Modulasetulo, Maloko a Palamente, Molekgotla-Khuduthamaga wa Dimenerale le Maatla ... [Chairperson, Members of Parliament, Minister of Minerals and Energy] ... it is imperative to acknowledge that the consistent growth of development of the South African economy remains fragile in the absence of an integrated energy security legislative tool. We must also acknowledge that as a progressive South Africa, our development agenda would be hamstrung if the state did not provide a blueprint for energy security.
It is within this context that the significance of the National Energy Bill should be seen as part of the global community and that it is being affected by external economic shocks. We should develop our own institutional mechanism to negate the worst scenario possible. The National Energy Bill provides pre-emptive tools as it addresses the following: Energy research, diversity of energy supply, energy infrastructure planning, climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, the development of local energy production and setting of standards and specifications.
In my engagement with the content of the Bill, I would confine myself to Chapter 2, which deals with energy supply, optimisation and utilisation. In terms of the provision of data and access to data sources, the Bill empowers the Minister to establish mechanisms for the provision of any data and information that is required for purposes of energy modelling and planning. It also allows the Minister to establish mechanisms to collect, collate and analyse energy data and information, and use energy statistics and information.
In terms of transparency and accountability, the Minister must annually publish an analysis that reviews energy demand and supply of the previous year. The same analysis would include the forecasting of energy demand and supply for no less that 20 years and it must provide possible future energy scenarios.
Furthermore, the Bill provides that the Minister must publish models used for data and information analysis. It also provides for the Minister to consult with the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Labour, and Environmental Affairs and Tourism to adopt measures to deal with the negative safety, health and environmental impacts of energy carriers.
In concretising the Reconstruction and Development Programme's proclamation on energy sources, the Bill provides for the Minister to adopt measures that provide for universal access to appropriate forms of energy or energy carriers for all South Africans at affordable prices. As the ANC-led government, we are resolute in achieving social justice and improving the quality of life of the masses of our people, hence we maintain that the poor households should receive free basic electricity. This piece of legislation provides for this policy position.
In the advancement of the developmental agenda, it is important to have a strong state with the capacity to execute its strategic developmental tasks. Strengthening the state by retaining particular strategic tasks would go a long way in laying the foundations for a truly developmental state that would lead and manage strategic areas for sustained economic development.
Ke a leboga. Re le ANC, ra re ga re tshikinyege. Re fetisa Molaotlhomo o gore batho ba rona ba bone botshelo jo bo botoka. [Thank you. We, the ANC are not to be shaken; we are passing this Bill so that our people can have a better life.]