Mantashe says special Cabinet meeting will consider IRP update after Ministers request time to …

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe confirmed that an update of the Integrated Resource Plan, which he has previously dubbed ‘IRP2023’, had served before Cabinet on November 29, but that his Ministerial colleagues had requested more deliberation time before approving the document for public consultation. Speaking in Pretoria at a briefing held to announce the identities of four battery storage preferred bidders, as well as to sign agreements opening the way for a hybrid solar/battery project, Mantashe also stated the IRP would be considered at a special Cabinet meeting scheduled for the coming week.
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Four utility-scale battery projects worth R10bn selected following inaugural public tender

The South African government has selected preferred bidders for the development of four utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Northern Cape, with a combined investment value of R10-billion. The four BESS installations will have a combine capacity of 360 MW/1 440 MWh, with three using lithium-ion battery technology, and one being a lithium-iron-phosphate solution.
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Stanlib launches country’s first dedicated energy transition asset investment fund

Specialist investment manager Stanlib has launched the Khanyisa Energy Transition Fund (KETF) to spark investment in energy transition assets.

Khanyisa, meaning “to illuminate”, is a range of funds created by Stanlib to advance economic and social benefits across the country, with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mind.

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Access to water, logistics infrastructure major hurdles to hydrogen economy

One of the challenges standing in the way of South Africa becoming a world-class green hydrogen producer is that South Africa is a water-scarce country, and that enormous volumes of water are needed to produce hydrogen, law firm Bowmans associate Marga Jordaan has said. “[We] need to take into account sustainable water use for communities, which is also a constitutional right, and to weigh that up with the economic growth in respect of the export and production of hydrogen,” Jordaan said at a seminar at Bowmans’ offices in Sandton on November 29.
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75 MW Umoyilanga hybrid project reaches financial close under much-delayed risk-mitigation round

The Umoyilanga hybrid renewables-battery project, which will supply 75 MW of dispatchable electricity daily from 05:00 to 21:30 when built, has officially achieved commercial and financial close and is expected to begin commercial operation in March 2025. The project is being developed by EDF Renewables and Perpetua Holdings, with financial backing from Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Arica.
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Night loadshedding drops to Stage 5

Eskom announced a marginal drop in loadshedding on Thursday due to improved generation recovery and emergency reserves.  Stage 3 loadshedding kicked in at 10:00, and will continue until 16:00, when Stage 4 will resume. However, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 20:00 until 05:00 on Friday, instead of the previous Stage 6. 
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