National Assembly: 20 April 2010
Honourable Speaker
Long gone are the days of cheap, available
and bounteous energy resources, decisions must be taken as a matter
of urgency to develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to
transition to alternative energy sources. We need to embrace the new
future of energy, a future that does not rely solely on finite
scarce resources.
In this vein the IFP believes that the
Department should make a substantial investment into the research
and development of clean alternative energy production.
Our current reality dictates that coal must
be used in order to meet the necessary energy demands required in
our country. In the short term we have no other viable alternative
and we are therefore duty bound to investigate the most
environmentally friendly manner in which we convert our coal
supplies to energy. Is this one of our priorities Minister?
Regarding alternate energy production
methods such as the nuclear path, the department should embark on
educational programmes which allay public fears regarding its
production, containment and waste disposal as this is one of the
viable alternatives for South Africa in the future.
We have expended large amounts of money in
research and development on the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor
programme. Has this programme been brought to an abrupt halt? What
about the time and money spent by NECSA up to this point?
We need to make decisions on energy
production systems and once taken, follow them through to
completion. Failure to do so can result in third parties buying our
developments and Ideas and then re-selling them back to us at
greater prices in the future when we deem them fashionable once
again.
We also task the Department to not paying
mere lip service to wind, solar and water energy as possible future
methods in the production of this country's energy requirements.
Clean energy should be our ultimate goal, it should be pursued
intensively and with something a little more substantive than a mere
7% of the budget.
The current cost of electricity is nothing
short of ludicrous, it impacts our entire society negatively in that
it not only has a direct burden effect upon our citizens in that
they pay more for household electricity, but that it also has the
indirect effect of pushing up the prices of goods and services
within the country which ultimately the consumer has to pay for once
again.
It is a disgrace that we are able import
electricity far more cheaply from our neighbour Mozambique.
Likewise the cost of fuel, which also appears
to be on the increase, will severely impact the lives of the poorest
members of our society, driving them even deeper into the depths of
poverty. Whilst we do understand that the price of crude oil is
determined beyond our borders we also believe that the department
can still do something to protect end-users. Internal fuel levies
and taxes can and should be adjusted in order to protect the
ordinary man in the street from steep price hikes.
On the more positive side of things we
commend the Department on its establishment of a separate department
which would enable greater attention to be focused on energy supply.
This is a step in the right direction and the IFP feels that more of
such initiatives should be identified and undertaken.
Minister, we are currently in an energy
crisis of massive proportions and uncertain times might call for
unconventional measures - explore alternatives, step out onto that
limb, there is a viable solution out there.
The IFP will be keeping a watchful eye on
all developments.
We support the vote.
I thank you.
Contact:
Mr Eric Lucas MP
082 557 2481 |