National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) wants SA out of loans provided by the JETP (Just Energy Transition Partnership).
The JETP has supported SA’s energy transition by R1, 5 trillion. About 81% of this amount is made up of loans.
Irvin Jim, General Secretary of NUMSA, says “we accept that we must transition away from coal to renewable energy because of the negative effects of climate change, but we are adamant that such a move must be at a pace, and a cost that the country can afford.”
NUMSA also said it supports renewable energy, provided it forms part of the energy mix, which includes coal and nuclear, “to ensure that we have guaranteed baseline energy supply, which will help us to drive our economic growth and development.”
The union mentioned 6 reasons why the Just Energy Transition has failed, calling the JETP investment plan, a debt trap, to be inherited by future generations.