Johannesburg, 30 January 2019 – Recent media reports in South Africa have indicated that Eskom continues to decline in tangibly frightening ways. In the last day, local media have reported that construction costs of Medupi and Kusile are in the staggeringly high billions, Eskom can no longer afford to subsidise consumers, and that the power utility is still pursuing a tariff increase.
Greenpeace Africa’s political advisor, Happy Khumbule, says, “It is unacceptable that as ordinary South Africans we have to be burdened by Eskom’s continued ineptitudes and inability to transform into a 21st-century utility. Eskom is clearly not too big to fail, and so it must change now or else it will take everyone down as it undergoes a painful end.
“South Africa has been crippled by ever-rising tariffs, by regular power supply interruptions and not to mention financial irregularities associated with the utilities coal procurement processes. Eskom must stop beating around the bush, stop trying to make South Africans pay for its failings, and admit that its business model is no longer working.”
While Eskom continues to come under fire for its mismanagement, a crippled national power utility could spell economic disaster for South Africa. Greenpeace Africa affirms that the way forward is through reform and adaptation, not through unaffordable tariff hikes.
“It is clear that the legacy of coal is closely linked to corruption and unaccountability,” Khumbule continues. “For Eskom to turn over a new leaf, it must transform and redirect itself towards a cleaner and more transparent future. Eskom must shift its focus to developing and deploying renewable energy. Eskom must cancel the last two units of Kusile, which will result in billions in massive savings.”
Media Contacts:
Chris Vlavianos, Communication Officer – Greenpeace Africa, [email protected]