SOUTH AFRICA’S National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) slammed renewable energy privatisation yesterday, saying it would cost tens of thousands of jobs.

ANC-allied federation Cosatu spoke out over staterun electricity firm Eskom’s plans to close five of its own power stations to make way for contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

President Jacob Zuma announced the fast-tracking of deals between the parastatal power company and renewable energy-producing IPPs in his state of the nation address last month.