Eskom set to halve FY loss to R9bn, but R392bn debt remains ‘unsustainable’

State-owned electricity utility Eskom expects to cut its full-year loss to R9.1-billion in 2021/22, from R18.9-billion in 2020/21, but warns that its debt position remains unsustainable despite some positive financial momentum during the six months to September 30, including a reduction in its overall debt to R392-billion. CEO André de Ruyter reported on Thursday that Eskom made a R9.2-billion profit during the first half of its financial year, on the back of higher tariffs (15.06%) and sales volumes (8%) and reduced costs (R20-billion in savings targeted).
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Eskom to release Mpumalanga land to catalyse investments in sub-100 MW renewables projects

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced that Eskom is preparing to release land in the coal-rich Mpumalanga province for sub-100 MW distributed electricity projects that can now be built without a licence and wheel electricity through the grid for self-consumption, or for sale to third-party consumers. Speaking during the State-owned utility’s interim results presentation, Gordhan said that Eskom owned about 36 000 ha of unutilised land in Mpumalanga, including in and around eMalahleni, which had also been designated as a Renewable Energy Development Zone.
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REIPPPP Bid Window 5 to provide important link in local value chain

Wind turbine original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Nordex Energy South Africa sees Bid Window 5 (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) as an important link in driving the local value chain, saying it will directly stimulate the domestic job market.

MD Compton Saunders says the wind power industry is expected to drive an estimated R40-billion of investment each year over the next decade, with a fairly large percentage to come from the economic benefits of stimulating the local value chain.

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DMRE releases Gas Masterplan base case report

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has released the Gas Masterplan base case report for public comment.

The Gas Masterplan, once developed, will serve as a policy instrument, providing a roadmap for taking strategic, political and institutional decisions, which will guide industry investment planning and coordinated implementation.

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Ellies reports first-half loss in earnings despite load-shedding boom

JSE-listed diversified electronic and alternative energy products manufacturer and distributor Ellies, impacted by global and local supply chain challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the July civil unrest and weak trading conditions, has reported a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of R19.5-million for the six months ended October 31.

This is attributable to a 38.2% decrease in gross profit when compared with the comparative reporting period of 2020.

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NRF boasts 230 kW grid-tied solar PV rooftop installation

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has installed a grid-tied rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at its Brummeria Building, in Pretoria, with the two 82.2 kW and one 50 kW inverters providing a combined alternating current capacity of 215.6 kW. The overall system has a direct current capacity of 230 kW.
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