On Tuesday, Geoff Jacobs, President of the Cape Chamber of Business and Industry spoke on Cape Talk about the exemption some areas enjoy from load shedding, including the Cape Town central business district (CBD). However some Capetonians insist the CBD has been getting its fair share of load shedding.
Kadri Nassiep, Executive Director of Energy for the City of Cape Town explained how the city decides which areas stay lit when Eskom introduces load shedding.
Nassiep said the City is guided by specific principles in deciding which areas are exempt from load shedding, with some being exempt in terms of a government agreement, with Parliament as an example.
The City also has defined areas within the CBD that are exempted from load shedding, these include parts of the Foreshore, up to Green Point in terms of the stadium, most parts of Mouille Point, Roggebaai areas, parts of Tamboerskloof, including the Cableway area.
“It is an attempt to keep congestion at bay and to prevent security threats; one of the reasons the City exempts the CBD. But that could change,” said Nassiep.
Nassiep revealed that once load shedding goes past Stage 6 any exemption is thrown out the window.
“The City of Cape Town does not follow an absolute rule when deciding the areas to exempt from load shedding. It is largely dependent on which sub-stations are disconnected at a particular point in time and that will largely define the area that is exempted.”
The City is in the process of redefining boundaries for the festive season, Nassiep said as much of the Tamboerskloof area as possible will be exempted.
He added that key industries and tourism hotspots are also being considered for exemption.
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