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Truckers block Pretoria streets as renewables clash with coal producers
A SLOWING South African economy has reduced demand for coal-fired electricity and has brought out scores of coal truckers blocking the streets of Pretoria to protest the lack of work, reports Bloomberg.
The drivers brought traffic to a standstill on roads surrounding South Africa's capital as the state-owned power utility said it would not renew their contracts because of an electricity surplus.
Eskom Holdings, which supplies 90 per cent of South Africa's electricity, will not renew contracts 48 transport companies hold because weak demand, slow economic growth and the introduction of state-mandated renewable-energy supply from independent producers, which has resulted in a three million tonne coal surplus.
Eskom CEO Matshela Koko said the company will be closing its Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina and Kriel coal-fired plants in early 2020, resulting 20,000 job losses.
The government is bent on signing contracts from companies that provide renewable energy, despite the fact that it costs more than coal-fired power generation.
Eskom said it no longer requires additional renewable energy, arguing that it's expensive, isn't always available during peak demand periods and will push up prices for consumers.
The drivers brought traffic to a standstill on roads surrounding South Africa's capital as the state-owned power utility said it would not renew their contracts because of an electricity surplus.
Eskom Holdings, which supplies 90 per cent of South Africa's electricity, will not renew contracts 48 transport companies hold because weak demand, slow economic growth and the introduction of state-mandated renewable-energy supply from independent producers, which has resulted in a three million tonne coal surplus.
Eskom CEO Matshela Koko said the company will be closing its Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina and Kriel coal-fired plants in early 2020, resulting 20,000 job losses.
The government is bent on signing contracts from companies that provide renewable energy, despite the fact that it costs more than coal-fired power generation.
Eskom said it no longer requires additional renewable energy, arguing that it's expensive, isn't always available during peak demand periods and will push up prices for consumers.
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