ID OBJECTS TO ENERGY BUDGET VOTE
26 MAY 2010-Honourable Speaker, the ID is forced to rise in objection to this energy budget vote.
LANCE GREYLING, MP
Honourable Speaker, the ID is forced to rise in objection to this energy budget vote.
We do this because we believe that this Department should be taking the lead in setting a progressive agenda for our energy future over the next 20 years.
Instead what we have witnessed is that the capacity of this Department has not been adequately built and that it is woefully understaffed.
Key priorities like energy efficiency, which should be one of our greatest national priorities, is being driven by a National Energy Efficiency Agency with a staff component of only two people and no money to drive through its programmes.
The much-needed Integrated Energy Plan that the Department was supposed to have drawn up in terms of the National Energy Act is also way behind schedule, as previously no budget was allocated to set up the necessary modelling capacity.
Instead the Department is trying to fast-track a second Integrated Resource Plan for the country, with very little time being given for public consultation, or proper modelling of all the different parameters as stipulated in the National Energy Act.
We cannot develop a plan for our energy future over the next 20 years in such a manner.
It is for this reason that the ID feels compelled to object to this budget vote until such time as we feel confident that the Department of Energy is sufficiently empowered and committed to developing energy plans and policies that are truly in the best interest of all South Africans.
The ID does not support this budget.
I thank you.
For media enquiries, please call Lance Greyling on 083 298 8553
Honourable Speaker, the ID is forced to rise in objection to this energy budget vote.
We do this because we believe that this Department should be taking the lead in setting a progressive agenda for our energy future over the next 20 years.
Instead what we have witnessed is that the capacity of this Department has not been adequately built and that it is woefully understaffed.
Key priorities like energy efficiency, which should be one of our greatest national priorities, is being driven by a National Energy Efficiency Agency with a staff component of only two people and no money to drive through its programmes.
The much-needed Integrated Energy Plan that the Department was supposed to have drawn up in terms of the National Energy Act is also way behind schedule, as previously no budget was allocated to set up the necessary modelling capacity.
Instead the Department is trying to fast-track a second Integrated Resource Plan for the country, with very little time being given for public consultation, or proper modelling of all the different parameters as stipulated in the National Energy Act.
We cannot develop a plan for our energy future over the next 20 years in such a manner.
It is for this reason that the ID feels compelled to object to this budget vote until such time as we feel confident that the Department of Energy is sufficiently empowered and committed to developing energy plans and policies that are truly in the best interest of all South Africans.
The ID does not support this budget.
I thank you.
For media enquiries, please call Lance Greyling on 083 298 8553
