18 Feb 2014

Parliament has been informed that the establishment of the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs (REFIT) has been approved and guidelines for implementation of the policy and procedures for procurement from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have been finalised.

Answering a parliamentary question on February 13, the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Keletso Rakhudu said the REFIT study was completed in April 2011.

The implementation of the policy instrument had been put on hold due to the fact that it would have a negative impact of the national tariff which is not yet cost reflective, said Mr Rakhudu on behalf of the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources.He further said since REFIT is not ready to be implemented, the issue of incentive does not arise.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele had asked the minister progress made on the REFIT study that was to develop incentives aimed at boosting the use of solar energy and key emerging incentives that could be used by communities wishing to promote solar energy as a business and source energy. ENDS