Eskom ponders options for debt recovery from Emfuleni municipality

Power utility Eskom has won a summary judgment against the Emfuleni local municipality for R1.3-billion, which the municipality owes the State-owned entity for unpaid bulk electricity services in 2019.

The R1.3-billion was part of a total debt of R1.9-billion, which the local government had accumulated in 2019.

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Western Cape launches renewable energy planning fund

The Western Cape provincial government has launched its Municipal Energy Resilience Fund (MERF), which will make nearly R13-million available to qualifying municipalities for research and planning for renewable energy projects.

This should help mitigate load-shedding in the province, the provincial government states.

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Organisations raise concern over lack of public participation in nuclear energy talks

Societal wellbeing organisations the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (Safcei) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg have expressed their concern about the South African government pushing for more nuclear energy, while renewables wait in the wings.

The two organisations took the government to court in 2017 over what it deemed an unconstitutional R1-trillion nuclear deal with Russia.

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RMB launches ESG-risk-measuring platforms to support sustainable investing

Financial services provider Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank, has launched environmental, social and governance- (ESG-) measuring platforms – ESGo! and ESGNow.

The platforms are envisaged to drive sustainable finance by offering client interfaces that enable more informed investment decisions when it comes to ESG considerations.

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DNG Energy seeks to postpone South Africa emergency power case

A losing bidder in a South African tender for the provision of 2 000 MW of power is asking for the postponement of a court case where it’s seeking for the award of the bulk of that contract to Turkey’s Karpowership to be halted. In the case, due to be heard from Sept. 9, DNG Energy has alleged corruption on behalf of government officials in favoring Karpowership for the provision of gas-fired power plants. DNG maintains it should have been awarded the rights to build three power plants.
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Public Works to release RFI in development of green energy, resource efficiency drive

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) plans to release a request for information (RFI) for the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme (iREREP) on September 20, to garner ideas and information into ways to deliver mutual value through strong partnerships across government and the private sector.

The department, as the largest landlord and facilities manager in the country, says it has a responsibility to not only deliver and manage quality infrastructure, but to combat climate change and sustainable development through its mandate, such as providing buildings for government service delivery.

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