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Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson on energy says ‘the South African economy cannot afford Eskom's revised request for a tariff increase of 35%.

‘The 10% drop from 45% each year for three years is a start, but it is clear that this figure is still too high for our economy and consumers to bear,' Mr Greyling says.

‘The ID is extremely concerned that Government is still not tackling the root cause of our energy problems, which is the weak state of energy governance in South Africa and the fact that different departments are working at cross purposes with each other.

‘It is imperative that we have proper, integrated energy planning in South Africa before tariff increases are simply imposed on our economy and consumers,' says Greyling.

‘The current proposals of Eskom's new build programme need to be thoroughly scrutinised and subjected to intense public debate so as to ensure that our scarce financial resources are being spent in an optimal manner.

‘The ID is vehemently against giving Eskom a blank cheque to spend on dirty coal and expensive nuclear technology, particularly when it has proven so inefficient in its governance choices over the past ten years,' Greyling says.

‘It boggles the mind that in spite of the multiple examples around the world of how energy efficiency measures can be used to alleviate some of the need to build more generating capacity, therefore reducing the amount of additional resources required, the Government continues to ignore this opportunity.

‘Use can also be made of renewable energy technologies, with Independent Power Producers being brought on stream to take some of the strain off Eskom. At the moment, however, these opportunities are being lost through poor energy governance and incorrect institutional arrangements,' says Greyling.

‘The ID therefore reiterates its call for a comprehensive inquiry into Eskom and a complete overhaul of energy governance in the country before the economy and consumers are brought to their knees by Eskom's demands.'