Iron-ore billionaire sets sights on reviving Congo’s hydro vision

Iron-ore magnate Andrew Forrest is looking to help revive a long-delayed multi-billion dollar hydroelectric project in Africa as part of his strategy to move into green energy. His Fortescue Metals Group has held talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for exclusive rights to develop the Grand Inga suite of projects, the Perth-based company said in a statement Tuesday, although no formal binding agreement had been yet concluded.
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Reinvestment in South Africa needed to ‘plant the seeds’ for a better future, says Exxaro

Reinvestment is needed to “plant the seeds” and create a better future for South Africa, says diversified miner Exxaro Resources projects and technology executive head Johan Meyer. This is especially critical considering that Covid-19 has made it more challenging to secure investments, but also when taking South Africa’s energy and electricity supply challenges into account.
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Globeleq starts building 19 MW solar plant in Cuamba, Mozambique

Independent power producer (IPP) Globeleq, together with State-owned utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and Source Energia, has started construction of a 19 MW solar photovoltaic plant, in Mozambique.

The Cuamba solar plant also has a 2 MW storage system and will contribute to Mozambique achieving its universal energy access by 2030 goal.

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Sudan says it is open to conditional interim deal on Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Sudan is open to a partial interim agreement on Ethiopia’s multibillion-dollar Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, on specific conditions, Irrigation Minister Yasir Abbas told a news conference on Monday. The conditions include the signing-off of everything that has already been agreed on in negotiations between both countries and Egypt; provisions to ensure that the talks continue even after the filling scheduled for July; and the negotiations adhering to a timetable, Abbas said.
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DNG seeks to interdict winners of South African power tender

A losing bidder in a South African tender for the provision of 2 000 MW of power is seeking to interdict the winners from completing their agreements. The application to South Africa’s High Court by DNG Energy threatens to halt the provision of electricity needed to ease recurrent outages in Africa’s most industrialized economy and imperils investment estimated by the government at at least R45-billion.
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Freeing up electricity generation could boost economic growth, says TIPS

The latest economic data highlights that both economic growth and employment have not recovered to pre-Covid-19 levels; however, economic recovery should be boosted by government’s announcement to free up electricity generation, Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies’ (TIPS’s) first-quarter Real Economy Bulletin (REB) for 2021 indicates. The REB represents a deep dive into the latest economic data.
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Fluor repositions South African unit to support energy transition drive

Global engineering and construction company Fluor, which has been closely associated with South Africa’s liquid fuels and chemicals industries since the 1960s, has restructured its South African operations to align with the unfolding transitions under way in the energy and mining sectors. Fluor South Africa GM Bill Langenbach tells Engineering News that the domestic restructuring is fully calibrated with the American multinational’s broader reorientation to provide professional and technical solutions for accelerating global urbanisation, as well as energy transitions that are supportive of a shift to net-zero carbon emissions. Fluor itself is aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2023.
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Infrastructure and import substitution at heart of new master plan’s vision for steel revival

A new master plan aimed at stabilising South Africa’s steel industry and creating a platform for the revival of the country’s embattled downstream steel fabricators was signed by representatives from business, labour and government on Friday. The ceremony, which took place amid the constant hum of heavy machinery at Hall Longmore’s factory in Wadeville, in Gauteng, was address by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, who said a new partnership was required if South Africa was to rebuild a “strong, competitive and job-rich steel industry”.
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University spinoff company develops energy, water efficiency solution for schools

Stellenbosch University (SU) spinoff company GreenX Engineering’s initiatives to help equip Cloetesville Primary School, in Stellenbosch, with energy-saving technology ensured that it became the first school in South Africa to receive an electrical performance certificate (EPC). The school received an A-rating for the electrical consumption of the system, with 17 kWh/m2.
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DTIC says to resolve Atlantis SEZ challenges

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has committed to resolving the challenges flagged by investors during a site visit to the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ), in the Western Cape, earlier this week, Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina says. Major challenges faced by investors in the renewable energy sector that are located in the SEZ were highlighted during the visit, including concerns around policy uncertainty surrounding the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and speeding up the process of the Bid Window 5 implementation, as well as local content manufacturing on designated steel products.
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