CEF faces probing questions from lawmakers on plan to revive refineries

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) group of companies faced sceptical questioning this week from lawmakers over plans to revive the Sapref refinery in Durban and PetroSA’s gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery in Mossel Bay. During a marathon session of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources held to deliberate on CEF’s delayed 2024/25 annual report, CEF chairperson Ayanda Noah stressed the importance of the two refineries to the future of the group, as well as the recently formed South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC).
/by

UK in talks to extend $1bn debt guarantee South Africa has failed to use

The UK may extend a $1-billion debt guarantee to help South Africa with its transition to a greener economy as it nears expiry without having been used. The guarantee was approved in late 2023 and is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, even as South Africa negotiates with the African Development Bank (AfDB) over a $400-million loan for municipal energy and water services, to be guaranteed under that arrangement.
/by

SAPVIA urges stakeholders to actively shape incoming SSEG safety standard

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says the quickest and most effective way to resolve the ongoing debate on safety and compliance for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) is to finalise the new South African National Standard (SANS) 10142-1 safety standard. SAPVIA says it has carefully considered the extensive public debates and media coverage on the safety and compliance of SSEG systems – up to 1 MVA – together with the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (Ameu), the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse.
/by

R112bn cost savings target in focus as new Eskom board takes office

Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati has underlined the importance of reducing the State-owned group’s cost base as a newly constituted board takes over from the one appointed in October 2022. The outgoing board took office amid extreme levels of loadshedding and deep financial distress and oversaw the implementation of a ‘Generation Recovery Plan’, which was approved in March 2023.
/by

CEF mourns sudden death of board director

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) has conveyed its regret at the sudden passing of director Unati Figlan, who also served as the chairperson of legacy entities PetroSA, Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and iGas. “Figlan played a defining role in strengthening governance, stabilising operations and advancing strategic alignment across the legacy entities during a critical period of transition for the CEF group,” the CEF said on November 28.
/by

South Africa amends RfP for gas-to-power procurement

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about amendments made to the request for proposals for the procurement of 2 000 MW of gas to power and what these changes mean for the programme and potentially for tariffs?
/by

Seriti Green hands Vunumoya Main Transmission Station over to Eskom

Renewable energy developer Seriti Green on November 26 officially handed over the Vunumoya Main Transmission Station (MTS) to State-owned power utility Eskom. The infrastructure will now become an asset of Eskom subsidiary the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA).
/by

Nersa reinforces shift to competitive electricity market as it approves market operator licence …

The Energy Regulator, which is the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) highest decision-making body, has made three landmark decisions in support of the country’s legislated commitment to transition to a competitive electricity market from one historically monopolised by Eskom. At its meeting on November 27, it approved the granting of a Market Operator licence to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), a precursor to the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) in 2026, alongside new Grid Capacity Allocation Rules to facilitate fair and non-discriminatory access to the network.
/by

PIC approves landmark gas strategy to power South Africa’s energy transition

Fund manager the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has approved a landmark Strategy on Natural Gas, marking a pivotal step towards bolstering South Africa’s energy security and accelerating the country’s decarbonisation agenda. The strategy is engineered to help secure a stable gas supply, directly supporting South Africa’s critical transition towards cleaner energy sources, it says.
/by

Copper Mark, SSI sign collaboration agreement on responsible copper sourcing for solar sector

The Copper Mark and the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at promoting responsible production and sourcing of copper across the solar energy value chain. The organisations said on November 27 that copper was a major component in solar energy generation and transmission and that rising demand for renewable energy was increasing the need for cooperation between stakeholders involved in copper mining, processing and manufacturing.
/by