Dustup over clean coal
SOUTH AFRICA - South African energy needs highlight the challenge presented by fueling a growing economy while at the same time protecting the environment, analysts observe.
South African public utility company Eskom said it would boost its prices by more than 75 percent and look to the World Bank for US $3.75 billion in loans to build a new coalfired power plant to feed a growing economy. The move puts opponents and advocates at odds, the UNs humanitarian news agency IRIN reports.
The World Bank points to green incentives in the package and the employment of socalled clean coal as a reason to move forward with the plan.
The World Bank loan includes funding for wind and solarenergy projects. While carbonbased energy projects may not provide longterm environmental benefits, Mike Kantey, a development expert at the Coalition Against Nuclear Energy, argues coal may be the cheapest pragmatic shortterm solution to the problem.
U.S. lawmakers complained, however, that the new 4,800megawatt plant will be a significant source of carbon emissions from South Africa.
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