Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday said it was planning mass protest action over Eskom’s decision to mothball five power stations in the next five years to make room for independent power producers (IPPs).  

In an effort to “save” the state-owned power utility from bankruptcy and privatisation, as well as to prevent the loss of up to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, the union said it would mobilise all its members across the mining, energy and construction sectors and society at large to protest against the signing of the inclusion of more IPPs into the national grid.  “We are going to go on strike, because this is a war we must win,” vowed NUM president Piet Matosa.  The power stations to be shut down are Hendrina, Kriel, Komati, Grootvlei and Camden.  

The NUM’s threat comes after high-profile protest action undertaken by the Coal Transportation Forum on 1 March led to roads in Pretoria being blockaded.

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
• See too, NUM plans mass protests to prevent IPPs at Eskom, at BusinessLive
• And also, NUM threatens strike at Eskom over plant closures, at Business Report

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