Independent power producers created 14,000 jobs: minister

Independent renewable power producers (IPPs) have created around 14,000 jobs over the past three years, Energy Minister Ben Martins said on Friday.

"One of the imperatives of government is to ensure that all departments assist in job creation. Through the independent power producers programme, more than 14,000 have been created."

Martins was speaking in Pretoria following a summit with 61 IPPs.

"At the meeting, we acknowledged and expressed appreciation of the fact that to date more than R100 billion has been invested into this particular sector," he said.

IPPs are entities which either own and or operate facilities that generate electric power.

They then sell the power to a utility, central government buyer or to end users.

The Pretoria meeting was also attended by representatives of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Eskom, and the Public Investment Corporation.

Diplomats representing Denmark, Spain, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom were present.

Martins said the IPPs project had brought significant direct foreign investment. He said the foreign countries were playing a major role in the project.

"Without the involvement and investment of the IPP participants, this (project) would not be possible. The foreign direct investment coming into the country is appreciated," he said.

"We have various partnerships that we seek to strengthen."

Martins said the government would want several South African communities where the power generation industries were located to reap the benefits.

"We agreed that we would look at the possibility of forming structures that involve all role players and leaders from various communities. We haven't resolved on a template for that engagement," he said.