SA signs renewable energy deals amid outages
Official statistics made public earlier this month revealed that daily rolling blackouts, which affect both homes and industry, were a contributing factor in South Africa's GDP decline.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
To enhance its renewable energy supplies and decrease its dependency on coal-fired power plants, South Africa has signed the first three agreements.
Gwede Mantashe, minister of mineral resources and energy, presided over the signing of contracts with independent wind energy producers on Thursday.
The nation is experiencing severe electricity shortages, and Eskom, the government-run energy company, is struggling with a lack of investment amid suspicions of wrongdoing.
80% of South Africa's electricity is produced using coal, but thanks to private investment in wind and solar projects, energy output will rise by 10% as a result of the agreement reached on Thursday.
These won't likely go online until 2024.
Official statistics made public earlier this month revealed that daily rolling blackouts, which affect both homes and industry, were a contributing factor in South Africa's GDP decline.
