A steady roll-out of renewable energy projects has seen Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) run its head office and several of its Gauteng dealerships on solar power when loadshedding kicks in. At the Bedfordview head office, more than 240 solar panels have been fitted on the roof of the building, delivering 110 kW on a typical sunny spring day.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan responded with an “emphatic no” to a question as to whether government considered outgoing Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to be a traitor, as implied in a recent statement by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, who said “Eskom, by not attending to loadshedding, is actively agitating for the overthrow of the State”. Gordhan was speaking during a briefing convened by Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana after De Ruyter’s resignation – submitted at 7:30 on Monday December 12, only days after Mantashe’s comments – was confirmed by Eskom on December 14, following a media leak.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan responded with an “emphatic no” to a question as to whether government considered outgoing Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to be a traitor, as implied in a recent statement by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, who said “Eskom, by not attending to loadshedding, is actively agitating for the overthrow of the State”. Gordhan was speaking during a briefing convened by Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana after De Ruyter’s resignation – submitted at 7:30 on Monday December 12, only days after Mantashe’s comments – was confirmed by Eskom on December 14, following a media leak.
The Presidency and the National Treasury on December 14 released a progress report on the implementation of economic reforms during the third quarter to mark two years since the establishment of Operation Vulindlela. Among the highlights were that six projects, totalling 784 MW, signed project agreements under Bid Window (BW) 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
Engineering company ABB is partnering with Swedish mining and smelting company Boliden to use low-carbon copper in the production of its electromagnetic stirring (EMS) equipment and high-efficiency electric motors.
The aim of the partnership – to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions while driving the transition to a more circular economy – forms an integral part of ABB’s strategic ambition to reduce the environmental impact of raw materials used in its products by replacing them with lower-carbon alternatives.
Private power company Globeleq has signed financing agreements with development finance institutions the African Development Bank (AfDB), Finnfund and the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) for $72-million debt funding for the 35 MW Menengai geothermal project in Nakuru county, Kenya. Globeleq is providing equity, project development and construction management experience. Construction of the project is expected to start during the first quarter of 2023, once financial close has been reached.
Stage 5 load shedding will be reduced to Stage 4 starting from 05:00 on Thursday morning until 05:00 on Sunday morning, Eskom announced on Wednesday evening. It added that Stage 3 load shedding would be implemented on Sunday. “Since Tuesday morning, a unit each at Camden, Kriel, Majuba, Matla and Duvha power stations were taken offline for repairs and planned maintenance. In addition, the delay in returning to service a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha and Hendrina power stations has contributed to the capacity constraints,” a spokesperson said. “A generating unit each at Grootvlei, Camden, Kriel, Majuba power stations returned to service.”
A unit at Eskom’s Matla power station in Mpumalanga suffered a fire incident on Wednesday afternoon as a result of a fuel oil leak. According to sources at the power utility, spilled fuel oil ignited and started a fire at the power station’s unit 6 boiler, resulting in damage to electrical cables at the 3 600 MW plant.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has refused to concur with two electricity procurement determinations submitted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) under Section 34 of the Energy Regulation Act – including one for a 3 000 MW Combined Cycle Gas Technology (CCGT) project that Eskom plans to develop in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. Earlier this year, the DMRE submitted three determinations for the regulator’s concurrence, which is required before public procurement can take place, including:
André de Ruyter, Eskom’s group chief executive, has resigned. News24 understands that he notified board chairperson Mpho Makwana of his decision earlier in the week. Makwana has also informed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.
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