Tina drains MPs' energy

Angry MPs have berated the energy minister and her department for handling the electricity crisis in a slap-dash way.

Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson would be made to account for the poor standard of yesterday's presentation to the parliamentary portfolio committee on energy, vowed committee chairman and ANC MP Fikile Majola.

Majola said deputy director-general Omphi Aphane delivered an "underwhelming" presentation.

Said Majola: "We must keep the executive accountable in order to build public confidence that the energy crisis can be solved.

"For that, we need facts. I don't want underwhelming reports."

In his presentation, Aphane reiterated that 33% of SA's power-generation capability was lost to breakdowns at any given time.

He vowed that Eskom would do routine rather than "reactive" maintenance in the future and that it would run power plants at full blast on diesel power to make up for shortfalls. He also repeated plans to import gas, limit electricity consumption and co-generate electricity with municipalities and the private sector.

The lack of detail and the dearth of new plans angered MPs.

DA MP Gordon Mackay said: "This was an appalling presentation. If this is the plan, South Africans have every reason to be worried. So-called demand-side management means no economic growth, and further job losses.

"There are no implementation dates. There is no urgency. How will these so-called plans be paid for? When?

"What are the consequences if the plan is implemented? What are the consequences if not?"

MPs were especially infuriated that the department had only sent its presentation to them yesterday morning, leaving them no time to prepare for the meeting.

Furthermore, Joemat-Pettersson - who was last week told to attend the meeting - only informed Majola on Monday that she would be going to the Democratic Republic of Congo instead.

Said Mackay: "The minister seems unaware that she is accountable to parliament. She refuses to come here. She has not been here for six months."

Majola agreed, instructing the energy department and its minister to appear next week.