BUSA to seek high level meeting on Eskom power emergency
BUSA is deeply concerned at the latest power emergency declared by Eskom today - the fourth one in as many months and the most serious announcement to date - as these are now cumulatively beginning to have serious economic and business consequences for SA. While if further load-shedding is inevitable, it is nonetheless better that energy saving should be spread over the whole nation than repeatedly placing an unfair burden only on a small number of intensive energy-users, the overall outlook has increasingly become a critical and uncertain one. Eskom's inability to maintain a stable power supply is inhibiting investment, growth and job creation, as well as having a negative impact on productivity.
BUSA's concern should be seen in tandem with the further delay in Parliament this week in the Independent Services and Marketing Operations Bill (ISMO), to which business was looking to create a more competitive environment for energy supply and to provide greater energy security in future. In the meantime, every effort must be made to get all sources of ancillary power mobilized and load-shedding must be planned to cause the minimum disruption to economic activity, transport and welfare. If confidence is to be restored, there needs to be more awareness at the highest level of the reality of the situation, and greater transparency in decision-making.
In view of the seriousness of the electricity situation, BUSA will be seeking urgent meetings with both the Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba and the Minister of Energy Ben Martins as soon as possible to again discuss the challenges on the energy front.
Enquiries:
Raymond Parsons
Special Policy Adviser, BUSA
083 225 6642
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