/ 21 April 2008

ANC calls for urgent energy-crisis summit

A national energy summit must be convened with immediate effect to address the current electricity crisis, the African National Congress (ANC) said after a national working committee meeting on Monday.

The meeting — which was also attended by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin — was held to discuss the crisis and proposals for a tariff increase.

”The meeting made significant progress in identifying some of the key challenges in tackling this crisis and the principal issues that should guide the country’s approach to electricity tariffs,” the ANC said.

It was agreed that a national energy summit needed to be held as a matter of urgency and a task team would be established to consider various options in preparation for the summit.

”The ANC remains committed to finding solutions that serve the interests of the South African people, particularly workers and the poor, and which assist the process of economic growth, job creation and development,” the ruling party said. — Sapa