S Africa solar power program launched

South Africa has officially inaugurated a solar water heating plan to save both money and the environment in Africa’s worst pollution emitting country.

So far about 270 solar water heating panels have been set up in Pretoria – the country’s executive capital — for household water heating purposes.

South African President Jacob Zuma says the country produces the highest level of emissions throughout the continent and should reduce its enormous reliance on coal.

The country supplies 96 percent of its electricity from coal and that has made it Africa’s worst emitter.

Based on the solar water heating plan, by 2014, South Africa will install one million solar heaters.

According to Zuma, the government has started converting water heating for hospitals, prisons, barracks and other government buildings.