21 Mar 2019

Government has no intention to come up with an affirmative subsidy scheme tailor-made for remote area settlements, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale has said.

Mr Molale said there were only 35 private homestead connections at Kgomodiatshaba with a 31 per cent connection rate.

He was responding to the MP for Mochudi West, Mr Gilbert Mangole who had asked the minister if he was satisfied with the uptake of private connections by Kgomodiatshaba residents.

Mr Mangole also asked if government would consider coming up with affirmative action subsidy scheme to enable residents to use electricity in their village.

However, Minister Molale explained that domestic connections throughout the country were subsidised through the National Electricity Standard Costs whereby connections are charged at P5 000 plus VAT, for homesteads within 500 metres from the nearest available transformer in recognised villages and settlements.

In addition, he noted that remote villages such as Kgomodiatshaba also enjoyed this subsidy

He said any affirmative action subsidy scheme would therefore not only benefit Kgomodiatshaba but other rural and remote settlements.

Government continued to explore other initiatives such as energy mix and technologies that would reduce connection costs and improve electricity uptake. ENDS