As over 30 000 National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members from the coal industry continue their strike for higher wages, industrialists are concerned that the strike could affect the country’s power supply.
Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe was cited by business daily, Business Report, as saying: “We have 30 days of stockpiles for all our coal-powered stations. Depending on how long the strike continues, we should be able to weather the storm. If the strike continues for longer, it will hamper our ability to supply power.”
In a statement on its website, NUM said its members had decided to stop working after talks between NUM and the Chamber of Mines failed to produce the desired outcome. Operations ground to a halt on Sunday.
One of the NUM’s demands is a pay hike of R1 000 for workers in the lowest paid category, while the employer is offering R300.
NUM’s Nelson Ratshoshi commented that members were well aware of the impact of the strike.
“It will affect investors because any strike will affect investors. Even now the country is facing a serious economic challenge,” he was quoted in an Eye Witness News report as saying.
Coal mining in South Africa produces enough coal to account for 94% of its energy production, according to information on the Chamber of Mines website. The coal mining industry directly employs close to 90 000 people and paid almost R19 billion in wages in 2014.
