The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism is offering support to businesses aiming to achieve energy resilience and avoid the impact of load shedding.

The department has issued a statement offering advice on the installation of solar power, making businesses more resource efficient.

MEC for the department, David Maynier said the province should strive for energy security to convey the message that the Cape remains open for business.

Work to alleviate the impact of load shedding remains an objective for city and provincial government officials, in the interests of keeping the Western Cape’s economy in check on track.

“I am deeply concerned about the impact of these rolling blackouts on SMMEs in the tourism sector,” said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, James Vos.

Vos said, should there be a strong enough case, the City could grant a business a curtailment, making it exempt from blackouts, but added that work with provincial government and other role players would continue, to reduce the burden created by load shedding and to seek more ways to help tourism grow in the city.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Francine Higham, clarified that while tourism was an important part of the Western Cape’s economy, the support services offered were available to all businesses, not just those in the tourism industry.