Plans by a Turkish company to generate electricity along the South African coastline, have been dealt a blow.
Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy has declined the Karpowerships’ appeal to operate in Saldanha Bay, Coega and Richards Bay.
The company had planned to place its ships off the coast of these three towns to produce electricity from liquefied natural gas.
One of the main reasons why the earlier decision was upheld is because small-scale fishers were not properly consulted.
Environmentalists had concerns about these plans, saying they would harm the ocean.
The Green Connection’s Liz McDaid says Creecy’s decision is correct.
“We don’t think Karpowership is the solution for the energy crisis, and we believe that Karpowership would have held a huge risk for the livelihoods of fishers along the coast. I think it’s important to note and appreciate that the Minister has now upheld the constitutional right to an environment that’s not harmful”.
