Hearings on Eskom prices continue

050910 Electricity pylons carry power from Cape Town's Koeberg nuclear power plant July 17, 2009. South Africa will need 20 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation capacity by 2020 and would require double that amount a decade later to meet rising demand, the country's power utility said September 7, 2009. Picture taken July 17, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA ENERGY BUSINESS)

050910 Electricity pylons carry power from Cape Town's Koeberg nuclear power plant July 17, 2009. South Africa will need 20 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation capacity by 2020 and would require double that amount a decade later to meet rising demand, the country's power utility said September 7, 2009. Picture taken July 17, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA ENERGY BUSINESS)

Published Jan 30, 2013

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Johannesburg - Public hearings into Eskom's proposed electricity price increases will continue at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Wednesday.

Eskom has applied to raise electricity prices by 16 percent per year over the next five years.

Eskom estimates it will need R1.1-trillion for its infrastructure maintenance, staff cost and growth.

Earthlife Africa activists plan to protest over the hike opposite the main entrance of Gallagher Estates at 8.30am.

At 10am, members from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa plan to protest as well.

At a recent hearing in Durban, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa warned that as many as 35 000 people in the sugar cane industry could lose their jobs if the increase were to go ahead.

The South African Cane Growers' Association said the increase could result in the closure of four mills. - Sapa

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