Africa’s critical-minerals role highlighted as world moves into ‘Age of Electricity’

With the global energy system moving into the “Age of Electricity”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has again highlighted the central role of Africa in producing the critical minerals required to support the electrification of energy services previously dominated by fossil fuels, such as transportation. Releasing the ‘World Energy Outlook 2024’ report, IEA executive director Fatih Birol argued that it was becoming increasingly evident that the future of the global energy system was electric.
/by

Eskom’s tariff application reflects big rise in subsidy support for energy-intensive firms

A policy decision to allow electricity-intensive companies operating in South Africa to enter into negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Eskom is set to contribute 5.7% to any tariff increase approved for implementation on standard-tariff customers on April 1 next year. Eskom has included an application for 10 additional NPAs in its larger submission to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for allowable revenue of R445.6-billion for its 2026 financial year. If approved in full, this would translate to a 36.15% tariff hike next year and raise the standard tariff to 266.78c/kWh from 195.74c/kWh.
/by

Green Connection welcomes Karpowership deal ending, calls for further details

Nonprofit organisation The Green Connection has welcomed Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa’s announcement this week that the Karpowership deal is officially “dead in the water”. Turkish energy company Karpowership had been seeking to implement three ship-based power projects in South Africa after being named one of the preferred bidders in the government’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
/by

As Eskom confirms 2 GW renewables plan, role of tariffs in funding roll-out comes into focus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed confidence that tariff and non-tariff solutions can be found to ensure that Eskom is able to meet the obligations set by the National Treasury as part of the R256-billion debt-relief package while still allowing the entity to invest in new generation capacity. In a briefing called to mark the fact that, as of October 13, loadshedding had not been implemented for more than 200 days, Ramokgopa expressed support for the State-owned entity’s plan to build 2 GW of new wind and solar PV capacity over the coming two to three years.
/by

South African steel industry needs stable demand to be import-competitive for grid pylons

A study benchmarking the price of steel transmission grid pylon towers and what South African manufacturers can do to compete with Chinese and Turkish imports showed that “a bit of” stable demand was needed to enable local manufacturers to compete effectively. The ‘Price Benchmarking on Steel Towers in South Africa’ study by manufacturing support organisation the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) was one of three studies done to map out the components of the Eskom and National Transmission Company build programmes and how to get industry to participate, said LSF head of strategy Irshaad Kathrada.
/by

International partners showcase South African JET projects in Mpumalanga

Denmark, France, Germany and the UK, which are all partner countries supporting South Africa’s just energy transition (JET), have showcased a range of local, provincial and national projects and initiatives that are helping to drive the JET in Mpumalanga and the rest of South Africa. Denmark has 50 years of experience transitioning from an energy system heavily reliant on coal to its current electricity system that is dominated by solar PV and wind power, said energy supply, distribution and consumption organisation Danish Energy Agency deputy director-general Stine Rasmussen.
/by

South Africa power-line rollout set to spur bond market revival

A multibillion-dollar plan to expand South Africa’s electricity transmission network could throw a lifeline to the country’s corporate bond market as it struggles to recover from a post-pandemic slump. The National Transmission Company South Africa, a state-owned company that will operate separately from parent Eskom, said this week it plans to spend R112-billion on transmission capacity over the next five years.
/by

SPS selected to provide renewable-energy solution for significant Limpopo water supply project

The Lebalelo Water User Association (LWUA) has selected asset management company Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) as the preferred bidder to deliver a renewable-energy solution for the first stage of the Olifants Management Model Programme (OMMP), a significant water infrastructure development programme in Limpopo. The OMMP, implemented by LWUA, is a public-private collaboration between government and the private sector, including mining companies and industrial users.
/by

69 MW Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm begins wheeling electricity under contract with Sasol

The 69 MW Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm, located in Bedford in the Eastern Cape, has entered into commercial operation and is wheeling electricity into the national grid helping to green the electricity consumption of Sasol’s operations in the Free State The 16-turbine generation plant has been built by a consortium led by African Clean Energy Developments (ACED) and including African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and Reatile Renewables.
/by

Danish Energy Agency backing project to validate wind resources of South Africa’s coal heartland

The Danish and South African governments are partnering on a project to map the wind resources of the coal region of Mpumalanga, where access to the grid for new renewables projects is less constrained and where initiatives are under way to explore alternative livelihoods for workers and communities who could be affected by coal mine and power station closures. Known as ‘Wind Atlas of South Africa Phase 4 (WASA4)’, the initiative is being jointly funded by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and is being carried out by researchers from the Danish Technical University, the South African National Energy Development Institute, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the University of Cape Town and the South African Weather Service.
/by