View Document - Parliament of South Africa

567 THURSDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2008
568
QUESTIONS
For written reply:
Construction of a dam across the
Umzimvubu River
1438. Mr E W TRENT (DA) asked the
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:
(1) Whether any investigations or feasibility
studies have been or will be
conducted into the construction of a
dam across the Umzimvubu River; if
not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(2) whether any companies or interested
parties have made unsolicited bids to
participate in the proposed development;
if so, (a) what are the names of
the companies or interested parties
and (b) what are the further relevant
details? NW2181E
The MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS
AND FORESTRY:
(1) The DWAF is not investigating any
specific dam for any specific purpose
on the Umzimvubu River. Such a study
will only be done at the request of
Asgisa Eastern Cape (Pty) Ltd, which
has been specially created to lead the
development of the Umzimvubu River
catchment, as well as areas lying in the
geographical region generally referred
to as the Umzimvubu Development
Zone. In anticipation of the waterrelated
developments of the region, and
in line with the Eastern Cape Provincial
Growth and Development programme,
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
has been doing some foundation
work which will be used to compile a
database to aid the formulation of
specific studies requested by Asgisa
Eastern Cape (Pty) Ltd. The work that
has already been done is at a low level
of investigation, but could be used to
identify possible irrigation opportuni-
ties, pumped-storage hydro-electric
(2)
schemes, forestry opportunities and
rainwater harvesting for household security.
Databases on hydrology, climate,
soil types, suitable crops and
other developmental inputs are also
being compiled in anticipation of the
needs of the area. None of these possible
schemes involve any sizeable dam
on the Umzimvubu River or its tributaries.
The Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry still awaits direction regarding
development proposals from
Asgisa Eastern Cape (Pty) Ltd before
doing a detailed study on any specific
dam.
No companies have made any such
unsolicited bids.
Cost of converting electricity geysers to
solar power geysers
1470. Adv H C SCHMIDT (DA) asked the
Minister of Minerals and Energy:
(1) Whether her department has considered
subsidising the cost of converting
electricity geysers to solar
(2)
powered geysers; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
whether her department has been
informed of such subsidisation by
other departments and/or Eskom; if
so, what are the relevant details?
NW2211E
The MINISTER OF MINERALS AND
ENERGY:
(1) Yes. Renewable Energy Funds Subsidy
makes provision to subsidise solar water
geysers.
(2) The demand side management programme
that is administered by Eskom
makes provision of a 30% subsidy for a
solar water geyser through suppliers
that are listed on their database.