Eskom confirms diesel funding, outlines nuclear fuel options

Struggling power utility Eskom has confirmed that it has secured funding to pay for its diesel requirements for the remainder of the current financial year, which ends on March 31, but has not yet provided full details on the funding mechanism. Speaking during a hastily convened media conference hosted to provide an update on the outlook for the system following a sustained period of Stage 5 and Stage 6 loadshedding, acting generation executive Thomas Conradie revealed that Eskom was operating its open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) extensively and would continue to do so for the rest of February and during March.
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Scatec sells shares in Upington solar plant to Stanlib for R979m

Renewable energy company Scatec has signed an agreement with asset management company Stanlib Infrastructure Fund to sell its 42% equity share in the 258 MW Upington solar power plant for R979-million. “The transaction is in line with our strategy to optimise our portfolio and will release capital for new investments in renewable energy. We are very pleased to secure a value-accretive transaction and are confident that Stanlib will be a solid owner of the asset going forward,” says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog.
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Without controls and oversight, electricity state of disaster ‘open to abuse’ – Cesa

Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) has expressed some reservations with a proposal that a National State of Disaster be declared to tackle South Africa’s long-running electricity crisis. While not rejecting the proposal entirely given the urgent need to address the “serious crisis”, CEO Chris Campbell cautioned that “people with ill-intent” could abuse the declaration, as was the case when a State of Disaster was implemented during the Covid pandemic.
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Four West African nations get $311m from World Bank for renewables

The World Bank has signed an agreement with four West and Central African nations worth $311 million to fund renewable energy projects. The funds will finance around 106 MW of solar power generation capacity with battery energy and storage systems, and 41 MW expansion of hydroelectric capacity.
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