The Green Connection and small-scale fishing communities say the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is making decisions that will adversely affect coastline communities and the environment. This after the regulator approved three generation licenses for Karpowership South Africa.
The floating power ship provider has been granted generation licenses for Saldanha Bay, Coega, and Richards Bay.
Nersa’s decision comes after the Environment Department refused Karpowership’s applications for environmental approval in June.
Karpowership has faced numerous challenges since the government in March granted it the biggest share of a 2 000-megawatt emergency power tender to provide the cheapest and quickest option for electricity.
Its plan to generate power on its floating gas ships and plug it into the South African grid has been stridently opposed by environmental activists and local fishing communities.
The Green Connection’s community outreach coordinator Neville van Root says they are disappointed with Nersa’s decision.
“We are really disappointed now in Nersa’s decision to allow this back in again and to give people hope on the basis of a 20-year burden on local communities for fossil fuel to be introduced or reintroduced without the people agreeing to that. Once again they are putting profit before people. We will continue to closely monitor the case and question these decisions that are being made based on the livelihoods of people. ”
Nersa to give feedback on Karpowership’s application for generation licences: