By Doreen Mokgolo
The Black Business Council has told the country’s business leaders that they do not believe that renewable energy is the key to powering South Africa in the future.
The CEO of the independent business collective, Elias Monage, spoke in front of the country’s business leaders at the Progressive Business Forum session on Sunday morning at the ANC Elective Conference.
He said that challenges at Eskom will not be solved by solar and wind energy.
“Research has repeatedly proven beyond reasonable doubt the two are dependent on the weather. For solar and wind you need the sun and on rainy and cloudy days this would prove to be a futile exercise,” he told the audience.
“We don’t have the storage capacity to rely on renewable energy,” he added.
Monage said that the longer Eskom’s energy crisis rolls on, the fewer investors there will be who are willing to invest in South Africa.
“The rolling blackouts have damaged expensive machinery, affecting businesses and investors are shying away from doing business with South African businesses due to the risks involved,” he said.
“We need proper maintenance to have energy that is sustainable beyond the use of diesel in order to rescue the economy of the country through businesses.”
Monage wanted to raise the subject of renewable energy with Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, but he was too tired to appear at the session.
Executive Manager of the Progressive Business Forum, Sipho Mbele, told the audience that the minister could not attend the gathering due to “fatigue” as he was leading the nomination of the electorate, which ran into the early hours of the morning.
The country’s business leaders who had gathered for the session had intended to raise some of the challenges they face in business relating to the energy crisis at Eskom.
President of Township Economy, Bheki Twala, said as the government is coming up with solutions to rescue businesses that are affected by loadshedding, he wishes that they don’t overlook township business.
“Businesses in the townships have not recovered from Covid-19, recurring load shedding and business lootings,” he said.
“We need the minister to fast track the solutions to the entity so our businesses can get back on their feet.”
Pictured above: Elias Monage
Image source: @mmodiba10
