Affordability concerns come to fore as Eskom outlines case for 20.5% hike

State-owned electricity utility Eskom has again insisted that its 2022/23 allowable revenue application, together with already approved regulatory clearing account (RCA) determinations, will translate to a hike of 20.5% in the standard tariff from April 1 if granted in full by the regulator. Speaking during the first day of public hearings into the single-year application, being adjudicated in line with a recent court judgment, Eskom CFO Calib Cassim said that the application did not include several other amounts that might be due to Eskom, but which had not yet been confirmed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) or settled through court processes.
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Africa Energy Indaba will showcase tech for uptake in rest of Africa

The Africa Energy Indaba (AEI), to be held on March 1 and 2, will showcase South Africa’s renewable energy competencies and present these as a model for the rest of Africa.

This will be in partnership with South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC), which has been a long-term strategic partner of the AEI.

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Eskom starts intensive maintenance programme at Koeberg Unit 2

Power utility Eskom has advised that Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station was taken offline on January 17 for refuelling and a five-month maintenance outage, which may strain overall electricity supply in the country.

The exercise will see the unit’s three steam generators replaced. The reactor pressure vessel head will also be replaced, with Eskom reporting that this will be a first for the plant.

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Eskom may get trial date for misleading air quality officer on emissions

Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s biggest polluter, may find out on March 25 when it will face a trial for allegedly supplying misleading information to a government air quality officer, exceeding emission limits at the Kendal coal-fired power plant and breaching its Atmospheric Emission License. In November 2020 the state utility said it would face the charges, which could be classified as criminal conduct, after a series of infractions at the 4 116 MW facility, which had its pollution abatement equipment damaged during a 2018 strike.
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