South Africa Asks China For Solar Panels Amid Energy Crisis

South Africa has sought China's help in resolving the energy crisis it is currently faced with, asking the Asian country to send solar panels, battery storage, wind turbines and renewables technology.

"We're looking to China to help us to resolve that problem with regards to the availability of equipment," Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said as he spoke to the media regarding the South Africa-China energy conference on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"We do accept that we need new generation capacity in addition to improving the efficiency of the reliability of the installed units at Eskom and that is significant for the purposes of our decarbonization agenda and ensuring that there's energy security, sovereignty in the country," the minister continued.

"So, we are looking at partners who have demonstrated significant technologically innovative and industrial capacity to be able to solve a problem that is confronting us," he added.

Ramokgopa will travel to China this week, and he is set to meet with China's biggest solar equipment manufacturers that are expected to help South Africa import solar panels amid the energy crisis.

"We have gone to all other embassies, you are the only ones who have come back to us saying 'we will assist you without any condition,'" the minister said further.

Siyabonga Cwele, South Africa's ambassador to China, sent a video message to the electricity minister, noting that China's affordable and advanced technology might help South Africa sustain itself during the ongoing energy crisis.

South Africa is seeking help not only from China but also from other countries like Mozambique. Earlier this week, Ramokgopa hosted Mozambique's Mineral Resources Minister, Carlos Zacarias, to discuss receiving additional energy supply.

Mozambique will supply 100 megawatts of power to South Africa immediately, while another 600 megawatts will be supplied in the next six months. Moreover, an additional 1,000 megawatts will be provided in the long term, the electricity minister disclosed on Monday.

Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa predicted a "difficult winter ahead" due to electricity issues. The leader also reminded South Africans that they can make a difference by switching off lights and appliances that are not in use.

The president then shared that the Energy Action Plan (EAP) covers 100 ongoing projects that will eventually help generate 10,000 megawatts of new generation capacity in the country. The said projects reportedly have an investment of over 200 billion rands.

Eskom confirmed last month that load-shedding in 2023 has exceeded compared to the previous year.