No new coal

Ronald Mhlakaza

Name: Ronald Mhlakaza

Date: 21 August 2024

Place: Kwa-Guqa area

Municipality: Emalahleni Municipality

Province: Mpumalanga

 

No new Coal

A new case has been opened against (the DMRE)Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and (NERSA)National Energy Regulator of South Africa, the Case has been opened by Groundwork, African Climate Alliance, Vukani_Environmental_Movement. They were gathered outside Pretoria high court as these three Organisations came together to fight what is not right, due to no new coal because the life span of coal power stations is ending. They are too old now to continue to produce energy. How we create energy is killing us, it has a lot of negative health impacts on our lives, and the energy is too expensive and unreliable. For these reasons, we are saying no new Coal, let us use an alternative energy source which is Solar energy and wind turbine Energy. We want affordable and reliable energy. Social ownership is part of the policy and we want inclusiveness and transparency within the energy system.

All this happened in Pretoria High Court where these three Organisations came together. They have gathered to support their legal team by demonstrating peacefully, holding their placards which were written different messages outside Pretoria High Court.

It happened on 19th August 2024, but it will be an ongoing case till the judgment has been passed. Hoping that the court will see facts about why these three Organisations came together and are complaining about.

People who are most affected, lower class communities and coal affected Communities in the Mpumalanga area. Emalahleni Coal is extracted at Emalahleni, and Energy is produced at Emalahleni Mpumalanga, but these communities are the most affected by coal and Energy where coal is expensive, Energy is expensive and the negative impacts of coal affect everyone in South Africa. We are affected by the decisions that are being taken on our behalf that need to stop now.

Three Organisations came together and discussed the announcement of two new coal-fired power stations that were supposed to be built, the new 1500 MW of coal here in Emalahleni and the other one in Liphalale. It is taken from IRP 2019, these three Organisations came together to say no to new Coal.

To take immediate steps to protect the rights of the mining affected Communities and youth by abandoning the plans to develop 1500MW of new coal-fired power station, to increase more public investments and private investments into Renewable energy alternatives, working together with relevant stakeholders to create and implement sustainable policies for South African Energy, prohibit mining in places where it might violate human rights or cause substantial harm to the environment on which communities depends, empower young people to contribute in shaping energy policies and decisions that affect them.

These three Organisations came to a decision that they would influence the different community, Organisations to come and join the fight because this decision by DMRE and NERSA is going to affect all of us, and they have already started by demonstrating outside the court it means more of this March will be happening to support the campaign