Eskom accused of shunning communities
Eskom and the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) simply have no guarantees to give to the Komati community on future survival, which bodes ill for residents, who are facing the closure of the Hendrina Power Plant within the next two years.
The commission met with the community last week in Ermelo, where tensions boiled over once again, with residents of Komati demanding more inclusion with the repurposing of Komati Power Station, which has already been shut down.
Meanwhile, Eskom and the PCC are still actively sidestepping the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry over the Chamber’s push to take ownership of the Hendrina Power Plant for its own repurposing plans, much like with Komati, where Eskom copied all the Chamber’s plans anyway.
Chamber CEO Ms Anna-Marth Ott, who will attend a PCC community dialogue in eMalahleni on January 30, says she expects a similar welcome for the commissioners like last week’s frosty reception in Ermelo.
“What we are saying is simple, Eskom must look at generation ideas that preferably both cut the cost of electricity while ensuring stable, uninterrupted supply,” Ms Ott says, adding, “We know Eskom will not achieve this alone.”
She says Eskom has created an environment in Komati where “it is easy to rile up the community, and we fear the same will happen in Hendrina if the mistakes made with Komati are not remedied”.
“These communities are fearing for their very survival, and if they fold, it becomes a major problem for the municipality and taxpayers,” Ms Ott says, adding, “Eskom and the commission must plan from the ground up, start where the losses and needs will be hardest felt.”
The communities agree, accusing Eskom of sidelining them, insisting that more focus should be placed on agriculture, training and alternative energy generation.
DA Councillor Gys Romijn agrees with Ms Ott on one very important aspect – “Neither Eskom nor the government are communicating with the affected communities candidly and truthfully.”
“The problem persisting in Komati, and I fear coming for Hendrina residents as well, is that Eskom and the government are adapting plans as they are navigating through uncertainty,”
Mr Romijn says, adding, “While some solar panels have been installed at Komati, not much else has happened and the community is still in the dark.”
There’s definitely truth in both Ms Ott and Cllr Romijn’s criticism over silence, as FF+ councillor for Hendrina, Corrie Wolmarans, told the Middelburg Observer that no consultations have been scheduled with the community, nor councillors, organised business or community leadership structures of the envisaged closing of the Hendrina Power Plant.
“Eskom must prepare for fierce opposition,” he warned, “I suspect dialogue will only start once it’s too late to salvage the plant.”
Ms Ott says that the Chamber currently does not represent any of Komati or Hendrina’s businesses.
Former Eskom Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer has already expressed his support for the Chamber’s plan to take over the Hendrina plant, and encouraged the Chamber to present a water-tight business and operations plan to sway Eskom towards a sustainable partnership.
• A local PCC meeting will take place in Middelburg at Adelaide Tambo Hall on January 29, where residents of Middelburg and Hendrina will learn more about Hendrina’s closure and the lessons learnt at Komati.
