As State-owned South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) marks the sixtieth anniversary of its SAFARI-1 research reactor, the entity is looking to build on the success of the reactor, with the setting up of a multipurpose research reactor (MPR) that is expected to bolster research, skills development and collaboration endeavours. Located on the Necsa site, in Pelindaba, in the North West, the SAFARI-1 reactor is a 20 MW (thermal) multi-purpose tank-in-pool reactor that started operating on March 18, 1965.
Integrated renewable energy solutions company BYD Energy Storage introduced a new BYD Battery-Box LV5.0+ at booth B214 at Solar and Storage Live Africa, in Johannesburg, on March 25. This new residential energy storage system is the latest addition to the company’s Battery-Box range.
Renewable energy solutions company Scatec has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Tunisian State utility Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz for an additional 120 MW solar power plant, Sidi Bouzid II. The PPA was awarded in December last year through a government tender to support Tunisia’s renewable-energy targets and to enhance the country’s energy security.
JSE-listed cement producer PPC has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Yellow Door Energy (YDE) for the supply of renewable electricity, wheeled through the Eskom grid, to four of its South African operations. The electricity will be produced by a 24.5 MWp solar PV facility known as the Naledi Ya YDE Solar Park, which will comprise 20 000 PV panels and be constructed in Leeudoringstad, in the North West province.
Eskom’s former chief nuclear officer, Riedewaan Bakardien, will take up the position of CEO of the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) on April 1. Bakardien has more than 20 years’ experience in the nuclear industry, where he has held various senior leadership roles, most recently as senior VP at Ontario Power Generation, in Canada, where he oversaw training, security, emergency management, and innovation for the nuclear fleet.
Botswana is contemplating building a new 615 MW coal-fired power station near its main generation plant to mitigate generation challenges at the facility. The 600 MW, coal-fired Morupule B power station has never operated at full capacity since construction in 2012 due to frequent breakdowns and is currently undergoing maintenance.
Zambia’s Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) will invest $500-million over the next two years to increase its solar power output and double the capacity of a power transmission line to Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior company official said on Monday. CEC owns the sole power transmission line between Congo and the Southern African Power Pool.
Government incubation organisation the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has selected AB Farms, led by entrepreneur Mogale Maleka, as the winner of the 2025 Global Cleantech Innovation Programme – South Africa (GCIP-SA) for the company’s hydroponic farming systems that function without continuous water or electricity supply. AB Farms was one of eight startups that received several months of mentorship, technical training and business development from TIA and its partners the UN Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which provides the funding.
South Africa’s state electricity utility added an 800 MW unit at the Kusile Power Station to the national grid, amid ongoing efforts to boost generation and bring an end to scheduled outages. The addition of Kusile’s Unit 6 brings Eskom closer to its objective of adding 2 500 MW of new capacity by the end of March.
South Africa must establish a diversified energy mix, which entails responsibly leveraging its regional endowments, such as coal and gas, while scaling up cleaner energy sources in a phased approach with realistic timelines, according to a White Paper, titled ‘Energy security and sustainability: Striking the South African balance’ by management consultancy Kearney. The country’s energy transition requires careful consideration of socioeconomic factors and pragmatic solutions to address its energy security crisis while supporting industrialisation and development, says Kearney partner and co-author Prashaen Reddy.
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