Archbishop calls for renewable energy in South Africa

|PIC1|The Archbishop of Cape Town has called on South Africa's troubled energy provider Eskom to drop its plans to build more coal-fired power plants and invest in renewable energy instead, following the resignation of its chief executive this week.

Jacob Marago steps down after a difficult tenure at the head of the state-run utility, marred by power shortages and rising capital and operating costs. A critical shortage in January 2008 led to the near collapse of the national grid, forcing mines and smelters to close for five days. Critics are also angry that the power utility stoked inflation at a time of recession by raising energy prices to fund more coal-fired power plants.

Responding to Marago’s resignation, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba urged Eskom to show bold leadership and consider changing its direction towards renewable sources of energy.

“We, as Christians, alongside other members of the faith communities, know we must seek justice and righteousness for all – all people and all of creation,” he said.

“We believe we have a responsibility to God and to future generations to care for this planet – our home – and not to put its well-being at risk because of short-term gain, or the idolatrous pursuit of money.

“Questions raised by many in the public arena remain unanswered – questions about renewable energy and whether or not Eskom intends to move in that direction in a deliberate manner.”

The Archbishop welcomed the possibility of a government review into Eskom’s plans to raise electricity rates further, warning of their “certain impact on the poorest of the poor”.

Many questions remained, he said, about who should pay for South Africa’s energy.

He went on to urge Eskom to “be sensitive to what is renewable energy and what is not”, and take “bold and courageous action”.

He reminded the utility of the responsibility given to man by God to be ‘stewards’ of creation.

“I realise that there is tremendous, and often unrealistic, pressure on Eskom to solve all the problems ‘right now’,” said the Archbishop.

“I hope that Eskom’s new leadership will consider carefully alternative sources of energy which may ‘seem’ more expensive but which will represent huge savings for our planet – and all who inhabit it.”