ANA reports the National Union of Metalworkers of SA’s (Numsa’s) legal bid to prevent the Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe and Eskom from concluding agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) has been struck off the roll as the application was found to be not urgent.  

Numsa appeared before the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, asking it to block the signing of the deals until the court had heard an application by the Coal Transporters’ Forum, which has argued that a switch to renewable energy from coal-fired electricity will lead to job losses in linked sectors.  Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim argued that the deal would plunge Mpumalanga into a crisis because the majority of the industries depended on the existence of coal-fired power stations in the area.  The closure of five Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga would cause at least 30,000 job losses, the union said.  Numsa said it did not oppose renewable energy or an energy mix, but wanted a sector which is controlled and owned by workers and the community.

• Read this report by ANA and The Citizen reporter in full at The Citizen
• See too, Numsa loses bid to halt Energy Department’s deal with IPPs, at EWN
• And also, Numsa disappointed after court rules against them on IPPs, at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page