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South Africa’s National Department of Transport has granted powership operator, Karpowership, access to the ports of Ngqura, Durban and Saldanha Bay for 20 years. The Turkish gas-to-power ships will aim to generate 1,220 MW of power and distribute it through South Africa’s electricity grid in an attempt to ease the country’s power crisis.
Announced by Transport Minister Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga on 18 May, oversight of the safety measures and operation of the deal will be conducted by South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).
“The Minister considered the application to safeguard the national security of the country and to discharge the international obligations of the republic,” the Department of Transport indicated in a statement, adding, “It is for this reason that the Minister gave the TNPA latitude to make necessary decisions in implementing this directive, such as considering the safety measures and operationability of this directive.”
Karpowership’s application was approved by Hon. Minister Chukunga on 26 February in consultation with the TNPA. The application received support from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who told lawmakers that the ships will serve to ease the country’s prolonged power shortages.
In December 2019, South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy issued a tender for 2,000 MW of emergency power generation, for which Karpowership was granted the largest share.
