This dinosaur does not know it is dead

THANKS for an excellent article about the National Energy Regulator’s Thembani Bukula “Take a hike pal: Eskom’s bid to hog the power” (August 7). I was not aware that Bukula was such a thorn in Eskom’s side.

Since the energy minister has already said renewable energy is a key part of our energy mix, Brian Molefe is required to sign any contracts that come forward.

I agree with Bukula that Eskom’s future will not be as a supplier of base-load power. This will be increasingly supplied by renewable energy producers as its cost continues to fall and coal power’s rises.

Eskom filed applications for two new nuclear plants. Where does the capital come from? Can we wait 10 to 15 years for this new power? When these plants come onstream they may be obsolete. Renewable energy in 10 to 15 years will be 50% to 75% cheaper, and with battery technology ever cheaper, people able to afford renewables will abandon Eskom.

Like the dinosaurs, Eskom is dead; they just don’t know it yet. — Baron Fowler, Montagu