Energy Minister Jeff Radebe will on Friday launch the Xina Solar One Concentrated Solar Power Project in the Northern Cape.

The Solar One is one of 7 Concentrated Solar Power Projects under the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

Taking place in Pofadder the launch is expected to get underway at 11am.

The launch is held during the month of May which has been declared as energy month.

The Department of Energy hosts several event activities during this month to create a culture of energy saving and efficiency.

Today’s launch follows on the signing 27 renewable energy projects in last month, contributing to diversified sources of energy to enter the energy mix.

The projects were signed under Bid Windows 3.5 and 4 of the REIPPPP.

Meanwhile, the department is also set to host the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Youth Energy Roundtable discussion and a guided tour of UWC’s PetroSA Synthetic Fuels Research Centre at the University of Western in Cape Town today.

“The round table discussion and the guided tour forms part of the BRICS technical meeting that got underway on Thursday. The objective of the roundtable is to get students to discuss and make contributions on energy saving and energy efficiency by BRICS countries. This will include discussions on energy efficiency collaboration projects.”

The department will also use the roundtable to create awareness on career development and economic development opportunities available within the energy sector.

“The department recognises that there is a need to educate students and other stakeholders on Energy as a driver and developer of the economy.”

The session will take place under the theme: “Promoting an affordable and sustainable energy mix in support of radical socio-economic transformation”.

Briefing media ahead of the tabling of the department’s Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Radebe said he would like to see the energy sector contributing 25% of the targeted US$100 billion in investment that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Relevant CSP Conference：CSP Focus MENA 2018（June 27-28,Marrakeck Morocco）