US agency sees Lobito rail corridor helping to diversify critical minerals supply chains

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Scott Nathan has reiterated the American government’s interest in helping to finance the Lobito rail corridor, linking the copper and cobalt mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port. Nathan, who is heading the US Delegation to the US-Africa Business Summit in Botswana this week, made specific reference to the corridor during a virtual media briefing hosted on the sidelines of the summit.
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Stalled South African power projects for 1 850 MW risk losing grid access

Companies yet to complete financing arrangements to build 1 850 MW of power-generation capacity in South Africa in terms of a government tender in 2021 may lose the right to connect to the national grid at the end of this month. The access for projects by Karpowership, Acwa Power Co. and others relating to contracts for 2 000 MW awarded more than two years ago expires on July 31, national power utility Eskom said in an emailed response to questions. Scatec ASA has achieved so-called financial close for its 150 MW of projects. The emergency-power programme has been beset by delays. Karpowership, the provider of gas-fired plants mounted on ships that won about 60% of the tender, has seen its plans thwarted by lawsuits and environmental challenges. A surge in construction costs globally has also complicated attempts by the bid winners to make financial arrangements. Grid access is in short supply in South Africa.
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Irena concerned about overconcentration of critical minerals supply chains

A new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) on the geopolitics of critical minerals points to a significant concentration in supply chains and calls for collaborative strategies to sustain the energy transition.  The ‘Geopolitics of the Energy Transition: Critical Materials’ report states that the energy transition requires a dramatic increase in the supply of critical minerals, despite their supply chains remaining vulnerable to a range of geopolitical risks. 
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Rapid action needed if African countries are to meet SDG7

For Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) target of ensuring everyone can access affordable, dependable, sustainable and modern energy, there needs to be rapid implementation of comprehensive policies and the creation of a supportive environment in which United Nations (UN) member States can make the most of their constrained public resources over the next three years, to UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) economic affairs officer Anthony Monganeli Mehlwana has said. In a webinar on July 11 focused on finding ways to accelerate private sector investment in Africa to meet SDG7 and energy transition goals, he emphasised the importance of mobilising private sector investment at the same time to allow African countries to make the most of their domestic resources.  
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Stage 6 loadshedding returns

Less than a week after Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said he was confident that Eskom had enough generating capacity to withstand the cold weather, the power utility announced the implementation of Stage 6 loadshedding.  “Due to the loss of additional generating units overnight, the extensive use of Open Gas Cycle Turbines and the inability to replenish pumped storage dam levels, Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented at 07:00 this morning until 14:00,” the utility said.
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