YOUR story on the low, low price BHP Billiton is paying Eskom for the massive quantities of electricity it uses in its aluminium smelters raises two further questions (Opposition parties irate at Eskom’s BHP deal, September 12). The first is: does this rate also apply to the power Eskom sells to BHP Billiton’s Mozal 1 and Mozal 2 plants in Mozambique?

The second question is: does Eskom pay full market rates for the coal it buys from BHP Billiton, its largest supplier of thermal coal?

I’m sure the companies which do not receive an effective 80% discount on their electricity bills would be comforted to learn that Eskom is getting a really good deal from BHP Billiton, although an 80% discount on coal purchases may be too much to hope for.

Michael Bagraim

President of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry