House Chair, I do not remember the department or me making a big noise about the renewable energy programme at any time. We went to Cop 17 and we announced the 28 preferred bidders under Window 1, and they qualified. We gave them a timeline for financial close, which was June 2012. We have been communicating with these preferred bidders and they know the situation. If the hon member was unfortunately a preferred bidder, he should maybe just indicate that.
The preferred bidders with whom we will be signing on the 5th know the exact process that we had to follow. Equally, many of them had particular challenges with regard to their own financial close. We have been communicating with all of them, they have all been satisfied, and we have not heard any of the bidders complaining. I just want to say to you that when we sign on Tuesday we will know how many out of the 28 did not qualify.
We have not actually delayed Window 2. We announced Window 2 on time. However, we knew that certain of the bidders would not be able to get financial close by the 5th, and that we would then have to take the megawatts and transfer them to the 3rd window. So, it would have been wrong of us to just keep on galloping with the processes while we knew that there would be megawatts from Window 1 that we would have to transfer.
We want to keep the lights on in South Africa. That is why we are very much alive to the fact that, if you say you will sign up 1 400 units and you end up signing up only 1 000 units, it means you have 400 units outstanding. What do you do with that?
Regarding Window 3, it was actually the bidders and government departments such as Water and Environmental Affairs, the National Treasury, and Public Enterprises, who said that we should work together for the benefit of the investors, South Africa, and our utility company, so as to make it possible for us to hardwire the processes. This would be to avoid a situation where, when the licence has been issued by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa, you have to go to another office. We heard what the President said in the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, with regard to making it easier to conduct business in South Africa.
Energy is equally central. Energy is an enabler and facilitator. We need to make sure that, whatever happens, and whatever we do, we do not create unnecessary delays. Today, I just want to say to you that the delay of Window 3 is in the best interests of the lights being on in South Africa. [Interjections.] Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]