Eco-justice organisation The Green Connection has again voiced its opposition to South Africa entering into a power agreement with Karpowership amidst reports that the Turkish-owned company shut off electricity in Sierra Leone. Reuters reported last week that Sierra Leone capital city Freetown was hit by power cuts after Karpowership switched of their electricity supply because of an unpaid debt of around $40 million. In addition to the loadshedding crisis and the rising cost of everything, South Africa cannot afford to go down the same path,” said Van Rooy. From the archivePublic hearings start on Karpowership gen licence applicationKarpowership facing more headwind in ongoing applicationThe Green Connection and other NGOs have since gone to court to obtain relevant info on the proposed Karpowership deals. Also last week, The Green Connection and Natural Justice said they would challenge the decision of Minister of the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), Barbara Creecy, to allow Karpowership to submit a Generic Environmental Management Programme (GEMPr) for Saldanha Bay.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 12, 2023 10:30 UTC