Power generation, while remaining South Africa’s largest barrier to economic growth, provides piped natural gas supplier Egoli Gas with a significant opportunity to provide more piped natural gas for the local industry, says Egoli Gas MD Vishal Pooran. “We are all aware of the current challenges regarding the inconsistent electricity supply from power utilities. Government has already licensed and granted approval on embedded generation of up to 10 MW without having to obtain Ministerial approval.”
A decrease in oil demand and, consequently, in prices last year because of Covid-19 also resulted in lower prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Business research consultancy Birguid associate researcher Patience Panashe argues that LNG buyers can take advantage of this to import LNG into South Africa at lower prices. “Inexpensive oil could have a dampening effect on all energy prices. LNG is a buyer’s market currently, especially with a glut of LNG on the market.”
Independent power generation company Globeleq and renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) Sturdee Energy Southern Africa have been awarded preferred bidder status for two 15 MW projects in the first tranche eSwatini’s procurement programme for new renewable generation capacity. Globeleq says it welcomes the opportunity to support the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority strategy to increase domestic power generation and reduce reliance on imported power.
State-owned energy research organisation the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) on April 22 said the results of an independent study of two sites in KwaZulu-Natal have confirmed the benefits of passive cooling, also called cool surfaces. This has further motivated SANEDI to continue promoting cool surfaces as an energy-efficient alternative to mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has encouraged African countries to sustain Covid-19 prevention measures and urged countries not to let their guards down as the world races to vaccinate their populations. Moeti said on Thursday that despite the challenges and stories circulating about the vaccine, people must have confidence in the WHO guidance.
South Africa’s Nedbank Group released an ambitious new energy policy on April 22, containing a commitment to reduce its exposure to all fossil fuels to zero by 2045, as well as a pledge to halt all new thermal coal-mine financing by January 1, 2025. Simultaneously, Nedbank said it would scale up its renewable-energy commitments, announcing a target for R2-billion-worth of embedded-generation financing by 2022, in addition to the R50-billion limits already committed to South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which resumed this month following a seven-year interruption.
Diversified miner Exxaro Resources has elected the group’s climate change specialist Dr Lerato Khumalo as vice-chairperson for the Industry Task Team on Climate Change (ITTCC). The voluntary, nonprofit association comprises several local energy-intensive companies across different business sectors, including the likes of Exxaro, Sasol and Anglo American, which will collaborate to reduce South Africa’s carbon footprint.
As countries continue their progress in transitioning to clean energy, global economic body the World Economic Forum (WEF) says it is critical over the next decade to root the transition in economic, political and social practices to ensure progress is irreversible. The energy transition requires a full transformation of the global energy, economic and social system, beginning now, as the next decade is crucial to delivering on climate goals, it states.
In this article, South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli writes about the South African wind energy sector’s role on the road to a net zero carbon economy by 2050. Following the release of the Global Wind Energy Council’s ‘Global Wind Report 2021’, the buzz in the sector is around reaching net zero carbon economies. This is not surprising as the council’s annual flagship dossier sets the tone in preparation for the 2021 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s twenty-sixth Conference of Parties, also known as COP26, and highlights wind power’s role on the road to net zero carbon economy by 2050.
Civil society organisations are calling for public hearings into the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to include projects by Karpowership among the preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers (RMIPPP). Environmental justice organisation the Green Connection says it has been very vocal, adding its voice to the public outcry, amid concerns about the choice of emergency power, which will see South Africa tied to fossil fuels for another 20 years.
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