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'Govt delayed power stations'
10/04/2008 20:23 - (SA)
Rustenburg - The government accepts responsibility for the power shortage, said Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin on Thursday.
It delayed the building of power stations, saying at that time the reserve margin was huge, above 16%.
"It could have been better to build earlier," he told an imbizo in Rustenburg to encourage industries and households to reduce their electricity use.
Erwin said two years ago Eskom was instructed to build power stations after it realised that electricity demand was increasing.
He said the mining industry had done well in reducing the energy use by 10%. He warned of "bigger problems" if this was not maintained.
National Union of Mineworkers president Senzeni Zokwana said the union supported government power-saving programmes.
The union would never agree to the proposed 53% electricity tariff increase and would take to the streets if it was imposed.
"We are already pressured by price-fixing," he said.
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