COGTA declares provincial disaster in KZN

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has declared the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) floods, that has claimed the lives of over 200 people and displaced many families, a provincial disaster in line with the Disaster Management Act. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the province on Wednesday, accompanied by Premier Sihle Zikalala and Cogta Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to see firsthand how the floods affected infrastructure.
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Green hydrogen pioneer seeks finance for commercial plant as Vredendal proof-of-concept …

A small proof-of-concept green hydrogen facility in Vredendal, in the Western Cape, has entered into production and its developers are now seeking to raise finance for a 5 MW commercial project, which they believe could be the precursor to a ‘hydrogen valley’ in the province. The commercial plant would comprise a 10 MW solar photovoltaic facility and a 5 MW hydrogen plant and is expected to involve an investment of R460-million, depending on the cost of the electrolyser units.
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SANEDI helps train 50 young electricians in energy efficiency for building EPCs

The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is leading the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Practitioner Skills Programme, in partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa, to train 50 qualified youth to obtain energy use data required for buildings’ EPCs. EPCs provide buildings a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square metre.
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Eskom warns another 11 000 MW ‘at risk’ as it extends load-shedding

State-owned electricity producer Eskom warned on Wednesday that there was 11 000 MW of capacity currently “at risk” over and above the more than 13 600 MW out owing to full or partial load losses and the 5 300 MW unavailable owing to planned maintenance. Speaking after the utility again extended load-shedding, which was implemented at extremely short notice on April 11, by a further two days, generation executive Phillip Dukashe said that the number of units at risk of breakdowns was disturbingly high.
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Global renewable power prices soar on heavy demand, chaotic supply chain

Prices for wind and solar power in major global markets have climbed nearly 30% in a year as developers have struggled with chaotic supply chains and surging costs for everything from shipping to parts to labor, according to a report published on Wednesday. Contract prices for renewables jumped 28.5% in North America and 27.5% in Europe in the last year, according to a quarterly index by LevelTen Energy that tracks the deals, known in the industry as power purchase agreements (PPAs).
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ArcelorMittal studies 100 MW renewables projects for Gauteng and Western Cape

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa has initiated feasibility studies for two 100 MW renewable energy projects to supply electricity to its existing facilities in Gauteng and the Western Cape. The studies should be finalised during 2023/2024, the company said in a statement.
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DFFE invites public comment on standard for the development of power lines, substations

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has opened channels for the public to comment on the ‘Standard for the Development of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas Revision of August 2021’, which negates the need for environmental assessments in certain instances in which power lines and substations will be developed.  The public consultation process was launched through the publication, on April 7, of Government Gazette 46209 in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.
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Global governmental clean energy spending up 50% over past five months

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Sustainable Recovery Tracker’s latest update shows that clean energy spending earmarked by governments in response to the Covid-19 crisis had risen by 50% over the past five months to more than $710-billion worldwide. However, “troubling” imbalances persisted between regions.
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Eskom aiming to unlock 1 000 MW through Mpumalanga land lease bidding process

State-owned electricity utility Eskom has initiated a bidding process for the leasing of generation land in Mpumalanga to independent power producers (IPPs) and CEO André de Ruyter indicates that there is sufficient grid capacity available to support renewables projects with a combined capacity of about 1 000 MW. Speaking following the resumption of load-shedding on April 11, De Ruyter said the request for proposals (RFP) documentation had been issued on April 8, with a closing date for submissions of April 29.
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LHDA awards Polihali Operations Centre construction contract

L&M, a joint venture between Lesotho company LSP Construction and South Africa-registered Mofomo Construction, has been awarded the tender for the construction of the Polihali Operations Centre by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA). The construction of the centre is a critical component of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s (LHWP’s) advance infrastructure.
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