We owe the board and management of Eskom our full support, Ramaphosa asserts

“We owe the board and management of Eskom our full support as they work to turn the utility around,” President Cyril Ramaphosa writes in his weekly newsletter. Published against the backdrop of a recent bout of Stage 4 load-shedding and fresh finger-pointing over who is to blame for intensifying load-shedding, Ramaphosa insists that the crisis has its roots in events that pre-date the current Eskom leadership.
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Load-shedding to be suspended at 22:00 on Friday

Load shedding will be suspended at 22:00 on Friday, Eskom announced. That said, the utility cautioned that the system remains severely constrained and volatile.
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Cast resin transformers show significant benefits

Electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand’s range of cast resin transformers (CRT) has been designed for high-efficiency, enhanced safety and low environmental impact during energy distribution in diverse applications. Typical installations include data centres, shopping malls, hospitals and residential buildings. CRTs are also suitable for photovoltaic (PV) installations and wind power, as well as offshore applications, the railways, shipping and airport facilities.
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Delaying projects puts pressure on limited skills

The delay of emergency-generation capacity projects – all part of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) – because of the powership court case, will not only affect independent power producers but also have a knock-on effect on demand for local skills and resources, says recruitment and staffing solutions company Quyn International MD Wayne Alcock.
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Energy mix required to assist with power generation challenges

All possible creative and innovative energy solutions must be explored to mitigate the challenges faced by State-owned power utility Eskom while it tries to diversify the energy mix and reduce the reliance on coal-powered generation, says strategic research and advisory company Birguid senior associate Patience Panashe.
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Maintenance needed for ageing infrastructure

The ageing electrical infrastructure in South Africa highlights the need for constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure daily functioning, says electricity utility company South Power Maintenance business development executive Thamie Nyembe.
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Transnet prepares to invite bids for Richards Bay LNG terminal

The State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reports that a request for proposals will be issued in the “coming weeks” for the development of a liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal. The tender process follows conformation by TNPA that it received 19 responses to a request for information (RFI) released on February 13 to assess market interest in the design, development, construction, financing, operations, maintenance and transfer of an LNG terminal in the port’s South Dunes precinct.
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SA to move to Stage 2 load shedding on Thursday night

Load shedding will be reduced from Stage 3 to Stage 2 at 22:00 on Thursday evening, Eskom announced. Stage 2 will continue until Friday evening. A generation unit each at the Majuba, Matimba and the Arnot power stations have returned to service since Wednesday night, while a single unit at Tutuka Power Station was shut down for repairs. Two more units are set to return to service during the next 24 hours.
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Explosion at Joburg substation could lead to another week of electricity woes

It’s been six days since a fire at a substation in Eldorado Park left large sections of Johannesburg without power. And, to make matters worse, an explosion at the same substation could lead to another seven days of work before the electricity is fully restored. The fire, which initially started at around 05:00 on Friday, caused widespread power outages and water cuts in Johannesburg. City Power had hoped to restore the electricity on Wednesday, but the explosion could have derailed that plan.
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Eskom wants OEM ‘boots on ground’ to help stabilise poor performing coal fleet

Eskom has confirmed that it intends procuring engineering and maintenance services from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the coming months to supplement its skills base at power stations that have become prone to repeated unplanned breakdowns. CEO André de Ruyter said the strategy was still being canvassed with organised labour and with government, but that he expected the first OEM “boots on the ground” within the coming three to six months.
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