*1.In which segment of the value chain does your entity operate?(Required.)

Agricultural input manufacturer or distributor;

Agribusiness or co-operative;

Primary Agriculture / farming

Agro-processing / manufacturing;

Trader of agricultural goods or products;

Service provider to the agricultural industry;

Financial institution; or

Other (please specify)

2.Would you classify your enterprise as;

A small enterprise (EME) with a turnover of less than R10 million per annum;

A medium-sized enterprise (QSE) with a turnover between R10 million and R50 million; or

A large enterprise with a turn-over exceeding R50 million?

3.Please describe the direct impact which load-shedding has had on your enterprise / the operations affected by energy loss (i.e. loss of irrigation, fuel retailing opportunities, manufacturing or milling etc.)

4.Please give an indication of the cumulative impact which load-shedding is having on your clients. Kindly note that this question may only be applicable to businesses operating in the value chain with producers as clients. Any descriptions of the nature of the challenges, the impact as well as costs will be appreciated. Kindly also indicate the nature of the client’s commodities (i.e. livestock, horticulture or field crops) and their geographic area to prevent duplication. (Optional)

5.Please provide an estimate of the monthly, direct costs associated with load-shedding (i.e. additional fuel costs to run generators).

6.Please provide an estimate of the monthly, indirect costs incurred as a result of load-shedding (i.e. lost labour productivity, resultant damage to crops, manufactured goods or food items etc.)

7.Are you able to pass these additional costs on to the consumer or another section of the value chain?

8.What Capital expenditure has your entity incurred due to load-shedding to ensure electricity supply? (kindly note that the capex refers to investments into back-up generators, solar etc. and not the operational costs of running generators) (Optional)

9.How much capital could have been utilised to invest in alternative growth opportunities had it not been for the imperative to invest in energy security? (Optional)

10.Have you noticed a negative impact on your sector’s investment patterns as a result of the energy crises? Any detail, whether qualitative or quantitative, is welcome. (Optional)

11.How is load-shedding affecting your employees?

12.What impact has load-shedding had on your entities’ logistic needs? (Optional)

13.Do you foresee any shortages of agricultural products or manufactured food & consumer goods as a result of load shedding? Please specify.

14.Do you have back-up generating capacity capable of sustaining operations? If not, please elaborate on the factors inhibiting your entity from meeting its demands with back-up generating capacity (i.e. consumption, technical limitations, cost, availability etc.)

15.Are you currently generating your own electricity capable of sustaining operations (i.e. solar, wind, gas, biomass etc.)? If not, please elaborate on the factors inhibiting your entity from meeting its demands with embedded generation solutions (i.e. consumption, technical limitations, cost, availability etc.)

16.If the answer to the above is “no”, which of the following factors could persuade you to invest in alternative energy generation? (Please select as many as may be applicable and elaborate in the space provided);

a.      Financial assistance such as a subsidised loan;

b.      Availability of products (i.e. no backlog in solar panels etc.)

c.      Removal of barriers to grid access;

d.      The ability to sell excess electricity freely;

e.      Exceptions or less stringent environmental permitting requirements;

f.      Exceptions or less stringent municipal permitting requirements;

g.      Exceptions or less stringent NERSA permitting / registration requirements;

h.      My consumption is of such a nature that no alternative sources can feasibly meet the demand.

17.Would a flexible load-shedding arrangement assist to mitigate the impact? A flexible arrangement entails the same reduction in consumption as load-shedding but at a time and interval more suitable to your business.

18.Is there any other aspect not mentioned above that you believe can assist to alleviate the situation?