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Cradock | Middelburg | Somerset-Oos | Bedford | Adelaide | Fort Beaufort REDAKTEUR: BETTIE GILIOMEE | DONDERDAG, 2 November 2017 | 0 041 503 6057 | Epos express@media24.com |
RENEWABLE ENERGY: WATER LICENCES, ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS ARE RECEIVED
‘Electric Fish’ charged up REPORTER
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T a time when the Eastern Cape has been struggling with water restrictions caused by drought conditions and service delivery issues around the supply of electricity, independent power producers and the government have collaborated to create an Eastern Cape hydro-electric enterprise, Electric Fish, to empower communities and brighten up their lives.
To this end a pipeline of small, hydro projects is being developed up and down the Fish River in this joint venture between Fusion Energy Holdings and Navitas Power Equipment. This project will use existing weirs in the Great Fish, and link canals from the lower Fish River scheme, to create steady and predictable volumes of flowing water. The canals are ideal for hydro-electric farms, which will be a huge boost for both Fu-
sion and Navitas. Local businessman and Electric Fish partner, Brandon Polley, praised the speedy co-operation and efficiency of the authorities. “This is great news. “It shows just how seriously the Eastern Cape administration is viewing the advantages of renewable energy in the region,” Polley said. Fusion Energy’s CEO, Wendy Green, explained that small, independent hydro-elec-
tric utilities provide numerous benefits. “More than producing clean, steady and affordable electricity, these projects stabilise the regional grid, stimulate the local economy, and, most importantly, provide significant revenue to develop local communities,” she said. The Electric Fish partners have already identified a further six hydro sites along the Fish River, and have secured agreements with the relevant farmers.
Smartie groep is ekoslim Die Smartiegroep van die Laerskool Cradock het onlangs sowat 900 spanne geklop om die jaarlikse Sasol Enviro Quiz, wat by die Gariep Forever Resort gehou is, te wen. Die graad 6leerders, onder leiding van onderwyseres Linda Gowar, moes as deel van die kompetisie onder meer ’n navorsingstaak voltooi, plakkate maak, ’n liedjie self komponeer, aan probleemop lossessies deelneem en ’n toets skryf. Die Smartiespan is, agter van links, S.J. de Koker, Evan Coetzee, Linda Gowar en Jaco Slabbert. Voor van links is Juandré Duvenhage, Ruan Rieck en Jandré du Toit. Lees meer op bl. 6. FOTO:VERSKAF
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