Mantashe wants new energy council to speak as one, not as competitors

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has expressed optimism that the newly established Energy Council of South Africa will provide a platform for greater coordination and cohesion within the sector, which has hitherto approached government and debates on the energy transition as “competitors” rather than as a unified voice. The CEO-led council was officially launched on Tuesday and includes representatives from Eskom, Sasol, the Central Energy Fund, Anglo American Platinum, Exxaro, TotalEnergies South Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation, as well as Business Unity South Africa, the Black Business Council, the National Business Initiative, the South African Petroleum Industry Association, Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council and the Minerals Council South Africa.
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SANEA names 2021 Energy Awards winners

Industry association the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) has named the winners of the 2021 Energy Awards, who were acknowledged for their contribution to the energy sector and the country’s energy community. The Energy Shapeshifter award was awarded to Lethabo Manamela, the interim CEO of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).
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Wind, solar organisations form Global Renewable Energy Alliance

A new global renewable energy alliance between the wind energy and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries is calling on governments to implement energy transition action plans and cut red tape to meet net-zero targets. A joint study by industry organisations the Global Solar Council and the Global Wind Energy Council found that, by 2030, there will be a 29% shortfall in the projected wind and solar capacity required to keep the world on course to limit global warming to 1.5 ˚C above preindustrial levels and sustain a pathway to carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Grimbeek reappointed as SAWEA chair

Industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has announced the reappointment of Mercia Grimbeek as chair for a second two-year term. Grimbeek, who has served on the board of governance since 2018, has been part of South Africa’s renewable energy sector since its inception 11 years ago.
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Half of investors express intent to divest from companies not committed to improving ESG – PwC

Forty-nine per cent of investors surveyed by PwC have said they would consider divesting from companies that are not taking sufficient action on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

The ‘2021 Global Investor ESG Survey’ captured the views of 325 investors from around the world, primarily active asset managers and analysts with investment firms, investment banks or brokerage firms.

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South Africa secures commitments to mobilise R131bn in concessional climate financing

President Cyril Ramaphosa on November 2 announced that South Africa had signed a political declaration with the governments of France, Germany, the UK and the US, as well as the leadership of the European Union, to establish a partnership to mobilise an initial $8.5-billion, or R131-billion, over the next three to five years through a range of instruments, including grants and concessional finance, to support the implementation of South Africa’s revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) through a just transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. The Political Declaration represents a first-of-its kind partnership to turn these commitments into reality and a model for similar forms of collaboration globally.
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NBI study sees role for gas in South Africa’s transition to low-carbon economy

A new National Business Initiative (NBI) study offers support for gas as a transition fuel in South Africa’s shift from coal in the production of electricity and synthetic fuels (synfuels). The study stresses, however, that this role should be confined in the electricity sector to the provision of flexible balancing capacity for the country’s growing fleet of variable renewable-energy generators rather than to offer so-called baseload. In the manufacture of synfuels, meanwhile, it is regarded as a lower-carbon replacement for coal, until cleaner solutions, such as green hydrogen, are fully commercialised.
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Load-shedding to start this afternoon after Kusile unit tripped

Stage 2 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Tuesday afternoon until 05:00 on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, a generation unit at Kusile power station tripped, adding stress to the power system.
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Eskom to implement Stage 2 load-shedding from 16:00

Power utility Eskom will implement Stage 2 load-shedding from 16:00 on November 2 to 05:00 on November 3. This follows after a unit at the Kusile power station tripped on Tuesday afternoon. A unit each at the Matimba and Arnot power stations had also failed to return to service.
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Eskom warns of load-shedding threat

On Tuesday morning, Eskom warned that load-shedding may be implemented at short notice should any further breakdowns occur,  or should some of the generating units not return to service as expected. It asked that South Africans reduce their power use, as the electricity system is “severely constrained”.
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