Must move to sustainable energy

Eskom load-shedding

THE load-shedding has generated many debates and articles about the dire status of our energy sector.

As municipal electricity project director, Peter Neilson states, “unfortunately, if we lose Eskom, there is no plan if the national grid goes”.

Many others have stressed the dreadful consequence of an Eskom blackout on our system as the country is extremely dependent on Eskom. Water supply and sewage systems will collapse as they depend on electrical pumps.

“Cellphone signal and the whole communication industry will shut down,” states Al’Louise van Deventer, Eskom control centre manager.

How shall we react? Either in a typical knee-jerk response by calling for and planning more coal-fired electricity generation without questioning the structural flaws of the system.

Or shall we recognise that the present coal-based and centralised system is not at all sustainable and keeps us completely at its mercy to a point that we shall be like babies in the rain in the case an Eskom blackout happens?

We can mainly see three reasons for this state of affairs.

First, the government, under pressure from some BBE and large interests, has kept the sector completely dependent on Eskom (despite the fact that a decision was made more than 10 years ago to break the Eskom monopoly and allow other players in the sector).

Second, the government is adamant it will not decentralise and empower local authorities to deal with local issues (same for food security, water and other basic services).

As Lance Greyling mentioned in an article (“Energy overhaul needed”, January 29), “the functioning municipalities need to be empowered and incentivised to play a greater role in building their own energy security”.

But devils are in the details, hence whose “energy security” are we talking about: industries’ or people’s?

Third, we did not bother to research and pilot alternative energy sources to respond to households’ needs for the majority.

The wealthy will (or have already) switched to gas and solar energy.