POLITICS

Eskom: ISMO Bill needs to be re-introduced urgently - Lance Greyling

DA MP says ANC alliance partners cannot be allowed to hold our economy to ransom

Minister must set deadline to reintroduce the ISMO Bill

06 August 2014

The DA challenges the Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to set a deadline for tabling the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill before Parliament. 

Should the Minister fail to announce a date for tabling the Bill before Parliament, the DA will fight for the reintroduction of the Bill as a Private Member's Bill in Parliament so to start the much needed reform of the energy sector. 

This follows reports of a mooted partial privatisation of Eskom by Cabinet Ministers and government officials advocating for the unbundling and partial privatisation of Eskom, which will allow for more independent power producers within the energy sector, increase competition and create jobs for the unemployed - particularly in the green energy sector. 

The DA has always advocated for the private sector to play a greater role in resolving our energy crisis, and for Eskom's monopoly stranglehold of the sector to finally be broken. This will in turn lead to an inflow of much needed investment into the sector while fostering greater efficiencies, increased competition, and a possible reduction in administered prices.

It will also provide the South African economy with the energy it needs to achieve greater levels of growth and job creation.

The Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill which was originally placed before Parliament in 2013, will remove the operations of the transmission grid from Eskom, thereby creating a more level playing field for Independent Power Producers to compete with Eskom. 

Unfortunately the passing of the bill has consistently been delayed through the internal ideological machinations of the ANC. It was moved below the line on Parliament's Order Paper last year, effectively preventing it from being debated and passed by the last Parliament. 

Recently, during the State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma committed to bring the Bill back to Parliament so as to pass and implement its provisions. 

The Minister must thus immediately announce when the Department intends on tabling the Bill before Parliament and deliver on government's stated intention.

Already the plan to reform the energy sector has come under attack from members and affiliates of the tripartite alliance. Yesterday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) pledged to " vehemently oppose any attempts to privatise parts of Eskom..."

This is yet another example of the connected few in the tripartite alliance continuing to act against the interest of all South Africans by attempting to block crucial reform of the electricity sector. It also points to the need for the government to develop an end state vision for the electricity sector, which we can all work towards achieving despite the protestations of various parties with vested interests. 

ANC alliance partners cannot be allowed to hold our economy to ransom.

The DA will continue to fight for the introduction of the ISMO Bill and the introduction of private players into the energy sector for the benefit of all.

Statement issued by Lance Greyling MP, DA Shadow Minister of Energy, August 6 2014

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