Racist rant cannot conceal trail of incompetence
DUE to a production error, this letter was previously run in an incomplete form. Business Report would like to apologise to Roger Tom for this error and thank him for pointing out this oversight.
Once more, I would like to urge readers to take the time to write letters to brletters@inl.co.za as debate in South Africa needs to be carried not only by MPs in Parliament, but by you the public. – Philippa Larkin, Content Editor of the Business Unit of Independent Media, including Business Report.
THE ESKOM Board letter (Business Report of March 9) refers. One is very tempted to ignore such racist vomit and not dignify it with a reply, but we evidently have Eskom’s attention: possibly, someone is at home at Megawatt Park.
It was surprising that the letter came from the Eskom board, a body of low esteem, what with the chairperson’s dubious track record (unfortunately, quite undeniable), a whole brood of Gupta cuckoos in the nest, and an ex-chief executive still searching for a Saxonwold shebeen.
As for its ability to properly guide Eskom to a brighter future, anyone with a modicum of intelligence would have serious doubts.
Let’s take Eskom back 25 years, to when Eskom staff was assiduously trained for many years, even using the “outdated” apprenticeship scheme, on which Germany’s basic economy still relies, but Germany is quite successful and German products are much sought-after. Eskom could build a world-standard, green-field power station in four to five years (compared with 12 to 13 years, with luck, for Medupi), financed by blue-chip Eskom bonds, with zero dependence on government support.
Of course, it built an excess of capacity, such that the small, obsolescent power stations could be retired and, fortunately, the “apartheid” Eskom mothballed them as its successors needed them later, to compensate for the lack of capacity caused by incompetent planning and operation. The old Eskom also happily supplied the townships with power, as long as it was paid for, and it was very affordable, even after inflation adjustment!
Then, let’s look at an abbreviated catalogue of significant failings which Eskom, so far, refuses to address:
Eskom’s role in the country’s economic demise.
Acceptance of unplanned generator outages as normal.
Irregular contracting of coal supplies at excessive prices.
Destruction of national assets without replacement.
Lies on replacing the diesel fuelling of Ankerlig.
Refusal to consider Grand Inga as a power source.
Distinct lack of a meaningful nuclear power policy.
Inability to explain the irregular purchase of the Optimum Mine by the Guptas.
Woeful lack of project/contract management skills.
Lack of contribution in updating the DoE’s Integrated Resource Plan, vital to the country’s future.
Refusal to accept power supplies from IPPs, despite contractual commitment.
The last point listed, acceptance of power from IPPs, particularly those supplying wind and solar power, is worrisome as it implies that Eskom will not accept any more renewable power inputs to the national grid.
This despite the latest professional opinion that modern, renewable power sources are now cheaper than coal power, never mind nuclear.
The only possible reason for Eskom’s refusal is their perception of renewable power sources, including Grand Inga, as damaging to their total monopoly on the nation’s power supply; the issue of renewable power damaging the corporate balance sheet is so much clap-trap as the balance sheet has never been an issue thus far.
That, in turn, becomes major motivation for demanding that Eskom be dismantled into several parts such that vested interests in coal-fired power are no longer of controlling influence.
‘Redacted’ version
I must apologise for the Dentons Report issue as matters progressed rapidly after Eskom realised that the PAI Act would force its eventual release: they moved quickly to release a “redacted” version and to appear happy to release it, too little and far too late.
That apart, I stand by everything written to date and not one jot of it is racist, unless criticism of the modern Eskom is racist by definition: if that is so then Eskom is beyond redemption and is undeserving of our understanding. Maybe the Dentons Report throws some light on that, and the gross mismanagement which Eskom denied and tried to hide.
Finally, if there is to be an informative discourse, may it be based on application of some intellect. The hurling of racist invective across the information abyss helps no one, least of all public understanding of Eskom’s motives, and much less restoring any of Eskom’s tattered reputation!