S Africa MPs debate energy crisis

By Peter Greste
BBC News, Johannesburg

Power cuts mean boxes are packed outside flower shop cold rooms

The South African parliament has begun a special session to discuss the electricity crisis.

State electricity company Eskom began a series of rolling blackouts last week and cut power to most mines as demand outstripped supply.

Economists have also warned that the crisis could seriously disrupt South Africa's economic growth forecasts.

Minerals and Energy Minister Bujelwa Sonjica opened the at-times acrimonious parliamentary debate.

To boos and jeers, she formally apologised for the crisis which, she acknowledged, was the result of poor planning and a lack of foresight.

SUGGESTIONS TO CUT CONSUMPTION Taking showers rather than baths Using energy-efficient lightbulbs Going to bed early

She blamed unprecedented and unexpected economic growth of over 7% for the past few years, and a lack of interest by the private sector in taking up some of the country's generating capacity.

But she stopped short of offering to resign, as the opposition demanded.

Instead, she turned to solutions.

South Africa has been generating new electricity - but not enough

The government has asked for every South African household and business to cut consumption by 10%.

And she offered a list of 10 suggestions to help, including taking showers rather than baths, using energy-efficient lightbulbs, and going to bed early.

That was an idea that drew howls of protest from opposition benches.

The special session came at the end of two weeks of some of the most serious blackouts by the state electricity producer in the country's history.

Eskom predicts that there will be shortages for at least the next five years, and economists say that could drag growth below 3%.