) supports the clarion call
to address institutional and regulatory barriers to business invest-
ment and growth, announced Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan
during the Budget Speech.
“It means we must give greater impetus to sectors and industries
where we have competitive advantages. And it means being bold
where there is need for structural change, innovation and doing
things need agility and urgency in implementation,”
stated Gordhan.
CESA has, for some time now, been aware that there are inef-
ficiencies in the way public-sector infrastructure projects are im-
plemented.These shortfalls include lack of planning, inappropriate
procurement approaches, lack of project management capacity and
capability and lack of other desired technical skills in the public
sector. In addition these inefficiencies rob South Africa of multiple
billions of Rands annually, which could be effectively used to fund
the much-needed increase in infrastructure investment
Gordhan explained that international experience has demon-
strated that growth is ignited by strong and stable political and
economic institutions, sound infrastructure that reduces the cost
of doing business and facilitates trade, competition between firms
and openness to trade and an environment where firms invest and
undertake research and development.
CESA welcomes the need for multi-year appropriations for ma-
jor capital projects of which reform is under consideration for the
following projects:
• Energy investment amounts to R70 billion this year and will be
over R180 billion over the next three years, as construction of
the Medupi, Kusile and Ingula power plants is completed
• Transport and logistics infrastructure accounts for nearly R292
billion over the next three years. Transnet is acquiring 232 diesel
locomotives for its general freight business and 100 locomotives
or its coal lines. There is R3,7 billion to upgrade the Moloto
Road, R30 billion for provincial roads maintenance, R18 billion
for bus rapid transit projects in cities and refurbishment of over
1 700 Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl coaches
• R62 billion is allocated for the housing subsidy programmes
and R34 billion for bulk infrastructure and residential services
in metropolitan municipalities
• R28 billion will be spent over the MTEF on improving health
facilities and R54 billion on
• The next phase of the Oliphant’s River water scheme is in
progress, completion of the supply to Lukhanji Municipality in
the Eastern Cape, completion of the Wolmaranstad wastewater
treatment works and construction of the Polihali Dam as part
of the Lesotho Highlands project
These are some components of the R870 billion public sector infra-
structure programme over the next three years.
CESA with the backing of its member firms recommits itself to
partner with Government and other key role players in finding last-
ing and practical solutions, especially in relation to infrastructure
development.
Enquiries: Dennis Ndaba.Tel. 011 463 2022 or 0739812066
or email
PV modules for Round 3 of REIPPP
ARTsolar has recently completed produc-
tion of the final consignment of locally
produced photovoltaic (PV) modules in
the Government’s Round 3 of the Renew-
able Energy Independent Power Producer
Programme (REIPPP).
“These PV modules were manufac-
tured at the ARTsolar plant in KwaZulu-
Natal, for the Mulilo Sonnedix Prieska
PV solar plant project. This plant, which
supplies the electricity it produces to the
EskomKromos Substation in the Northern
Cape, is the first 75 MW ac size REIPPP
project to have PV modules produced by
a South African owned company,” says
Derek Lawrance, director, ARTsolar. “After
winning this Q1 2015 bid, ARTsolar imple-
mented an expansion programme tomeet
production requirements of this project.
was increased to a 24 hour/six day
schedule and we expanded our team to
200 staff.
Enquiries:Tel. 031 705 7162 or email
ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY: FOCUS ON DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR
Electricity+Control March ‘16 48