Urgent steps must be taken to address current energy crisis
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GUEST - James Mackay – CEO of the Energy Council of South Africa
Closing the door on load shedding is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most urgent priorities. The load-shedding crisis has had a direct impact on lower economic growth, higher levels of unemployment and a deterioration of investor confidence.
Load shedding has masked some even bigger systemic issues underlying our energy crisis – the lack of reform to keep pace with international and technology trends, rapidly ageing infrastructure, especially our distribution grid, and a rapid decline in state capacity. If the systemic issues aren’t addressed, they will ultimately prolong our heavy reliance on coal power, which is at 80% despite many of our power stations being old, unreliable, and no longer economically or environmentally sustainable.
Closing the door on load shedding is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most urgent priorities. The load-shedding crisis has had a direct impact on lower economic growth, higher levels of unemployment and a deterioration of investor confidence.
Load shedding has masked some even bigger systemic issues underlying our energy crisis – the lack of reform to keep pace with international and technology trends, rapidly ageing infrastructure, especially our distribution grid, and a rapid decline in state capacity. If the systemic issues aren’t addressed, they will ultimately prolong our heavy reliance on coal power, which is at 80% despite many of our power stations being old, unreliable, and no longer economically or environmentally sustainable.
