Polarium South Africa, the local subsidiary of Swedish energy storage group Polarium, plans to double the capacity of its Cape Town assembly plant by the end of this year. This was reported at a media briefing on Wednesday. The plant only started production last April and is the result of a $30-million investment in South Africa. The Polarium group has a policy of placing its plants in strategically chosen locations in its various market regions, to minimize transport costs and to minimize carbon emissions. Apart from Sweden and South Africa, it also has plants in Mexico and Vietnam. The South African plant has already assembled some 15 000 lithium-ion batteries, for energy storage applications across Africa.
The government has terminated, with immediate effect, the National State of Disaster declared by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on February 9. In a statement, the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) says the State of Disaster was a necessary response to the impact of critical levels of load shedding on the economy and vulnerable sectors such as health and small businesses.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana told MPs on Wednesday that he has decided to withdraw the exemption of Eskom from the Public Finance Management Act “for now” to have further consultation with the auditor-general and Eskom’s auditors. A special government gazette issued by Godongwana on Friday exempted Eskom from reporting in its annual financial statements on wasteful and irregular expenditure that did not arise from corruption.
The Green Energy Africa Summit (GEAS) has announced the launch of the 2023 Energy Investment Village (EIV), a deal-pitching event for African clean-tech starts-ups and energy projects. The EIV is now open for entries from emerging African energy businesses and will culminate in a Lion’s Den-type pitching event during the GEAS to be held in Cape Town on October 11.
Building on its R170-million investment pledge at the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in 2020, solar photovoltaic (PV) energy solutions company SolarAfrica has continued to roll out solar PV projects throughout the country. This year’s SAIC is set to take place on April 13 in Sandton.
Following backlash after a special government gazette was issued by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana on Friday, which revealed that Eskom would be exempt from declaring its irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, Treasury has asserted that transparency and accountability are not compromised with the move. Godongwana has granted a partial exemption to the ailing power utility from disclosing irregular spending in its annual financial statements, for three years.
South African banking and investment services group Absa has announced that it is making R50-million available to provide solar energy grants to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are its clients. More specifically, the grants will be offered to SMEs whose commercial properties are financed by the bank. “SMEs make a significant contribution to job creation and economic growth in South Africa,” pointed out Absa Relationship Banking SME Business managing executive Ronnie Mbatsane. “However, in many instances, the operating environment over the past few years has made it very difficult for these vital enablers to grow and thrive.”
South African banking and investment services group Absa has announced that it is making R50-million available to provide solar energy grants to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are its clients. More specifically, the grants will be offered to SMEs whose commercial properties are financed by the bank. “SMEs make a significant contribution to job creation and economic growth in South Africa,” pointed out Absa Relationship Banking SME Business managing executive Ronnie Mbatsane. “However, in many instances, the operating environment over the past few years has made it very difficult for these vital enablers to grow and thrive.”
Following the end of the Eskom Uganda Limited (EUL) concession on March 31, Eskom has assured that a smooth transfer of assets and interests to State-owned Uganda Electricity Generation Company has taken place.
The EUL came to its natural end after being established in 2002, involving the operation and maintenance of the Kiira and Nalubaale hydroelectric power stations for 20 years.
Following the end of the Eskom Uganda Limited (EUL) concession on March 31, Eskom has assured that a smooth transfer of assets and interests to State-owned Uganda Electricity Generation Company has taken place.
The EUL came to its natural end after being established in 2002, involving the operation and maintenance of the Kiira and Nalubaale hydroelectric power stations for 20 years.
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