Since Mays election brought a coalition government to power, there has been a policy shift favouring renewables, after years of bureaucratic delays and contradictory messages about South Africas willingness to give up coal, which provides 80% of the countrys power.
But as private providers including Mainstream Renewable (owned by Aker Horizons), EDF Renewables and Acciona SA prepare to transform the sector, many face another problem: how to get power from sunny and windy outposts to energy-hungry urban centres.
Six officials said over the past month they were considering options for financing some 14 000km of power lines and pylons but hadnt yet found a solution.
Our quest to decarbonise relies heavily on our ability to expand the grid, energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said in an interview in Pretoria late last month.
But raising R390-billion the state doesnt have the balance sheet to roll out that size of capital investment.
