Johannesburg, 20 May 2019 – Responding to news reports that Eskom has a received a new bill for R36 billion for unforseen costs at Kusile, which the utility is “shocked” by, Happy Khambule, Greenpeace Africa’s Political Advisor has said:
“Greenpeace is going to say it: we told you so. We have been saying for years that Kusile is a terrible investment, with massive negative externalities, and ballooning costs. Eskom’s addiction to coal is at the center of South Africa’s energy woes. It is this dependance that has allowed the utility to throw massive amounts of money – that it categorically does not have – into a bottomless pit to try to complete Kusile.
“If Eskom is shocked by its latest R36 billion bill, Greenpeace is equally shocked that the utility is pushing ahead with a dead-end project, which has been poorly executed and cannot easily be turned around. The truth is that Eskom is in real trouble, and so are Medupi and Kusile. South Africans are sick and tired of our dysfunctional electricity supply industry, and trying to complete Kusile simply does not make sense, any way you look at it. Eskom needs to cancel Kusile and shift investments into renewable energy to avoid a death spiral that it cannot escape,” ended Khambule.
Media contact:
Chris Vlavianos, Communications Officer – Greenpeace Africa, [email protected], 079 883 7036