Renewable energy cheaper than nuclear

I WAS shocked and dismayed when I read that Eskom will not sign any more power purchase agreements with independent power producers.

So much for the “global success story” industry that attracted R193bn in private investment in five years and created much-needed jobs, but now risks going belly-up as a result of this decision.

Just a year ago Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Petterson committed to accelerating and expanding the participation of independent producers.

The government made a commitment to avoid a downgrade at all costs, and now this.

Where do these guys live that they make these decisions? Particularly as we are standing at the edge of a recession.

Just last Thursday the Reserve Bank announced that the projected growth for the year will be only 0.0 percent, in other words no growth at all or should I say, a thinly disguised recession.

I became more worried when both ministers concerned – Joemat- Petterson and Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown – refused to make any comments on Eskom’s announcement.

This is the most worrying aspect given that we need investment and jobs, our growth has been dismal and we have the ratings agencies ready to pounce on us.

They have been kind enough to give us more time – or is it only more rope?

On the other hand, Brian Molefe considers renewable energy more expensive, which is nonsense, as both wind and solar come 20 to 40 percent cheaper than nuclear (and that’s not even mentioning the capital expenditure for nuclear).

He is also not divulging that more than 38 percent of manufacturing, agriculture and mining is not working at the levels of the past, as the economy is just chugging along.

Thus the demand is not there. Is this just one more of the steps being taken to push nuclear power down our throats?