Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
23 May 2023 | 19:20 CAT

Image: Centre for Environmental Rights

Karpowership was given mooring rights for SA ports already three months ago. This is according to the Transport Department despite significant opposition from environmental groups. It is believed Karpowership has secured government permission to moor its ship-mounted power plants.

Karpowership, the Turkish company seeking to supply electricity to South Africa, secured government permission to moor its ship-mounted power plants at three of the country’s harbours, the north-eastern port of Richards Bay and the western port of Saldanha. A 450MW plant is slated for the Port of Ngqura.

The Green Connection and fishing communities have been fighting the decision from the beginning in all three harbours with solid opposition from Saldanha Bay.

Community Outreach Coordinator for the Green Connection, Neville Van Rooy, spoke to Radio Islam International. He said anglers in Saldanha Bay have specifically voiced concerns about groundwater noise modelling and pointed out that the area in the port that Karpowership will occupy is a historical fishing and breathing zone.

According to Van Rooy, Karpowership came with other concerns amongst controversial issues regarding generational lights, bidder status, and climate concerns. He raised concerns over the last rights of people’s indigenous fishing rights that have been threatened.

“We cannot, will not accept karpowership which will not address the loadshedding and electricity crisis that we are in as a country and will continue to oppose this,” he says.

Meanwhile, Van Rooy described the announcement from the minister to grant Karpowership access to the country’s ports as not much of concern.

“We know according to the National Environmental Management Act and other legislation, there needs to be full consultation processes to have a big project that will be in our country for 20 years which has not been completed. We are therefore not concerned and will continue to oppose the power ships in our harbours,” he says.

Listen to the full interview with host Annisa Essack on Radio Islam’s podcast.