By leveraging three resource advantages Mpumalanga can be global just transition ‘flagship’

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has highlighted three key resource advantages that he argues could transform the coal province of Mpumalanga into a global “flagship” of the just energy transition. In an address to the Mpumalanga Energy Summit, De Ruyter argued that the province’s skilled human resources, its access to grid infrastructure and its solar and wind resources, which were superior to those in most other jurisdictions, even if not the best in the country, placed it in a strong position to transition to renewables.
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First reactor at South Korea’s latest nuclear power plant now functioning

South Korean company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on Monday that the first reactor at its latest nuclear power plant (NPP) had achieved criticality for the first time. Unit 1 at the Shin Hanul NPP reached this operational milestone on Sunday. “In the future, Shin Hanul Unit 1 plans to produce electricity for the first time early next month after undergoing a performance test of the power plant system with safety as the top priority,” affirmed KHNP in its statement. The reactor has a generation capacity of 1 400 MWe.
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Eskom vs municipalities that owe billions: ConCourt to rule on ‘human catastrophe’

Eskom has approached the Constitutional Court to argue that it should not be compelled to provide two of South Africa’s most indebted municipalities with more electricity than provided for in supply agreements.  The power utility is seeking leave to appeal a high court ruling from August 2020 that directed it to increase the amount of electricity it provides to the struggling Ngwathe Municipality in the Free State and the Lekwa Municipality in Mpumalanga.
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Necsa mourns passing of Dr Namane Magau

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) on May 23 said it was saddened and devastated at the passing of Human Resource and Ethics subcommittee chairperson Dr Namane Magau, who was also a board member of Necsa subsidiary NTP Radioisotopes, on May 20. “She carried her responsibilities steadfastly, with vigour, fairness and integrity until the morning of her last day,” the organisation said.
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Nedbank arranges R500m sustainability-linked loan for Old Mutual Property

Financial services firm Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has coordinated, arranged and structured a R500-million sustainability-linked credit facility for Old Mutual Property to encourage increased consumption of renewable energy as a percentage of Old Mutual Property’s total energy mix and enhance grey and black water recycling plants at the six main shopping centres in its retail property portfolio. The five-year term loan was made possible through a shared understanding between Nedbank CIB and Old Mutual Property of the importance of driving sustainability forward in key economic sectors, such as the retail property industry, which is a relatively large user of electricity and water, said Nedbank CIB head of sustainable finance solutions Arvana Singh.
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Joburg aims to partner with IPPs on R26bn electricity investment strategy

The City of Johannesburg says it plans to partner with independent power producers (IPPs) on a R26-billion electricity investment strategy, which is designed to end load-shedding and place City Power on a more financially and environmentally sustainable footing. The strategy involves a diversification of electricity sources away from Eskom, which currently provides the city with 90% of its power, while also securing City Power’s revenue, which was currently threatened by grid defection, theft and the prospect of a “utility death spiral”.
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Standard Bank opens access to renewable energy for homeowners

Financial services company Standard Bank has announced that it is opening access to a comprehensive and sustainable supply of renewable energy solutions and components to homeowners and enterprises throughout Africa through a new Africa-China Trade Solutions (ACTS) renewable energy import platform. Using a network of fully vetted international providers from China, business owners and individuals can now source, land and finance accredited solar energy components for any scale of renewable power generation and storage.
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‘No attempt to disguise’ latest incident of sabotage at Eskom power station as another cable is cut

A cable on Unit 1 at Eskom’s Matla Power Station was cut over the weekend in what is now the fourth incident of suspected sabotage at a power station in the past two weeks. News24 understands that on Sunday officials discovered the cut cable, but the 575-megawatt unit had fortunately not tripped because a backup cable had been left untouched. Three other cables in the same cable rack were also undamaged, a picture shared with News24 shows.
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Nersa confirms registration of first two 100 MW projects

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed the registration of the first two 100 MW projects following the August 2021 amendment of Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act allowing sub-100 MW projects to proceed without a licence. Both solar photovoltaic projects are in the North West province and are being developed, financed, constructed and operated by the Sola Group, and its partners, for Tronox Mineral Sands.
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Forum set up to improve cooperation between Eskom, Transnet and domestic industrialists

A new forum comprising Eskom, Transnet and domestic industrialists is to be established to improve collaboration between the two large infrastructure-focused State-owned companies and domestic manufacturers and suppliers. The initiative was unveiled by Ministers Pravin Gordhan and Ebrahim Patel in their respective Budget Votes on May 20 and comes at a time when domestic industry is warning that inadequate and erratic demand, together with power cuts and collapsing freight logistics, pose a threat to manufacturing entities and their employees.
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