The Department of Water and Sanitation has hosted public engagements for comments on policy considerations on Hydropower generation and climate change with different spheres of government, the private sector and community water forums in Bophelo House, Mangaung Metro.

Water is a major role-player in the electricity value chain as could be characterized by a generator in the form of hydroelectricity. Hydropower provides a significant opportunity to reduce considerable reliance on the national power grid.

The key consideration of the policy is to ensure hydropower generation is in accordance to the National Water Act 36 of 1998 principles. The Act provides a framework for protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources for the benefit of the country.

The engagement was guided by the National Water Resource Stratergy-2 that provides direction on adaptation to water related impacts on climate change and maximizing any beneficial measures and actions in support of adaptation and mitigation.

Currently climate change requires that societies and government come together and strategize on operations, hence the public engagements on climate change and hydropower generation.

The department does not foresee dams being constructed for the sole purpose of hydropower generation. The focus is on existing infrastructure such as dams, canals, pipelines as well as making use of water resources in South Africa including shared river basins in order to supplement current power demand. The policy will ensure hydropower generation is in accordance with National Water Act principles.