Solar body urges Energy Minister to provide revised PPA signing date

The South African Solar Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia) expressed confidence on Tuesday that the latest delay in signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 37 renewable-energy projects procured in 2015 would be “short-term” in nature. However, it urged newly appointed Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to urgently provide the industry with a revised signing date so as to reduce the prevailing uncertainty in the industry. Sapvia was responding to confirmation that the April 11 deadline for the conclusion the PPAs had been postponed to enable Kubayi to become fully informed on the progress made under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and to ensure “concurrence” between herself and Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown.