Labour row halts Medupi construction

Eskom's Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

Eskom's Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

Published Apr 13, 2015

Share

Johannesburg - Thousands of workers at Eskom’s Medupi power plant stayed away from work on Monday to protest the firing of some of their colleagues, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said.

Labour disruptions and technical faults have increased costs at Eskom's Medupi coal-fired plant, expected to start generating 800 megawatts of extra electricity by July.

“The site is not operational and there is no work being done. We are currently in negotiations with contractors and Eskom,” said Steve Nhlapo, the head of collective bargaining for Numsa.

Once fully complete, the long-delayed power plant would become South Africa's first new power station to come online in 20 years and help to address a chronic supply shortage.

Reuters

Related Topics: