South Africa’s infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks, as highlighted during 2021, while the risk of the electricity grid’s failure accelerated in 2021. There are also concerns that a repeat of the riots experienced in July last year could be on the horizon in 2022, says insurance company Old Mutual Insure MD Garth Napier.
Investment holding company Sakhumnotho business unit Sakhumnotho Power has partnered with energy project development company Keren Energy Investments to undertake a proof-of-concept project to produce green hydrogen at a site supplied by Namaqua Engineering, in Vredendal, in the Western Cape. The site has a 100 kW photovoltaic solar system installed and this renewable energy will be used as the primary energy to produce green hydrogen. The hydrogen generated will, ultimately, be used in fuel cell vehicles in the future.
As African countries pursue an energy transition, it is vital that this process be just and takes into account the impact on jobs and communities, and this requires a number of considerations, including developing proper policy, being cognisant of regional differences while also seeking an integrated approach, and pursuing an ideal energy mix. This was indicated by speakers during the African Energy Indaba on March 1.
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe indicated on Tuesday that his department will seek to “refocus” South Africa’s just energy transition debate as it prepares to finalise its policy on the matter. In an address to the Africa Energy Indaba on Tuesday, Mantashe indicated that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) intended initiating “a wide-ranging public dialogue and consultation process in this year” on its ‘Just Transition Framework for the Energy and Mining Sectors’.
Solar projects in South Africa’s latest renewable power procurement round may have difficulty reaching financial close due to issues including rising supply chain costs, according to people familiar with the details. Some of the bids are experiencing trouble ahead of a deadline to complete financing arrangements, according to the people who asked not to be identified because the information is not public. South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy expects the projects to close in April.
Property development company Investec Property will build a 5.25 MW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at the Cornubia Mall, in Durban, to reduce the mall’s reliance on the grid and ease the pressure on the national power grid. This is a key step in Investec Property’s mission to embrace renewable low-carbon emission technology across its assets, thereby decreasing their environmental impact on society.