Electrical equipment and services company Actom has been awarded contracts to supply battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for two international electrical companies appointed to design, execute and manage the first phase of State-owned Eskom’s two-phase programme, launched earlier this year. Actom’s Power Transformers, Medium-Voltage (MV) Switchgear and High-Voltage Equipment and Distribution Transformers divisions were awarded various contracts for South Korean industrial equipment company Hyosung Heavy Industries and Chinese electrical equipment and switchgear company Pinggao Group.
Petroleum products supplier Astron Energy has marked the rebrand of its one-hundreth service station in South Africa as part of the company’s mammoth project to rebrand its network from Caltex to Astron Energy. The latest service station to have been rebranded is Astron Energy Greenways in Strand, in the Western Cape.
Loadshedding will be reduced to Stages 1 and 3 from 5:00 on Tuesday, following the return to service of six generating units over the weekend, Eskom said in a statement on Monday. However, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Monday until 05:00 on Tuesday, as previously communicated. After that, South Africans will see Stage 1 loadshedding from 05:00 until 16:00, followed by Stage 3 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 on Wednesday. This pattern will continue to be implemented daily until further notice, Eskom said. “Breakdowns have reduced to 15 747MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 1 946MW. Since Friday, a generating unit each at Kriel, Lethabo, Majuba, Matla and two generating units at Arnot power stations were returned to service. The delay in returning to service a generating unit each at Kendal, Matla and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints,” the utility added.
Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed deep concern that another delay to the return to service of Koeberg Unit 1 could result in both of the nuclear power station’s units being out of service simultaneously later this year. The unit is currently undergoing a long-duration outage that includes the replacement of its three steam generators, which is one of the preconditions for extending the plant’s life for 20 years.
Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the return of Stage 6 loadshedding against the backdrop of South Africa marking one year since the launch of the Energy Action Plan to tackle loadshedding, as well as the concessions under consideration by government and Eskom at the coal-fired power stations to improve their performance.
Automation technology and solutions specialist Rockwell Automation offers solutions for controlling and protecting compressors; these solutions improve energy efficiency, optimise machine performance and allow for making data-driven decisions that enable efficient and effective operations. The solutions include hardware and software, with application-focussed programming required to provide a complete solution, consequently enabling customers to efficiently manage the machine during operational times, says Rockwell Automation compressor specialist Andries Kruger.
Stage 6 loadshedding will continue to be implemented over the weekend in order to replenish emergency reserves, Eskom said in a statement on Thursday. “The increase in the demand for electricity due to the cold weather, particularly on Monday and Tuesday, was anticipated, however this demand exceeded what was forecasted,” the power utility said.
Eskom’s generation business is currently weighing various concession models as the utility assesses ways to improve the performance of its breakdown-prone coal-fired power stations in a context of ongoing financial constraints, as well as restrictions on the raising of new debt. Eskom Generation engineering GM Thomas Conradie confirmed during an EE Business Intelligence webinar on Thursday that the options ranged from the concessioning of entire plants to private operators, to the concessioning of ringfenced functions within power stations.
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.
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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