The ANC has for the first time admitted that the country is faced with an energy crisis.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, speaking on the sidelines of the ANC lekgotla yesterday, warned there would be no instant solutions amidst the rolling blackouts by Eskom.
“Yes, the energy crisis is one of the most important things to look into. But what we know is we won’t get instant solutions. You don’t get that with energy because you have to look into energy generation.”
The power utility was under immense pressure as it kept shifting the goalpost in completing coal-fired power stations such as Medupi and Kusile.
\Both are four years behind schedule, with Medupi now only projected to be fully operational by 2019 at the earliest.
Mantashe pointed out that the problem with Eskom was power generation and not distribution.
He said while the rolling blackouts were a problem, the ruling party would aim to find solutions including other sources of energy.
Among these considerations was the controversial shale gas exploration known as “fracking” and deep sea exploration for oil.
“All those issues are going to be discussed. We must get feedback on how to bring Medupi and Kusile into the stream.
“What is it that’s going to be done to avoid situations of power stations that are older and are coming to \close to the end of their lifespan,” said Mantashe.
At its last lekgotla the ANC committed itself to four catalytic sectors: energy, transport infrastructure, ICT (information and communications technology, and water and sanitation.
The lekgotla was attended by various government officials, including Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona director- generals and alliance partners, among others .
Today it will break into commissions which will pronounce what the ANC-led government must do to improve service to people.
“We don’t want commissions to give us diagnose s of any problems,” said Mantashe. “We’ve diagnosed problems, they must give us progress and what action they are going to take.”
ANC seeks solutions for energy crisis
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, speaking on the sidelines of the ANC lekgotla yesterday, warned there would be no instant solutions amidst the rolling blackouts by Eskom.
“Yes, the energy crisis is one of the most important things to look into. But what we know is we won’t get instant solutions. You don’t get that with energy because you have to look into energy generation.”
The power utility was under immense pressure as it kept shifting the goalpost in completing coal-fired power stations such as Medupi and Kusile.
\Both are four years behind schedule, with Medupi now only projected to be fully operational by 2019 at the earliest.
Mantashe pointed out that the problem with Eskom was power generation and not distribution.
He said while the rolling blackouts were a problem, the ruling party would aim to find solutions including other sources of energy.
Among these considerations was the controversial shale gas exploration known as “fracking” and deep sea exploration for oil.
“All those issues are going to be discussed. We must get feedback on how to bring Medupi and Kusile into the stream.
“What is it that’s going to be done to avoid situations of power stations that are older and are coming to \close to the end of their lifespan,” said Mantashe.
At its last lekgotla the ANC committed itself to four catalytic sectors: energy, transport infrastructure, ICT (information and communications technology, and water and sanitation.
The lekgotla was attended by various government officials, including Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona director- generals and alliance partners, among others .
Today it will break into commissions which will pronounce what the ANC-led government must do to improve service to people.
“We don’t want commissions to give us diagnose s of any problems,” said Mantashe. “We’ve diagnosed problems, they must give us progress and what action they are going to take.”
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