Notable progress on SORED, says ECB
Ogone Tlhage - The Electricity Control Board (ECB) is confident that a southern regional electricity distributor will be established within the current year.
The establishment of the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) builds on the existence of other distributors in the north, west and central parts of the country.
Speaking to ECB CEO Foibe Namene this week, she said engagements have been ongoing with stakeholders in the south.
“The ECB has appointed a consultant to develop a business plan for SORED. The municipalities in the south are aware of this appointment and have welcomed it. In fact, the consultant made a presentation to the municipalities in the south during the February 2018 stakeholder consultation meeting, where the municipalities made significant inputs towards the establishment of SORED,” said Namene.
According to her, the municipalities in the south have been part of the stakeholder consultations in the south for the establishment of Southern RED. “They have also formed part of the technical committee and shareholders committee which have been established to drive the establishment as well as operationalisation of southern RED,” said Namene.
Activities to establish the southern electricity distributor have been supported by keen municipalities, she said.
“The ECB views the above developments in a positive light, and regards them as the much-needed buy-in for the establishment of Southern Regional Electricity Distributor. The ECB is optimistic that once concerns on issues such as local authority surcharges (LA surcharges) and shareholding by the local authorities have been resolved, SORED could be established before the end of 2018,” said Namene.
According to Namene, further stakeholder engagements will be held to map out the way for the establishment of the southern RED.
“The ECB is therefore looking forward to the next technical committee and shareholders committee meeting which will take place in March, and is confident that its outcome will add weight to efforts to establish SORED before the end of 2018,” said Namene.
The establishment of the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) builds on the existence of other distributors in the north, west and central parts of the country.
Speaking to ECB CEO Foibe Namene this week, she said engagements have been ongoing with stakeholders in the south.
“The ECB has appointed a consultant to develop a business plan for SORED. The municipalities in the south are aware of this appointment and have welcomed it. In fact, the consultant made a presentation to the municipalities in the south during the February 2018 stakeholder consultation meeting, where the municipalities made significant inputs towards the establishment of SORED,” said Namene.
According to her, the municipalities in the south have been part of the stakeholder consultations in the south for the establishment of Southern RED. “They have also formed part of the technical committee and shareholders committee which have been established to drive the establishment as well as operationalisation of southern RED,” said Namene.
Activities to establish the southern electricity distributor have been supported by keen municipalities, she said.
“The ECB views the above developments in a positive light, and regards them as the much-needed buy-in for the establishment of Southern Regional Electricity Distributor. The ECB is optimistic that once concerns on issues such as local authority surcharges (LA surcharges) and shareholding by the local authorities have been resolved, SORED could be established before the end of 2018,” said Namene.
According to Namene, further stakeholder engagements will be held to map out the way for the establishment of the southern RED.
“The ECB is therefore looking forward to the next technical committee and shareholders committee meeting which will take place in March, and is confident that its outcome will add weight to efforts to establish SORED before the end of 2018,” said Namene.
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