Programme Director
Distinguished Members of the Rand Afrikaans University, University Port Elizabeth and University of Pretoria,
Project Leader, Professor Vivien Alberts
Distinguished Members of the Research and Development Community and Business community,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
This pilot solar cell production facility is a project with incredible potential and promise for South Africa and the rest of the world. While we fully appreciate aspects of the project that immediately address questions of sustainable, affordable and safe supply of energy to poorer communities, we are equally excited by the project's tremendous potential for addressing globally pressing issues of renewable and environmentally-friendly forms of energy supply. As a department we are indeed proud to be associated with such an initiative, and congratulate the scientists, engineers and technologists from Rand Afrikaans University, the University of Port Elizabeth and the University of Pretoria that have collaborated on this project.
On the whole South Africa has a dry, hot and sunny climate. Some regions even enjoy more than 250 days of sunshine per annum. The ability to harness this abundant and freely available form of energy into electricity for domestic and commercial purposes will certainly put South Africa in the forefront of world competition in this sector. We are truly delighted to learn that the progress achieved since 2002 is very impressive. That is why we are gathered here today to open the pilot production facility for the manufacture of the innovative photovoltaic materials.
Our National Research and Development Strategy states that: "In the social sphere, effective innovation has a direct impact on the reduction of poverty and the improvement of quality of life of our people. It is critical, therefore, to increase the rate and quality of innovation in South Africa." This is one facility that is intended to demonstrate how science and technology can impact positively on our economy and the lives of South Africans.
We have been receiving a number of warnings, particularly from the Department of Minerals and Energy that by 2006, rather than 2008 or 2010 as was predicted previously, South Africa's demand is likely to outstrip its electricity generation capacity, because of rapid economic growth. Statistics also show that only two thirds of South Africans have access to electricity, and for the rest of Sub-Saharan African only about 10 % do. That is why projects like these, which are looking at alternative sustainable energy sources, are very important for the continent's continued economic growth.
The Innovation Fund was established to promote key issues of competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, and the harnessing of information technology. What has been accomplished through this project has contributed significantly towards the achievement of some of these objectives. We are now expecting this project to reach its final aim of creating a platform for developing the world's foremost solar electricity industry in our country. This will generate a substantial income from exports and licensing of the technology.
In closing, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to reiterate my Department's commitment to the development of a more effective system of innovation geared towards the creation of new knowledge, production of innovations and diffusing them for the benefit of the people of South Africa and our region. We hope that institutions in the SET sector also share the same commitment.
May I once again salute and commend the work done on this project by the University of RAU, University of Port Elizabeth and University of Pretoria. We wish them great success.
Thank you
