Project to extend dam on schedule
JOHANNESBURG - Work is underway to expand the Clanwilliam Dam, with completion set for 2028.
Water Minister Pemmy Majodina says her department will seek approval for extended working hours to stay on schedule.
The R5.7 billion project will triple the dam's capacity.
Construction teams are working on the expansion of the Clanwilliam Dam to ensure they meet the project's 2028 completion deadline.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced that the department will seek permission to extend overtime working hours to achieve their targets.
During her visit to the site, Majodina said that she plans to monitor progress by visiting every three months. The R5.7-billion project will triple the dam's water capacity.
Located on the Olifants River, the Clanwilliam Dam serves as a vital water source for the region's farmers, municipalities, and businesses.
It currently holds 123 million cubic meters of water.
The mega project was originally set for completion in 2018, but delays have pushed the date back to 2028.
Officials have stressed the importance of meeting this deadline.
Local leaders have underscored the crucial role the Clanwilliam Dam plays in the local economy, saying the completion of the upgrades will further accelerate the rollout of hydro-energy projects planned for the west coast corridor and will also bolster the region's agricultural sector.
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eNCA
8 hours ago
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Project to extend dam on schedule
JOHANNESBURG - Work is underway to expand the Clanwilliam Dam, with completion set for 2028. Water Minister Pemmy Majodina says her department will seek approval for extended working hours to stay on schedule. The R5.7 billion project will triple the dam's capacity. Construction teams are working on the expansion of the Clanwilliam Dam to ensure they meet the project's 2028 completion deadline. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced that the department will seek permission to extend overtime working hours to achieve their targets. During her visit to the site, Majodina said that she plans to monitor progress by visiting every three months. The R5.7-billion project will triple the dam's water capacity. Located on the Olifants River, the Clanwilliam Dam serves as a vital water source for the region's farmers, municipalities, and businesses. It currently holds 123 million cubic meters of water. The mega project was originally set for completion in 2018, but delays have pushed the date back to 2028. Officials have stressed the importance of meeting this deadline. Local leaders have underscored the crucial role the Clanwilliam Dam plays in the local economy, saying the completion of the upgrades will further accelerate the rollout of hydro-energy projects planned for the west coast corridor and will also bolster the region's agricultural sector.
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
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New rules mandate energy-efficient motors — a win for SA's strained power grid
As of June 2025, South Africa has activated mandatory regulations that affect a R3-billion industry and will result in annual energy savings of 840 gigawatt hours — enough to power a city the size of Polokwane or approximately 140,000 households for a year. Electric motors might not sound exciting — but they're everywhere. They power conveyor belts in factories, water pumps on farms, fans in cooling systems, and crushers in mines. And as of June 2025, every new motor sold in South Africa will have to meet higher energy efficiency standards. That's because South Africa has officially implemented its Minimum Energy Performance Standards (Meps) for electric motors, bringing the country in line with global standards. The change affects a R3-billion industry, with the goal of saving up to 10% of energy per low voltage motor — which is significant in a country where demand exceeds supply. 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Energy efficiency adds up If you consider that Eskom generated about 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in the financial year ending March 2024, the estimated 840 GWh saved (or 0.84 TWh) from this new standard represents 0.25% of the power the country uses in a year. ' It might not sound like much, but believe me — 0.25% is a lot, and it all adds up,' said Chris Yellend, an electrical engineer and energy analyst from Business EE Intelligence. 'It's good that South Africa is following suit and becoming more energy efficient.' He added that energy efficiency measures like this offer the best returns in terms of cost. 'Instead of spending billions on new generation infrastructure, the economy can invest in efficiency — it's a no-brainer. Improving energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way of 'building' new electricity supply. It's not as insignificant as it might seem.' Steyn echoed these sentiments, saying: 'What do you do if you don't have energy? 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