afrol News, 7 March - The governing African National Congress (ANC) has reacted to an announcement by the national energy company [ESKOM] that the processing of applications of new developments requiring more than 100 kilovolt-amperes (kVA) would be delayed by four or six months.

Describing the announcement as "irresponsible", the ANC leadership urged that "every effort must be made to ensure that the current problems in electricity supply do not negatively affect the building of projects of this nature."

The energy company would honour the application of all projects approved before 14 February. However, all other projects such as new townhouse complexes, factories, petrol stations, among others, that were not approved before 14 February would have to wait until six months.

"Such delays could undermine efforts to grow the economy, and slow the rate of important capital investment," the party said, urging ESKOM to "reconsider this decision, and to engage with stakeholders to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in processing applications."

South Africa's looming energy crisis has negatively impacted on the economy and business. It was against this background that the country was forced to halt the importation of energy to its neighbours.

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Alec Erwin, has assured that the crisis would not affect economic growth.

But ESKOM's latest announcement has been met with swift response from the business and
construction companies. They feared the delay could cause significant damage to the economy, particularly business and construction industry in the future.

South Africans were asked to go to bed early and boil less water to save energy. Consumers of the commercial capital Johannesburg have been experiencing load shedding.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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