As Eskom Holdings prepares to talk to investors about plans to address a multibillion-dollar debt load, the performance of the company’s bonds already suggests some skepticism from bondholders. The yield premium of Eskom’s 2028 dollar bonds without a government guarantee over those with state backing has widened almost 50 basis points since the beginning of October to the most in four months. The state-owned electricity company has 402 billion rand ($26 billion) of debt, of which about 70% is guaranteed by the government.
Energy and chemicals groups Sasol aims to begin producing 6 t/d of green hydrogen at its facility in Sasolburg by 2023, VP for climate change Shamini Harrington reports. In a presentation delivered during the Africa Green Hydrogen Forum, Harrington said that the green hydrogen would be produced using a combination of 60 MW of renewable electricity and existing assets, including existing electrolyser assets.
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Business School has introduced a new stream in its existing Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Management in the field of Energy Leadership, which offers a specialisation in electricity. Additionally, the South African-German Energy Programme and Capacitates for the Energy Transition (SAGEN-CET), a programme implemented by German development agency GIZ, is offering a limited number of bursaries for students who choose the electricity stream course as part of their PGDip at Wits Business School.
As Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) head for another legal showdown, attention has turned to the legality and practicality of the regulator’s “preferred option” and timetable for ensuring that a tariff determination is made in time for implementation on April 1 next year. In a letter to Eskom, dated November 12, Nersa outlined four options, including:
South Africa’s position in driving the continent’s transition to renewable energy has been confirmed with the launch of the first ever Solar Power Africa trade show. Organised by Messe Frankfurt, in partnership with the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), Solar Power Africa 2022 is the first event of its kind dedicated solely to solar power and energy storage and is expected to attract over 100 exhibitors.
Independent power producer Earth & Wire has signed a letter of intent to launch a co-development cooperation programme with wind power manufacturer Vestas as a a key part in the overall development Earth & Wire’s portfolio of renewable energy projects in South Africa. The portfolio comprises wind, solar, biomethanol and green hydrogen, battery storage and biomass project opportunities.