Nersa to host hearings into electricity determinations opening way for procurement of 3 800 MW

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will host virtual hearings on May 19 ahead of it providing concurrence with determinations opening the way for the procurement of 3 800 MW of emergency and cross-border electricity capacity. In February, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe granted Eskom an exemption from the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity to proceed with three procurement programmes, including:
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City of Cape Town earmarks R1.2bn for Steenbras peaker plant upkeep

The City of Cape Town’s ‘Building Hope’ budget for 2023/24 proposes continued investment in its Steenbras hydroelectric pumped storage scheme, laying the foundation for a potential estimated investment of about R1.2-billion over the next nine years on the maintenance and expansion of the plant.

City of Cape Town energy mayoral committee member councillor Beverley van Reenen says about R1-billion has been set aside for the refurbishment and extension of the 160 MW Steenbras scheme and about R200-million is earmarked for the maintenance of Steenbras.

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South Africa’s green direct reduced iron export potential highlighted as industry mulls …

Government and the steel industry are considering the potential of positioning South Africa as a global exporter of green hydrogen direct reduced iron (GHDRI) as part of a broader discussion to develop a roadmap for the decarbonisation of the iron and steel value chain. Department of Trade, Industry and Competition primary minerals beneficiation and construction director Mahendra Shunmoogam told stakeholders during a meeting in Sandton that green processing and production are likely to become a significant competitive advantage, especially in the export market.
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G7 countries wish to develop a global commercial nuclear fuel market

The five nuclear energy-using member countries of the Group of Seven major democratic economies (G7) on Sunday issued a joint statement announcing their intent to create a global commercial nuclear fuel market. The countries are Canada, France, Japan, the UK and the US. (The other two G7 countries are Germany, which has just closed its last nuclear power plants, and Italy, which closed its last nuclear power plants in 1990.) “Collaborating on strategic opportunities in uranium extraction, conversion, enrichment, and fabrication supports our collective climate, energy security and economic resilience objectives,” affirmed the five countries in their joint statement. “This multilateral cooperation would enable us to strengthen our domestic sectors and establish a level playing field to compete more effectively against predatory suppliers.”
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350Africa.org calls for social ownership of renewable energy

Organisation 350Africa.org has welcomed the Presidential Climate Commission’s (PCC’s) recommendations on South Africa’s long-term electricity planning and the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), during a National Colloquium attended by government, labour and civil society stakeholders, including representatives from 350Africa.org, on April 14. “We welcome the PCC’s recommendation to support green industrial development, economic diversification, and localisation of crucial transition value chains.
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Loadshedding hits factory output in Mauritiius

The inability of South Africa’s main power producer Eskom Holdings to meet demand is not only hurting the continent’s most-industrialised economy but affecting manufacturers on an island more than 2 000 miles away. Chronic power shortages have reduced demand for Mauritian manufactured goods by South African retailers, the main buyer of products from Mauritius, Arif Currimjee, the outgoing chairperson of the Mauritius Export Association, said in an emailed response to questions. The outages pose a “downside risk” to growth in the industry after two straight years of recovery, he said.
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South Africa’s support for Eskom nears half a trillion rand

South Africa’s State-owned utility Eskom Holdings will have received close to half a trillion rand in state support almost two decades since it started imposing debilitating nationwide blackouts in 2008. The series of cash injections and a planned takeover of a portion of Eskom’s loan portfolio will amount to R495.6-billion in the fiscal year through March 2026, the National Treasury said in response to emailed questions. The figure includes Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s R254 billion relief package for Eskom, which was announced in February and hinges on the debt-laden company meeting pre-determined performance targets meant to wean it off its reliance on public finances.
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