Brazil takes first step towards expanding its nuclear generation capacity

Brazil has begun the process of identifying new sites for new nuclear power plants. The first step was the recent signing of a cooperation agreement between the federal Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Centre for Electric Energy Research (acronymed to Cepel, in Portuguese). Brazil has one of the lowest carbon electricity generation systems in the world. This is the result of its very heavy dependence on hydroelectricity, which stood at 80% for many years. But by 2018 this figure had declined to 65%, entirely as a result of changes in rainfall patterns. Brazil thus needs to diversify its generation capacity while retaining its low level of carbon emissions.
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Calls for renewables rises as scrutiny increases on corporate power use – Wood Mackenzie

Flush with opportunity and the capital needed to move investment and merger and acquisition (M&A) strategies forward as the rush to decarbonise the global energy system heightens, corporate power and renewables companies need to prepare for rising near-term risk, says consultancy group Wood Mackenzie. The company says decarbonisation is the lynchpin of the global strategy to meet the 1.5 °C warming scenario influencing companies’ planning.
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Opinion: Localisation – beware unintended consequences

The growing consensus that localisation is some sort of silver bullet that will solve our economic and job creation woes is misplaced, writes Duferco Steel Processing MD Ludovico Sanges, adding that localisation policy needs to be carefully calibrated to drive economic growth and not simply favour market incumbents.
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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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Mantashe says DMRE committed to pursuing energy mix that ensures security of supply

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) will continue to pursue an energy mix that will ensure security of supply, while remaining cognisant of the country’s international commitments to respond to climate change, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said during a keynote address at the inaugural Energy South African Youth Economic Council Summit, on January 13. The theme for the summit was: “How will the COP26 Green Deal affect South Africa’s ‘Just Energy Transition’ plan and its developmental economic objectives?”.
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Electricity sector outlook

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the difficulties in the South African electricity sector in 2021, the issues that are still facing Eskom, whether there are any signs of hope for the sector this year and what should be done to begin dealing with the country’s energy crisis once and for all.  
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Mantashe on State capture: An attack on deployment is an attack on transformation, democracy

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has warned that the State capture report may launch heavy attacks on deployment – and by extension, transformation and democracy. The minister delivered a keynote address at the gala dinner of the Energy Summit, hosted by the South African Youth Economic Council on Thursday evening. His address focused on the country’s just energy transition, but he also used the opportunity briefly to address the Zondo Commission’s report on State capture.
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