Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has said that if President Cyril Ramaphosa is serious about halting the electricity price increase, he must get rid of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe . South Africans and the business sector have spoken out strongly against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) decision to grant Eskom a 18.65% price increase in electricity tariffs on 1 April, this as the country battles loadshedding, which is crippling the economy.
The City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ’s) electricity utility City Power will upgrade smart electricity meters, or replace older meters, as the token identifier system, which is the current prepaid electricity voucher system, will run out of voucher sequences for the unique tokens produced specifically for each meter by November 24, 2024. The token identifier system is a security measure that ensures a token can only be used once and for the meter number it was bought for. Tokens bought after November 24 next year will not be recognised by the current prepaid meters, which have been installed since 1993, says CoJ environment and infrastructure services MMC Michael Sun.
International renewables group Enel Green Power has been selected by Air Liquide and Sasol to build 220 MW of wind capacity to supply Sasol’s Secunda complex, in Mpumalanga, where Sasol produces synthetic fuels and chemicals and Air Liquide operates the biggest oxygen production site in the world – both companies have made commitments to be carbon neutral by 2050. The renewable electricity from the wind projects is scheduled to be operational in 2025.
Several political parties, unions, community-based organisations and individuals have approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to seek an urgent hearing on relief measures amid continued load shedding. The group, which includes Build One South Africa (BOSA), the United Democratic Movement and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, among others, announced the move in a media briefing on Monday.
The Western Cape High Court has declared Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s decision to dismiss National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board member responsible for communities Peter Becker from his duties, unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. Becker was discharged from his position on February 25, 2022, following alleged conflict-of-interest statements that posited that hearings into a new nuclear power station at Thyspunt were serving to distract attention from then problems at the Koeberg nuclear power station.
Independent power company Globeleq has completed a R1.2-billion senior debt restructuring for its 31 MW Soutpan Solar Power plant, in Limpopo, one of the first solar power plants built under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The company explained on January 23 that, by lowering the cost of debt for the project, the refinancing allows for a significant reduction in wholesale electricity prices from the plant.
South Africa made fresh inquiries about securing electricity supply from Turkey’s Karpowership as it battles its worst ever power outages, according to people familiar with the situation. The approach follows a stalled attempt to procure 1 220 MW of emergency power from the company, a process that’s been mired in legal battles. Karpowership could deploy its plants, which produce electricity from ship-mounted generators, to supply between 700 MW and 800 MW within three months, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private.
Loadshedding will remain at Stage 4 from 16:00 to 05:00 every day, with Stage 3 implemented from 05:00 to 16:00 during the day until further notice, Eskom announced on Monday. Over the past 24 hours, two generating units at Tutuka Power Station were taken offline for repairs while two units at the Arnot Power were returned to service. Planned maintenance removed 6 018MW from the system, while breakdowns currently amount to 15 797MW of generating capacity.
Loadshedding will remain at Stage 4 from 16:00 to 05:00 every day, with Stage 3 implemented from 05:00 to 16:00 during the day until further notice, Eskom announced on Monday. Over the past 24 hours, two generating units at Tutuka Power Station were taken offline for repairs while two units at the Arnot Power were returned to service.
Business organisation the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has urged for less loadshedding in areas under irrigation and food-processing facilities. In crucial field crops, roughly 20% of maize, 15% of soybean, 34% of sugarcane and nearly half of the wheat production are produced under irrigation and these face severe challenges owing to persistently hot and dry conditions, coupled with constrained ability to irrigate. Fruits and vegetables also heavily rely on irrigation, and thus face similar challenges.
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