Page 26 - Energize February 2021

VIEWS AND OPINION

2021 Budget Speech: No sign of

avoiding looming Inga 3 disaster

by Siziwa Mota, International Rivers

International Rivers is disappointed by the failure of Minister Mboweni to
address the looming Inga disaster in his budget speech on Wednesday.
We have repeatedly emphasised the unaffordability of the project, and its
potentially catastrophic implications for South Africa’s energy security.

This year’s budget speech made the truth of this proposition much clearer.

projects it chooses to undertake. This is especially true for wasteful projects with little prospect
for success and no benefit to South Africa’s economy or energy security.
Amongst the country’s priorities, according to Minister Mboweni, is a R791,2 billion
infrastructure investment drive to roll out infrastructure projects through public-private
partnerships. The R58 billion needed to fund the transmission lines transporting power from
outh Africa signed the Grand Inga Inga 3 in the DRC to South Africa could be better spent in a similar investment drive into the
Treaty with the DRC in 2013. local renewable energy sector specifically.
Under that treaty, South Africa is The benefits of investing R58 billion into locally sourced renewable energy rather than Inga
Sobliged to fund the construction 3 are innumerable: job creation in the renewable energy sector; cheaper, reliable and affordable
of the transmission lines which will carry power for local consumers, and greater accountability to the South African public.
power from Inga to South Africa. The best By any available metric, South Africa’s continuing participation in Inga 3 is untenable.
available estimates indicate that this International Rivers will therefore continue to engage with government and civil society to
construction will cost South Africa upwards ensure that the country is withdrawn from the looming disaster that is Inga 3. n
of R58-billion.
By the Minister’s account, South About International Rivers
Africa’s debt is expected to balloon from International Rivers is an NGO dedicated to the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights
R3,95 trillion this year to R5,2 trillion in of communities that depend on them. www.internationalrivers.org
2023/2024. Now more than ever, South
Africa must act circumspectly in the Contact Siziwe Mota, International Rivers, Tel 060 835-1354, smota@internationalrivers.org

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