Chairperson, hon Ministers and MECs, the president of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union, Sadtu, colleagues and members, I don't know when the hon Harris was appointed as the official timekeeper of this House, but I see him rising every time. I don't know if he has a new position or portfolio that we don't know about. [Interjections.]
Let me thank the Minister of Energy for being here today after getting up from her sickbed to deliver this Budget Vote. That speaks of commitment and we thank her for that. We wish her a speedy recovery from her illness.
This debate is all about new ways of doing things in order to improve on them, especially new opportunities with a focus on the threat of global climate change, such as alternative, cleaner and renewable fuels or energy sources. This is very true regarding energy. Our brand-new Department of Economic Development is presenting its first full budget before this Council.
On behalf of the committee I want to thank and congratulate both Ministers and their departments on the hard work they have done in preparing and presenting these budgets under the present economic climate. They have also done a sterling job in enlightening us on the content and details of these budgets.
Both departments are affected by the quest to seek greener, cleaner, meaner and other energy sources for our daily use and sustainable development.
In line with the ruling party's Polokwane resolutions, emphasis is placed on the utilisation of alternative sources and on the clear intent of our government to find a way of gradually replacing fossil fuels with new and better alternatives; and also to create green jobs to tap into the new green economy. [Interjections.]
I know now why the hon Sinclair is making a noise, because his party has no resolutions. [Interjections.] So that's why he is making that noise, as well as the hon Gunda, who doesn't even have a policy.
I wish to commend the Ministers and their teams for the strides they have made to advance the use of better technology as regards existing energy sources, such as coal and liquid fuels emitting undesirable gases. The focus on the preferred solar carrier for water heating or even wind energy is much needed, but our country also has extensive coastal areas where wave power could also be investigated, not to speak of thermal, ground or earth energy from our vast land areas which could be tapped to our advantage. [Interjections.]
Yes, hon Plaatjie, many countries have taken leading roles in the further refinement and development of alternative energy sources, such as the sun and wind, with technologies that are becoming cheaper and easier to implement.
Minister Peters, under your guidance and leadership, South Africa may become a world leader in harnessing natural powers such as the eternal movement of our coastal waters and energy from below the surface of the ground. I wish to point to the objectives of driving back poverty and growing the opportunities of a new, green economy. Yes, it is understandable that more nuclear capacity is needed to supply the bulk demand, but to reduce the demand-side needs by employing more alternative options for small-scale individual and even remote users is the way to go, hon Gunda.
In this regard solar cookers and other safer and cleaner methods of household use such as biofuels should be further explored to help the poor and especially marginalised people on farms in remote areas, where people up to now have had to prepare food using animal dung. This will go a long way in assisting our women and more specifically marginalised African women.
We can employ the latest technology or even improve on some internationally developed gadgets to be used to improve the lives of our poor people in rural areas and reduce energy poverty, but it can also create much-needed job opportunities to promote decent work for our people.
In the past, South Africa was a world leader by developing and inventing various products here. If we use the brain power that we already have, we may even develop new products for the prime international markets to the benefit of our people and our country's economy. We may even consider strategic partnerships to reach our goal also with other countries and those neighbours within our developing region, hon Gunda.
Our government should also further investigate the possibilities of agriculturally produced fuels, especially in the more arid or marginal production areas, with crops that are less prone to the consequences of climate change. [Interjections.]
I wonder, Chair, if the hon Gunda knows what climate change is, but we will leave that.
We welcome the announcement of a solar park, but would like to see more alternative uses all over our country. We also know that our electricity sector is vulnerable and under pressure. With soaring prices and huge dependency it is understandable that Cabinet resolved that 30% of new energy generation should come from independent energy producers.