The South African government’s plans to dock energy ships in three ports in the country to solve the ongoing power outages have sparked potential legal battles with environmental groups. The Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, has stated that they will continue gas and oil exploration despite any opposition, stating “environmentalists veto any development they don’t like”. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the state-owned utility, has warned that it may only be able to provide electricity for half the day during the winter months.
The emergency power tender included 20-year supply contracts for Turkish company Karpowership and other winners of the tender, which has angered environmental groups who are concerned about South Africa being tied to fossil fuel use for the duration of the tender. Plans to work with Karpowership have been delayed for years due to court cases and environmental issues, and the government is under pressure to solve the power crisis. The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has previously stated that Mantashe should be given the authority to source new capacity.
Tags: Environment,Karpowership,Power Ships,South Africa
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