Ramaphosa backs Ministers as he admits load-shedding is ‘calamity of enormous proportions’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that the current load-shedding crisis is a “calamity of enormous proportions” but has backed Ministers Gwede Mantashe and Pravin Gordhan after the leader of the opposition asked why the two Minister had not been dismissed After noting that the country was experiencing its worst-ever year for load-shedding, despite an assurance given by Ramaphosa in 2015 that the problem would be all by “forgotten” within 18 to 24 months, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuizen asked at “what level of sustained load-shedding” would the President consider firing the Mineral Resources and Energy and Public Enterprises respectively.
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Sacci calls for independent commission to select, recruit SOE board members

Business organisation the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) says changes to power utility Eskom’s board of directors should take place within normal rotation principles in line with established corporate governance policy. However, it remains concerned as to what credible and established process the Cabinet follows in the selection, recruitment, retention and performance management of the leadership in State-owned enterprises (SOEs).
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Firms in Steve Tshwete municipality ‘just want to get on with JET business’

The business community in the Steve Tshwete local municipality of Mpumalanga, which encompasses Middelburg, have been urged to align their product and service offerings to the opportunities being created by the energy transition and the associated socioeconomic initiatives aimed at cushioning vulnerable coal communities and workers. The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry convened a conference this week under the theme ‘Just Energy Transition – Just for Business’ with a focus on the potential spinoffs for Mpumalanga firms from Eskom’s repowering and repurposing of those coal stations that are scheduled to close in the coming few years.
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Stage 4 to last until Saturday morning, with Stage 3 for weekend, as diesel delivery arrives

Stage 4 load-shedding will continue until 05:00 on Saturday morning and reduce to Stage 3 throughout the weekend, Eskom has announced.  Eskom will update on plans for next week on Sunday. 
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Top coal miners consider bids for South African renewables firm

Exxaro Resources and Thungela Resources, South Africa’s two largest coal miners, are considering bids for Actis’ BTE Renewables, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Chinese firms are also interested in acquiring the assets, said the people who asked not to be identified as the information is private. Actis is seeking about $800-million for the company, the people said.
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Eskom expects restatements of FY21 results, to publish FY22 results end-November

Further to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan confirming on September 28 that Eskom would not have its annual financial statements ready by the statutory deadline of September 30, the State-owned power utility has announced that the results would be published by end November.

Eskom attributes the late results to a delay in the appointment of external auditors, as announced on November 4 last year, the extensive process of taking on a new audit and the time it takes to resolve issues that have been raised during the audit.

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Collaboration key to realising Africa’s green hydrogen economy potential

There is considerable potential for Africa to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the green hydrogen economy, and for South Africa to be the hub out of which this is done; however, a key requirement of this will be collaboration. This was the key message from opening keynote speakers during the first day of the Hydrogen Africa Conference and Expo 2022, held in Sandton on September 28.
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Eskom plans to power SA households with micro-grids made of upcycled shipping containers

With nearly a third of the country not yet electrified, Eskom believes its containerised micro-grids – made of repurposed shipping containers – are an innovative way to solve for energy access, says its general manager for Just Energy Transition, Mandy Rambharos. Rambharos and Eskom CEO André de Ruyter on Wednesday participated in the Africa Renewable Investments Summit, held in Cape Town.
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Embattled Eskom takes another hit as Busi Mavuso resigns from already hobbling board

The Eskom board has been reduced to just five non-executive directors, from a necessary 13, after the resignation with immediate effect of Busi Mavuso on Tuesday soon after a short meeting between the board and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Mavuso, who is also the executive director of Business Leadership South Africa, was the sole remaining chartered accountant on the board and chairperson of the two-person finance and investment sub-committee.
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