Chairperson, South Africa and the Swiss Confederation have signed an energy efficiency agreement, which will be a major boost to the government energy programme. The agreement on the Energy Efficiency Monitoring Project entails the Swiss Agency for Development and Co- operation funding a R120 million climate change programme in South Africa.
The agreement is going to assist the ANC-led government in reaching our goals and objectives of realising energy efficiency in our buildings. The aim of the agreement is to provide financial support to the Ministry of Energy in order to contribute to the Energy Efficiency Monitoring and Implementation Project. The programme will run from 2010 to 2014 and will be implemented through collaboration of national and local government, research institutions as well as the private sector, among others.
The ANC-led government recognises that climate change is a risk to development and that energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective mitigation options in South Africa. The ANC welcomes the agreement with the Swiss Agency, as it will assist the Department of Energy in ensuring that new constructions and the retrofitting of existing houses and buildings comply with the building codes.
The municipalities of Sol Plaatje, Rustenburg, Polokwane, Mbombela and King Sabatha Dalinebo have already been earmarked for capacity-building and the implementation of this phase of the project at local government level. This will be done under the auspices of the South African Local Government Association, Salga, at a cost of R13 million. I thank you. [Applause.]