Solar Panel Indigenisation.

A solar panel localisation policy is in its final stages to reduce import costs. Solar panels produced locally will be cheaper, better quality, and will help the balance of payments crisis by reducing foreign exchange. Additionally, once local industries shift focus to their production, job creation, and research into renewable sources will be encouraged. Just by advertising these local panels, awareness around the products and producing green energy will be encouraged.

Tax exemption, encouragement for public: private partnerships, and renewable energy grid investments are well thought: out for producers. But this is where the problem lies-it benefits producers more than consumers. Solarisation needs consumer demand for it to be valuable and the policy should cater to this part of the problem too. Current government policies have ironically worsened the uptake of solar energy and panels by the public as they are imported and the closing of LCs has increased rates considerably.

The problem with mass solarisation in the country is closely linked to the affordability crisis. Individuals have lost their purchasing power considerably and a simple...