South African energy contractors accused of stealing coal and shipping it to Europe – Should it be?
Essays by Eric Worrall
First published JoNova; How low will they go? Europe is accused of receiving stolen shipments of high-quality coal from Africa, while it push Africa to embrace useless renewable energy sources that have failed to supply Europe’s energy needs.
Press play on the video above. Still images don’t fully convey the sheer scale of the alleged coal theft, the convoy going and going.
JoNova has a more complete article on the desperate state of the South African energy system, rampant corruption and blackouts. The tweet above is from JoNova’s post.
The following is a story that attests to widespread criminal activity in the supply chain network of Eskom Energy Company.
Eskom truck driver’s arrest hints at criminal grip on SA .’s coal value chain
Via David McKay
November 23, 2022THE The arrest of a coal lorry driver highlights the extent of problems Eskom faces as it seeks to stem corruption that it says is costing the country billions of rand.
The Government-owned company detailed how security services arrested a contract worker who attempted to transport shoddy coal to their Camden power plant. Coal shipped to Eskom must meet specific size, moisture and energy specifications in order to burn with correct efficiency.
According to Eskom, the driver worked for a coal transportation company contracted by Eskom. He left the Msimbithi coal mine in Wonderfontein, Mpumalanga province with coal of the correct size, which he then exchanged for inferior quality coal at an illegal coal yard. Good coal will be exchanged for profit at a later stage.
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“Coal theft is a highly organized criminal activity and the corporations involved are making a fortune with the proceeds of the stolen coal trade,” Eskom said.
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The independent corruption investigation that one of the tweets called for may be far from coming. Old President Zuma disbanded South Africa’s notoriously impregnable anti-corruption unit over a decade ago, while they were investigating the President for alleged corruption. I’m not sure what if something replaces the disbanded anti-corruption unit, but I guess any replacement won’t work as well as the old one.
Of course, corrupt African countries are not the only places where federal police are accused of serving interests other than their sworn duty to obey the law.
Europe may not have created this latest round of corruption and chaos in South Africa, but if there is any truth to this claim that Europe is taking advantage of Africa, adding to its corruption Africa by receiving goods stolen from Africa to support the faltering European economies, I guess it won’t be the first time.
Update (EW): Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter resigned on December 15. The following description of his resignation sheds more light on the energy nightmare situation in South Africa;
Eskom CEO quits: why finding a new head for South Africa’s struggling power company won’t end blackouts
Published: December 16, 2022 1:32 a.m. AEDT
David Richard Walwyn
Professor of Technology Management, University of PretoriaFor a multitude of reasons, Eskom’s CEO, Andre de Ruyter, resignation is a major obstacle for the state utility and South Africa. It comes at a time when the utility creates 95% electricity domestic use, need stable leadership.
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Behind the resignation
De Ruyter won’t have to think long about his resignation. At the top of my list is lack of political support, with Energy Secretary Gwede Mantashe accusation Eskom treason, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan failed to protect him or respect his authority.
No executive of a state-owned organization, especially one besieged by crime, can function effectively without political support, regardless of loyalty. management team or board sentiment.
The second reason for my affirmation that De Ruyter will not have to think long about his decision is that Eskom has lost control of its power plants to criminal elements and “merchants”. those involved in malfunction and intentional vandalism to earn higher maintenance and other fees from the utility. drain plug remove from the motor housing, cut the cable, coal theft and diesel oildeath threats against the station manager, are all examples in a long list of cases awaiting police investigation.
Furthermore, law enforcement is doing little to control crime. There is no conviction.
My Last Reason is De Ruyter’s vision for a future, greener Eskom not shared by his board or ministers. South Africans need to be reminded of the current state of Eskom’s environmental emissions.
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