A Free State town has been left fuming after a legal battle with a state-owned power utility forced its solar plant to dump desperately needed electricity in a country suffering a record energy crisis. | News24_Business
The Free State town of Frankfort is fuming after a legal battle with a state-owned power utility forced its solar plant to dump desperately needed electricity amid a record energy crisis.
"If they are not going to allow us to use the solar... or to use our own electricity, we don't have any choice, we will have to take the law into our own hands," warned Hans Pretorius, a local cereal farmer, who grows cereals and relies on electricity to power the irrigation system.They can't produce any electricity and we are not allowed to use the electricity that we produce. It doesn't make sense.
Similarly, Thando Keswa was forced to close his takeaway business in Frankfort's township of Namahadi as the cost of running a generator had become too expensive.That situation prompted local businesses and individuals to invest about R100 million to build a solar farm, which was completed in December.
"If the floodgates are thus opened, Eskom's ability to ensure the safety of the grid ... will be severely compromised," it said in its affidavit.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Free State on alert as cholera cases growFree State on alert as cholera cases grow: The Free State department of health says six people have been confirmed to have cholera after being treated at Parys and Boitumelo hospitals in Kroonstad.
Read more »
Pick n Pay offers South African families R10 million of free groceriesPick n Pay has announced that it will randomly select one winner from every store nationwide every day until 18 June. More than 2 700 winners have already received a free shop valued at a combined total of R1.6 million. A total of R10 million worth of free groceries is yet to be gifted.
Read more »
Nigeria: Special Report - Ill-Treated Niger State Pensioners Adopt Measures for RedressPensioners in Nigeria State have adopted radical measures to get the government to pay their pensions and gratuities.
Read more »
State proposes movable assets as collateral for SMME loansEquipment, livestock, vehicles, inventory and cash and cash equivalents could be used by the sector to secure funding, says government
Read more »
POWER CRISIS: Gwede Mantashe doubles down on state support for KarpowershipEnergy minister Gwede Mantashe says the government has the appetite to endure setbacks and pushback against deal.
Read more »
LUKHANYO NKOMBISA: Black citrus growers in urgent need of state supportIt is critical that government and industry develop a programme that provides a lifeline
Read more »