Engineering News reports that the SA Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has dismissed as a “falsehood” claims by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and Transform RSA that the 27 renewable-energy projects, will raise the cost of electricity in SA.  

The two organisations are seeking to block the power purchase agreements (PPAs) through a court challenge.  Last week the Department of Energy refrained from overseeing the signing of 27 projects as planned, owing to the legal challenge, which will be heard on 27 March.  SAWEA’s Brenda Martin described claims that the independent power producers (IPPs) roll-out would raise the cost of electricity as incorrect.  “It is noteworthy that the statement offers no reliable evidence in support of this falsehood,” she claimed.  Numsa has called for a “just transition”, which implies protection of coal workers during the switch.  SAWEA agrees that job losses should be avoided wherever possible, but says the imminent closures of Eskom’s old coal-fired power stations are inevitable and unrelated to the renewable-energy procurement programme.  SAWEA has argued, too, that Numsa’s suggestion that 30,000 working class families would be at risk should the 27 PPAs be signed was “clearly an error”, as publically available information on Eskom’s power station employment figures showed the figure to be overstated.

• Read this report in full at Engineering News
• Read too, Numsa accuses Greenpeace of insulting workers, at News24

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