Renewed focus on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the fresh attention this week on the $8.5-billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) between South Africa and various developed countries; the importance of South Africa finalising a JET-P investment plan before COP27 in November; and other projects in South Africa that may in future be bundled under the JET-P banner.
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Load-shedding to hit stage 4 all weekend after wage talks deadlock – Eskom

Eskom will implement stage 4 load-shedding from 11am on Friday until midnight, and again on Saturday and Sunday from 5am until midnight, amid ongoing unprotected labour action, it said in a statement on Friday. “It is necessary to bolster emergency generation reserves to react to unforeseen circumstances, as well as to replenish emergency reserves to prepare for the week ahead,” spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said.
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If power station protests persist, there’ll be much more load-shedding, Eskom warns

Power utility Eskom warned on Friday morning that if protests at nine of its power stations and facilities continue, it increases the risk of higher stages of load-shedding. SA is currently experiencing Stage 2 load-shedding every day up to midnight until Sunday.
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Is it possible to convert old coal mines into successful farms?

The rehabilitation of South Africa’s closed coal mines has long been a source of contention among miners, environmental activists and affected communities. Numerous old mines were not rehabilitated at all, while many others were rehabilitated to within only the bare minimum requirements of the law, leaving the land looking restored but, ultimately, not suitable for the growing of crops, owing to the plethora of toxic chemicals and metals that remain in the soil and water.
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Right decisons key in green transitioning

“South Africa’s drive towards a just energy transition and net zero carbon emissions should be seen as a great opportunity, rather than a cumbersome task. While the transition is sure to be a challenge, it doesn’t have to be a headache if the right decisions are made, backed by the right technology,” states solar energy company Valsa Trading MD Svilen Voychev. “Valsa has been operating for 12 years, and we have learnt much about the needs and nuances of the South African market. I look forward to engaging with fellow solar photovoltaic (PV) enthusiasts at Solar Power Africa, to share what I have learned,” says Voychev.
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Eskom confirms 18 renewable energy bid winners for land leases in Mpumalanga

State-owned utility Eskom has confirmed to Engineering News on June 23 that 18 companies have been selected from the bids received for the lease of Eskom-owned land in Mpumalanga, which has been earmarked for independently developed renewable energy generation projects. At this stage, no contracts have been signed because the companies that have been selected must first obtain environmental-impact assessment approval.
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Cabinet encourages more S Africans to vaccinate as it ends mask mandate

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said on Thursday that while Cabinet welcomed a significant drop in Covid-19 cases in the country, it is urging more South Africans to vaccinate against the virus, as South Africa joins the many countries that have done away with mask wearing.   Joining Gungubele at a media briefing was Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, who gave an update on the late night gazette which saw government repeal major Covid-19 regulations on mask-wearing, gathering limits and travel requirements.
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British International Investment commits $200m to hydropower in Africa

UK development finance institution British International Investment (BII) has committed $200-million over the next several years to help fund hydropower projects in Africa. This would be the largest investment in hydropower by BII in its 74-year history.
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Eskom says workers protest at some plants

Tensions are rising at Eskom, with the struggling South African electricity supplier confirming protests at a number of power plants following a breakdown in wage negotiations. Groups at six coal-fired stations “have blocked roads leading to some of the power stations, which hampers the movement of people and goods into or outside of the facilities,” spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said in a text message on Thursday. “While some incidents of intimidation have been reported, the protesters are largely peaceful at this stage.”
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Bushveld upbeat about VRFB future as subsidiary secures funding for Vametco hybrid mini-grid

Integrated primary vanadium producer and energy storage solutions provider Bushveld Minerals has secured funding for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the R113-million Vametco hybrid mini-grid, which is owned by Bushveld Minerals’ 84%-owned energy subsidiary, Bushveld Energy. Bushveld Energy has completed the development and achieved financial close for a 3.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plus a 1 MW/4 MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) hybrid mini-grid project for Vametco, which will operate as a funded independent power producer (IPP).
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