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DA: Statement by Natasha Michael, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises, calling on Eskom to brief the Public Enterprises committee on construction delays at its Medupi power station (07/09/2012)
The recent violent protests at Eskom’s Medupi power station are going to drag-out the power stations construction at the expense of the taxpayer. The DA will be insisting that Eskom brief the Public Enterprises committee on the recent bout of delays as a matter of urgency.
The Public Enterprises Committee has heard nothing from Eskom about the recent delays, despite the power station reportedly being about 20 months behind schedule and the total costs, including interest, amounting to R116 billion and counting.
Previous delays have been presented by Eskom as being a mixture of labour relations unrest, design and implementation complications and contractual disputes.
Given the importance of this project to the nation’s economic future, Eskom must have open communication lines to parliament on the project’s progress. At present, this is not happening.
As we are already lagging initial completion estimates by over a year and a half, we simply cannot afford the risk of further complacency.
I will therefore be insisting that Eskom brief the Public Enterprise Portfolio Committee as a matter of urgency on the recent delays.
As one of the primary financier of this project, the public deserves to be kept up-to-date with any and all incidents potentially jeopardising the successful completion of the project. Complacency is a luxury Eskom can no longer afford.
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