South Africa is experiencing an increased demand for economic growth. It is therefore important that government considers partnering with the private sector in primary infrastructure projects in South Africa that will generate immediate growth in gross domestic product, says Vishaal Lutchman a director at WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff transport and infrastructure, a professional service firm
“There is currently significant hype around infrastructure projects in South Africa . . . and this is largely related to government’s National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) and related Strategic Infrastructure Projects (Sips). There are, however, a number of challenges related to getting these Sips out of the planning phase and into the implementation phase,” he points out.
Although Lutchman believes the Department of Energy should be given credit for the successful implementation of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme to date, several key aspects regarding the NIP and Sips need clarification, actionable planning and its subsequent implementation.
The Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission launched the NIP in 2012 to identify the challenges which South Africa needs to respond to in planning and developing infrastructure that enhance economic growth.
In this reference, 18 Sips were approved and developed to boost economic development and enhance service delivery in the provinces hit by high levels of poverty.
Lutchman says that two important factors that have a direct effect on this growing backlog of projects in the pipeline are capacity planning and capital availability
He says that, although funding is always a challenge, it presents a good opportunity for the public sector to engage the private sector and also get support from development partners.
In his comment on skills development as one of the key challenges hampering infrastructure development in the country and in the entire continent, Lutchman says Africa faces a significant shortage of capable and experienced engineers
