“Ingula is a significant part of our massive infrastructure development programme,” said President Jacob Zuma on visiting the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, located in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, recently. Construction of the 1.368 MW scheme is currently under way, on behalf of Eskom as the client, with 2013 set as a provisional completion date. According to current estimates, the project will cost approximately R23 billion.

The Ingula project, located 23 km north-east of Van Reenen, consists of an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, each with a capacity of 22 million cubic meters of water; an underground power house complex with access tunnels and associated waterways that link the two waterways, as well as all ancillary works.

Zuma highlighted the importance of the project in ensuring the continued supply of electricity, not only locally but on a national scale as well. “Following our last visit to Lephalale some few months ago, we are impressed with the progress in construction and revival of our power stations,” said Zuma, adding that further infrastructure development, industry, agri-business and SMME’s all thrive on reliable electricity supply.

“In our National Development Plan we emphasize the need to provide adequate infrastructure in all areas including rural areas by 2030. We want to ensure economic activities even in rural areas to improve the quality of life. All these will materialise when there is electricity and other infrastructure,” he said.

Zuma noted that the Ingula project is scheduled to come on line during 2014, with a unit being commissioned each quarter of that year.

Eskom Board member Colin Matjila highlighted the parastatal’s focus on sustainability and sustainable development, with it being a major focus in their expansion plans. “Twenty years from now coal will contribute less and renewable energy will play a bigger role,” said Matjila, adding that in the interim, short and medium term supply would be “tight”.