Belgium to fund development of advanced small modular nuclear reactors

The Belgian government has announced that it will provide funding of €100-million for research into advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The money will be given to the country’s SCK-CEN nuclear research centre in tranches of €25-million a year, over four years. The announcement was made at a function marking the 70th anniversary of the SCK-CEN. “In addition to the substantial progress of renewable energy, the government has also decided to study other technologies which could make a contribution by 2050,” explained Belgian Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten, speaking at the event. “This [funding] should allow [us] to verify whether sustainable nuclear energy is technically feasible. The researchers of SCK-CEN belong to the absolute world best and are now looking for major breakthroughs in both the technological field and in the field of passive safety, non-proliferation, minimisation of long-lived waste and economic feasibility.”
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Green Building Council relocates to new building in Cape Town

The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) will be moving to a new 330 m3 green office at Growthpoint Properties’ River Park facility, in Mowbray, in Cape Town, on June 1 under a three-year lease.

River Park recently improved its green rating to a GBCSA 5-Star Green Star SA – Existing Building Performance v1 certification, with high scores for its land use and ecology, green transport access and energy and water savings.

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IFC signs agreement to support 1 500 MW Mozambique hydropower project

Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project Implementation Office (GMNK) to develop a 1 500 MW hydropower project and associated transmission facilities to increase access to clean energy in Mozambique and other Southern African countries. The estimated $4.5-billion project will comprise a dam, a power station and a high-voltage transmission infrastructure of 1 300 km from the project site, in the Tete province, to the capital Maputo, and is scheduled for completion in 2031.
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Premier welcomes local businesses’ participation in Mpumalanga energy summit

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tshipane has welcomed the participation of mining companies and other local businesses in the two-day Energy Summit held in the province this week, saying it was important that these companies had joined discussions on how to implement a just energy transition. Addressing delegates at the summit, in Emalahleni, she said the provincial government was working closely with stakeholders such as power utility Eskom on a just transition programme. “Our intention is that such partnerships must assist, not only the transition to a carbon-neutral economy but also increase much-needed energy security through fostering renewable energy production, repurposing power stations and explore ways for creating opportunities for small businesses and decent work,” she added. The Premier acknowledged that there was concern that communities in the province would feel the ramifications of the shift away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.
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