DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 1644
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17 June 2011
1644. Mr N S Nhanha (Cope) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:
Whether his department will disclose details of the violent strikes that erupted at the Kusile and Medupi Power Plants in May 2011; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many working hours were lost, (b) what was the total cost of the strike, (c) what damage was caused by protestors and (d) how will the strikes affect the project deadlines? NW1851E
REPLY
The striking workers at both Medupi and Kusile power stations were not Eskom's employees but those of the contractors on the sites.
MEDUPI POWER STATION
(a) A total of 627 000 man hours (equivalent to 69 667 man days) were lost.
(b) The total costs include both labour related costs and damage to the plant and buildings. The costs for labour downtime cannot be estimated at this time. The plant and buildings damaged are estimated at R4million and are covered by insurance taken out by the contractors as per normal course of business.
(c) The damage consisted of the burning of an office, a bus, and two cars; and in addition three cars were overturned.
(d) Based on the revised schedules submitted by the contractors, which have been reviewed and integrated by Eskom, the strike will have no impact on the delivery of the project.
KUSILE POWER STATION
(a) A total of 1 368 000 man hours (equivalent to 152 000 man days) were lost to date.
(b) The total costs include both labour related costs and damage to the plant and buildings. The costs for labour downtime cannot be estimated at this time. The plant and buildings damaged are estimated at R100million and are covered by insurance taken out by the contractors as per normal course of business.
(c) Eleven contractor vehicles, seven offices, two large mobile cranes, and the west wing of the KCW office block were set alight. In addition, vehicles were stoned, and offices and stores were looted.
(d) Based on the revised schedules submitted by the contractors for the critical paths, which have been reviewed and integrated by Eskom, the strike will have no impact on the delivery of the project.
Issued by Parliament, July 21 2011
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