Local gas supplies not likely to come on stream in time for South Africa to avoid a ‘gas cliff’

Although gas is widely regarded as a necessary part of South Africa’s future energy mix, Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) head of mitigation Steve Nicholls is not convinced that a reliable source of local gas supply will be brought to bear in time for the approaching “gas cliff”. The country is, therefore, likely to have to import gas from abroad at higher prices, he noted during a webinar on the role of gas in South Africa’s energy transition, hosted by Creamer Media on March 13.
/by

Construction begins on wind farms to supply Secunda oxygen plants

Enel Green Power (EGP) South Africa has started construction of three new wind farms in the Eastern Cape, which will provide electricity to Air Liquide and Sasol in Secunda, Mpumalanga, through a wheeling framework agreement with Eskom. With a combined capacity of 330 MW, the Impofu East, Impofu West, and Impofu North projects will comprise 57 turbines, eight high-voltage substations, as well as 120 km of 132 kV high-voltage overhead electricity lines.
/by

Growthpoint says high interest rates will dent its full-year distributable income

Given the impact of high interest rates across its local and international businesses, JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties expects its distributable income per share (DIPS) to decline by 10% to 12% for the financial year to end on June 30. Despite achieving “robust” operational results across its local and international investments for the six-month period to December 31 2023, high interest rates globally have impacted on property values, equity and debt markets, and capitalisation and discount rates.
/by

New online portal launched to aid Cape Town’s solar PV boom

The City of Cape Town has launched a new online application portal for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. More than 5 000 solar PV systems have been authorised to date, totalling 126 MVA, with monthly applications to the city tripling between 2021 and 2023.
/by

South Africa should get off global regulator’s ‘grey list’ in 2025, says Kganyago

South Africa’s central bank governor said on Wednesday that he was confident the country would be removed from an international financial crime watchdog’s “grey list” next year, given the work that is under way to fix identified issues. The International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) last year placed South Africa on a “grey list” of countries under special scrutiny over implementing standards to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing.
/by

Energy industry’s methane emissions near record despite pledges

Global methane emissions from fossil fuels held near a record high last year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual ‘Methane Tracker’ report, renewing concerns that governments and industry aren’t doing enough to stem releases of the devastating greenhouse gas. While the analysis highlighted progress in some places, on the whole it suggests global oil, gas and coal producers and governments are falling short of promises to cut methane emissions, directly jeopardizing global efforts to limit climate change. The fossil fuel industry must cut methane emissions 75% by 2030, the IEA said, in order to be on pace for net zero emissions in 2050, which aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
/by

IPPO confirms May 30 renewables bid deadline as it moves to accommodate grid quotes and curtailment

The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that the deadline for submissions under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has been extended by a month to May 30 to accommodate both grid-connection quotes and a curtailment addendum published by Eskom. The IPPO told Engineering News that a briefing note extending the timeline for application for grid cost estimate letters (CELs) to February 15 was issued at the end of January following requests from potential bidders at a bidders’ conference that took place on January 17.
/by