Due to improper public engagement, one of South Africa’s highest courts on Wednesday revoked a government permission that permitted state utility Eskom to construct a sizable natural gas-fired power plant. Following years of power outages, the government intends to increase the nation’s generating capacity and move away from coal with the construction of a 3,000-megawatt plant in the east coast port city of Richards Bay.
The Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling stated, “The effect of this order is that the authorisation is a nullity.” “This will necessitate a fresh application by Eskom for authorisation once the required public participation has taken place.” The result, which is in line with earlier decisions, starts a fresh case against energy corporations that did not adequately consult impacted communities when requesting permits to conduct offshore oil and gas exploration. The first liquefied natural gas import terminal in South Africa will be situated at Richards Bay, the same area where the Eskom gas plant is planned to be constructed.
The appeal court’s ruling was applauded by environmental organisations that had contested the authorisation that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment had given to Eskom. “People who have lived alongside Eskom’s facilities will suffer from the… high levels of pollution,” stated Desmond D’Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, one of the applicants in the case, in a statement. “Eskom has been a state (business) that has gotten away with injustices for too long.” When contacted by Reuters, representatives for the environment department and Eskom declined to respond right away.
Edited by: Matlala Kgaugelo
