Energy transition must not halt coal project vital for development, employment in region

SA has joined many countries to fight climate change resulting from many economic activities which include manufacturing/industry, agriculture and energy.

After the signifying of the Paris Agreement, SA developed an energy policy document called the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), developed and published by the department of mineral resources & energy (DMRE), currently led by minister Gwede Mantashe.

The document was published in 2019 after many other early publications and consultations with all relevant stakeholders.

As the branch, we are aware that the IRP 2019 will be reviewed, and we appeal to Mantashe to make sure the new IRP set to be developed is informed by the science and economic conditions of the country.

Accordingly, coal using cleaner technologies, gas, and other baseload energy systems should inform the new IRP.

The 2019 IRP advocates for a mix of energy that will accommodate environmental concerns and cheap and reliable dispatchable baseload energy.

The aim of the department, as articulated by its director-general and the DDGs responsible for policy and energy at the recent mining conference in Limpopo, is to make sure our energy systems lead to the economic development of the people of this country, particularly the poor and the unemployed.

As the branch, we strongly believe that deployment of renewable energy is not an issue and we must prepare for the future.

What we have a problem with is a situation where the country seems to be dictated to by developed countries which have undergone their development stages, and by the way that development took place without the majority of black Africans as they were used as slaves while they [the developed countries] were developed, using African resources.

The leadership that we elect should avoid a situation where we are recolonised economically, where we are told not to use our resources.

Mantashe calls this the coming back on Nongqawuse, and, as the branch, we strongly agree with his sentiments, and we call on the 55th national conference to take a strong resolution on energy and the future of South African natural resources and their use.

Our natural resources need to be used to take our economy to greater heights.

Asian countries have demonstrated to us how an economy can grow faster and uplift your people using the natural resources at your disposal.

For example, mining contribution to the South African economy has helped the country to pay social grants to help the poor, started during Covid-19.

Mining absorbs labour from the Eastern Cape.

However, even though mining has contributed to the country’s revenue and to employment, it continues to be attacked from non-profit organisations that are funded by the developed European countries that have developed through mining.

That is why it was not a surprise when the largest greenhouse gas emitters did not sign the pledge in COP 26 to move away from coal.

Instead, the rich and developed countries continue to be offered loans and funds such as the $10bn (R170bn) SA received from COP 27 to phase out mining and using its coal to produce electricity.

This happens when they import coal from SA when they build new nuclear power stations and issue exploration licences for oil and gas (the UK issued more than 100 licences).

Their aim and priority is energy security, while they make us believe that our aim and priority is climate change only.

SAs ’ priority is to end hunger, reduce inequality and employ its people.

The actions of the current leadership deployed by the ANC in government will not take the country out of poverty.

There are few national executive (NEC) members who have announced on this energy mix properly, according to our view and who have defined the energy policy,

Mantashe, Nkosazana DlaminiZuma

and other NEC members seem to be ignoring this important matter.

These actions will affect areas such as Emalahleni Local Municipality where coal mining has the potential of employing the unemployed people of the area and contribute to the GDP of the municipality and that of the district, and the province.

Unemployment in the district and province is very high, and in Emalahleni local municipality it is at about 40%.

According to the IDP (2021), in 2007 only 22.9% of economically active people were residing in the district, which increased to 26% in 2017.

Without a doubt, coal mining will increase this percentage in the district if we defend this development.

This will also help diversify the province’s economy and avoid migrant labour and over-concentration of the economy in one province.

The biggest worry in SA is that the just transition is led by people who claim to represent communities such as Emalahleni, when it comes to stopping mining in the area.

These NGOs and environmental lobbyists do not care about the development of our economies, but the fulfilment of their emotions and political agendas.

It is therefore in the hands of the communities to lead these development projects to develop their communities.

These NGOS are funded by developed countries, some of which are continuing with coal mining and building more coal power stations.

Many of these developed countries used coal to build big factories for their development and employment of their people.

It is time the community of Emalahleni stands up and asks the leadership to defend this development for the benefit of the people who want and need it.

The community must come up with a strategy for the department of mineral resources to continue with this development.

NGOs have taken the DMRE and its minister to court to stop coal mining and stop building coal power stations as part of the energy mix.

Building a coal station in Emalahleni will create employment opportunities for the communities who live here.

That is why we must support the DMRE, so that the public will see that we support the development of the coal project as part of the energy mix.

The leadership that we elect should avoid a situation where we are recolonised economically, where we are told not to use our resources.

It is time the community of Emalahleni stand up and ask the leadership to defend this development for the benefit of the people who want it.