Enter the weekend on Stage 5 as Eskom battles to meet rising demand

Due to higher than anticipated demand, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until midnight on Friday, Eskom said in a statement. Thereafter, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Sunday. Breakdowns have reduced to 16 302MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 3 616MW, it added. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha and two generating units at Matla power stations were returned to service. But at the same time, a generating unit each at Grootvlei, Kendal, Kriel and two generating units at Camden power stations were taken offline for repairs. “The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints,” Eskom said.
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Western Cape seeking to use electricity crisis to develop low carbon energy system

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde on Friday highlighted that his administration had assigned R7-billion, over the next three years, to create an “ecosystem” that would facilitate private sector investment in renewable electricity generation capacity in the province. He was addressing the inaugural Wesgro Business Outlook conference in Cape Town. (Wesgro is the Western Cape’s trade, investment and tourism promotion agency.) The Western Cape’s energy demand currently totalled 4 000 MW. The provincial government was targeting the creation of new generating capacity totalling 5 700 MW. This was to allow for, and power, economic growth.
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Eskom cancels R11bn deals in South Africa crackdown

Eskom cancelled coal-supply agreements and construction contracts valued at R11-billion, as the South African authorities crack down on crime at the State-owned utility, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. Litigation by Eskom has also had coal-supply agreements worth R3.7-billion declared invalid, and other coal and construction deals worth R10-billion have been set aside, Ramaphosa said in response to a question submitted by an opposition lawmaker in parliament.
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SAWEA, climate commission support renewable energy masterplan, industrialisation

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) have welcomed the release of the draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), which was developed by the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). Stakeholders have been invited to review and comment on the draft masterplan.
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Globeleq to acquire majority stake in Mozambique solar project

Independent power producer Globeleq has bought renewable energy company Scatec’s 52.5% interest in the 41 MW Mocuba solar photovoltaic plant, in Mozambique, for $8.5-million. It will also acquire Norwegian pension fund KLP Norfund Investments’ 22.5% stake in the plant, giving it a 75% interest in the plant. National utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) will continue to hold the remaining 25%.
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Opinion: How South Africa could seize the moment and build renewables and battery value chains

The draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) has been released for public comment. In this article, Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, who is a facilitator of the SAREM process, outlines the importance of policy in creating the anchor demand that is required for a successful industrialisation drive in renewables and battery value chains.
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Fitch maintains South Africa’s ratings, says an ANC election loss won’t mean new economic policies

On Monday, Fitch again maintained its “BB-” credit rating on South Africa – despite now expecting no economic growth this year. The US credit rating agency kept its “stable” outlook on South Africa’s long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings.
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Jan Oberholzer to leave Eskom in shock development

In a surprise announcement, Eskom said that the utility and its former COO Jan Oberholzer would “part ways by mutual agreement”. Last month, Eskom confirmed that it had signed a two-year contract with Oberholzer to oversee key projects at coal-fired power station Kusile and nuclear power plant Koeberg. 
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Grid still seen as key risk for upcoming renewables round despite reduction in govt guarantee

The government-default component of the government guarantees extended to the independent power producers (IPPs) that will be selected to build new solar and wind projects under the upcoming seventh bid window (BW7) of South Africa’s programme for the procurement of renewable energy will be reduced from 100% to 80%. IPP Office head Bernard Magoro tells Engineering News that the reduction follows a National Treasury review of the Government Support Framework Agreement, as well as consultations with the market over the past year.
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Opinion: Does this count as a just transition investment?

In this article, Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies research fellow Sandy Lowitt writes about the limited discussions that have been held about how just energy transition financing will be deployed in the South African economy.
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