Agriculture
Electricity hike cushioned slightly by agri diesel rebate─── SABRINA DEAN 19:02 Wed, 01 Apr 2015
Bloemfontein - With Eskom’s power tariff set to increase by 12,69% as of today, the impact is likely to hit various agriculture sector roleplayers hard.
Free State Agriculture’s Operations Manager Jack Armour says the union was involved with discussions regarding the National Energy Regulator of SA’s multi-year price determination strategy, announced in October last year.
He says, however, there were no public consultations regarding the change from 8% to 12,69%. He says the impact will be especially big on those involved in intensive agriculture:
'Jack Armour - electricity hike'
On the upside, though, is news that organised agriculture was able to lobby for an increased diesel rebate for farmers.
Armour explains the negotiation was necessitated after Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene earlier this year announced that taxes on fuel would increase by 80,5c as of 1 April. He says the rebate amounts to R2,50, on 80% of the total eligible purchases of fuel for agricultural uses:
'Jack Armour - diesel rebate'
Sabrina Dean/OFM
'Jack Armour - electricity hike':
'Jack Armour - diesel rebate':
