Expert shoots down Gordhan’s claim of energy security in next 18 months

PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has been slammed for repeating a promise that the country would have energy security in the next 18 months.

An energy expert and political analyst were reacting yesterday to comments made by Gordhan in a virtual address on Tuesday night at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry annual gala dinner. “Do we have a plan and are we doing everything possible to implement the plan? The plan is to assure ourselves of energy security for the next two to twoand-a-half years and was announced by the president on July 25,” Gordhan said.

The embattled minister said a crisis committee comprised of many ministers, which is chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is at work to provide that security.

Gordhan said it would not happen overnight but certainly over the next 18 months. “In the immediate instance our task is to make sure that Eskom works better than it works at the moment.

“We don't want to engage in political attacks some have done earlier today but we certainly want to assure you that everything possible is being done,” Gordhan said in reference to DA leader John Steenhuisen's press conference earlier on Tuesday. Steenhuisen called for Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to be fired and accused Ramaphosa, Mantashe and Gordhan of being lethargic in their response to the crisis.

In response, energy expert Chris Yelland said it would take longer than two years to resolve the maintenance issues at Eskom: “Skills and maintenance are not going to solve the problem in the timeline Gordhan has provided because Eskom needs new generation capacity. An increase in maintenance means there will be more load shedding because there is no generation reserve space and there is less availability.”

Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Gordhan should have been honest and said that the same promise that was made in 2015 was now being repeated.

“They are running short on ideas. The issue of skills and maintenance is an old story. These are basic issues and one would expect an institution like Eskom to be experts at managerial competence.

“This should have been done in 2015 and to repeat the promise is an insult to people's intelligence.”