Mandela Bay Solar Project Cancelled Amid Scandal

As the Central Energy Fund (CEF) announced that it would fund a pilot project for a R900-million solar scheme in Nelson Mandela Bay less than two months ago, the 100,000 solar-powered geyser roll out was placed on hold indefinitely.

“I can confirm that the ETA Energy Ltd (a company owned and run by CEF) solar water project in Nelson Mandela Bay has been put on hold until further notice,” said CEF spokesman Mandla Tyala. “The reason is that the Department of Energy has announced a plan for a national roll-out of a million solar water heaters.”

Some insiders have delineated the situation as being a result of the Department of Energy’s attempt to centralize the project. However, the CEF had recently faced a major shake up as the energy development general manager Manny Singh originally announced that profitable contracts would be awarded on May 8. Singh and another CEF executive resigned amid corruption allegations at the end of May (Scandal Rocks the South African Energy Organization).

Terry Billson, owner of renewable energy company Genergy – one of the firms to have been involved in the project – told local media that the call-off at the eleventh hour was frustrating. “As suppliers we were told to be ready,” said Billson. “We’ve done quite a bit of work by investing in stock and training staff to install the geysers.”

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