By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister (DRME) Gwede Mantashe says former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter “must provide names” in his corruption claims.
The minister challenged de Ruyter to name the ministers involved in alleged corruption at the power utility.
Mantashe and his senior officials in the department were briefing parliamentarians on renewable energy programmes in the country.
He was asked by MPs to respond to the claims by De Ruyter in a recent interview, in which it was alleged that “a top politician” was involved in corruption at Eskom.
“On the issues raised by the outgoing CEO of Eskom all we need from our side is that he must not throw a stone in the bush. He must say Minister X has said this, Minister Y has asked for a cut and Minister Z has done this. That is all we want because this thing of throwing a stone in the bush and hope that an animal will come out running is actually unscientific,” said Mantashe.
De Ruyter also claimed that when informed, the government did nothing about the corruption at Eskom and that the company was a feeding trough for the ANC.
Chairperson of the portfolio committee on minerals and energy Zet Luzipho said he would consult with his counterpart in the public enterprises committee Khaya Magaxa about calling de Ruyter to appear before parliament on the allegations made.
“Luzipo undertook to consult with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises about a letter received from committee member Vuyolwethu Zungula in order to establish a way forward. The letter requests the Speaker of the National Assembly to allow the two committees to summon former Eskom Chief Executive Officer, André de Ruyter, to answer questions about the corruption allegations he made in the media involving Eskom, “said the committee.
Mantashe also said he was looking forward to the appointment of an electricity minister who would be responsible for ending load shedding.
“There are six power stations with an energy availability factor [EAF] of less than 50%. In that process, we lose above 7 000MW. So if we want to deal with load shedding, there must be an emphasis on optimising the power stations that are available and connected to the grid,” he said.
While “renewable energy lobbyists” claimed that additional renewable energy would end load shedding, this was a “myth” as new projects have a lead time of 12 to 18 months or more.
“If you want to deal with load shedding, then it is not renewable energy that can do it.”
The electricity minister will focus on Eskom accelerating optimal performance; accelerate the procurement of emergency energy; ensure that SA is able to import electricity from neighbouring countries, and put a greater focus on acquiring skills for Eskom.
Asked about the likelihood of contracting a power ship to supply emergency power should be looked into, Mantashe said the fact that Karpowership had not yet gained environmental approval was “a different department’s responsibility”.
“We approved them because we thought they could help. People said they are expensive, but at R1.17 a unit, there is nothing expensive about that. If you reduce the length of the contract to 10 years, then it is equal to R1,34 a unit and there is nothing expensive about that.”
The SACP which has called on Eskom to fast-track the process of appointing a new CEO, also lashed out at de Ruyter, accusing him of failing at Eskom.
It said when he was appointed in the position the energy availability factor at Eskom was 72% and it had now dropped to 58%.
The electricity crisis has also worsened with more load shedding hitting the country, said the SACP.