JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Following the introduction of tax incentives and financing mechanisms, the installed capacity of rooftop solar systems in South Africa has more than doubled to over 4,500 MW in the last year, said President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"We are making progress towards ending load shedding. Our greatest priority has been to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding to achieve energy security," Ramaphosa said while addressing the nation Monday night.
Over the last few months, there has been a measurable decline in the severity of load shedding, according to the president, who insisted that regulatory reforms the country has initiated have enabled a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation, with more than 12,000 MW of confirmed projects in development.
South Africa is making steady progress in resolving the energy crisis, he declared.
Despite the progress, Ramaphosa admitted that poverty, inequality and unemployment facing the country remain high. "We continue to face domestic and global pressures, and our economy is growing too slowly for us to overcome the challenges facing our country."
Load shedding has constrained the country's economic growth, while the underperformance of the ports and rail network is affecting its ability to get exports to market, Ramaphosa said. ■