Energy portfolio committee members against the decommissioning of coal power stations without a plan for surrounding communities

CAPE TOWN - Members of the electricity and energy portfolio committee are against the decommissioning of coal power stations without a plan for surrounding communities.

They also say international legislation on climate change and carbon emissions is "punitive" against developing countries, mostly on the continent.

The ministry on Wednesday briefed the committee on the country’s just energy transition to reduce carbon emissions, which means less coal.

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But African National Congress (ANC) MP Vusi Nkosi said that stopping coal-fired power stations would hurt communities.

"When the power stations close down, you must know that that town will be a ghost town, so I wasn’t really convinced. I was hoping the plan we have would cover all that."

Committee member Wayne Thring said international legislation could put the country at an economic disadvantage. 

"Legislation, which can also be punitive to our economy, and to some extent, act as trade barriers."