Karpowership decision sows division

THE National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa's) decision to approve the Karpowership SA projects has divided West Coast communities with opposing sides holding demonstrations yesterday.

The regulator continues to face mounting pressure to provide reasons for its decision to give the green light to the multibillion rand projects in Saldanha Bay, Richards Bay, and Coega in the Eastern Cape.

The projects will generate electricity from natural gas to be sent through transmission lines to substations linked to the national grid.

During yesterday's demonstrations, one group held placards reading “More investment in our areas and better lives for our people” and “Black Businesses support Karpowership”; while another group's placards read “Who stole our Oceans?” and “No Drill, No Spill”.

Black Women in Business chairperson Zharon Damonse said she was in support of the Karpowership agreement as they never had the opportunity to play a valuable role in the economy.

“As business women we are opposing those protesting against Karpowerships. We need to stand together as business forums and discuss the value of this project for us, our children and economy because it is a win.”

Integrated Coastal Energy Alliance Western Cape spokesperson Sammy Claassen said: “We support and welcome Karpowership SA. The voice of local communities should not be avoided nor should our views be ignored. We have a direct interest as stakeholders at the local level and we are fed up with all the negative narratives of Green Connection. We want jobs, economic growth and development.”

Green Connection community co-ordinator Neville van Rooy called for an investigation into the Karpowership deal.

“We are here to protect our ocean and to protect fishers' rights. We have a right to a clean ocean. We want more investment in renewables.

“The fishing community is already struggling in terms of getting the right quotas, Covid-19 affecting their businesses. So they can't afford to have a project stationed in the harbour area where people really need to fish.”

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse's (Outa's) legal project manager, Brendan Slade, said prior to the granting of the licences they made a formal submission on August 13 as part of the

public consultation process in which they highlighted their concerns.

However, upon publication of Nersa's decision, they have still not received any reasons.

The organisation formally wrote to Nersa yesterday requesting the reasons for the decision and further gave them 90 days to furnish Outa with the reasons in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of 2000.

Nersa spokesperson Charles Hlebela confirmed that they received a letter from Outa yesterday.

Responding to accusations of a lack of transparency and flawed processes, Hlebela said: “Nersa licenses the operation of the generation facility. The framework for licensing is detailed in Section 10(2) of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 2006 (Act No 4 of 2006).

“The applicant submitted a plan in accordance with S10(2)(e) of the ERA, which provides that the application must demonstrate the plans and the ability of the applicant to comply with applicable labour, health, safety and environmental legislation, subordinate legislation and such other requirements as may be applicable.”

He said the regulation of other important aspects was governed by other specific pieces of legislation that are administered by other regulatory authorities.