Failure to pay results in load-shedding
Loadshedding is the reason Lydenburg has no electricity.
LYDENBURG – Out of a 24 hour day, residents will now be left without electricity for 10 hours indefinitely.
This is because Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) has decided, in its own mandate, to implement load-shedding as from Thursday. The notice was apparently subtly placed on the website of the governing body, and on some flyers which made their way to the offices of the newspaper.
No mention of the Mashishing townshed being affected by the load-shedding has been made in the notice.
The reason for this is apparently an overload of the substations. Since Wednesday the hydro plant, which is supposed to supply the town with an extra 2,1MW, has been shut down. According to MBB Consulting Services in Nelspruit, millions of rand are owed by TCM to this service provider for the operation and maintenance of this power station. It supplies the town with inexpensive, renewable energy, meeting approximately
20 per cent of the electricity demand.
“The last time MBB was paid by the municipality for the operation and maintenance of the hydro power station was in early December 2012.
“However, it managed to keep the facility running until June 11, using its own funds, and limited payment received from Eskom,” explains Mr Org van Rensburg, a director of MBB.
Despite negotiations led by it, TCM has not paid the company for the last 17 months.
“We did not want to take this measure and have been involved in talks with the municipality for the past year and a half, but nothing has been resolved.”
Unfortunately, MBB cannot afford to operate and maintain the Lydenburg Hydro Power Station without being paid. It will remain shut until TCM makes an agreeable financial arrangement.
“We remain committed to finding a solution that will bring the hydro power station back on line again. However, at this time we unfortunately can no longer afford to fund the cost of operating and maintaining the facility,” concluded Van Rensburg. Not only is the hydro non-operational, Rooidraai Substation that was damaged by lightning in November last year, has not been repaired.
According to Mr Wessel Davel of the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber, the claim from the insurance for the damage was already paid in February.
“Only now has a service provider been contracted to replace the damaged transformer.”
He said that the chamber was in constant communication with TCM.
