TNPA issues RFP for Port of Ngqura terminal operator

State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the appointment of a terminal operator to fund, design, develop, construct, operate, maintain and transfer a liquid bulk terminal at the Port of Ngqura, for a concession period of 25 years. The RFP is a key step in the relocation of the tank farm from the Port of Port Elizabeth to the Port of Ngqura, in line with approved port development plans.
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Big 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands battery storage project achieves commercial close

The 153 MW/ 612 MWh Red Sands battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the Northern Cape has advanced to commercial close, following the signing of project agreements with the Department of Electricity and Energy and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA). The project is being developed by Globeleq in partnership with African Rainbow Energy, and was selected as a preferred bidder in 2024 under South Africa’s inaugural BESS bidding round for 513 MW/ 2 952 MWh across five substation sites selected in the same province by the NTCSA.
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Opinion: Demystifying small-scale embedded generation compliance

In this opinion article, Professor Vally Padayachee outlines a proposed pathway for ensuring the safe and affordable adoption of small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems, such as rooftop solar. The article outlines the challenges associated with widespread SSEG adoption, including inconsistent policies, high compliance costs, unclear standards, and safety concerns. However, Padayachee also provides a “position paper on a proposed standardised, harmonised, and affordability driven …
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Consultants key to building climate-ready infrastructure

As Africa faces growing climate threats – from droughts and floods to rising temperatures – the continent’s infrastructure must become more resilient. Consulting engineering company Alpenglow Consulting says consulting firms are now critical actors in designing projects that not only withstand these challenges but also help communities adapt and thrive. Innovative design, data-driven climate modelling and collaboration with financiers and governments are the means through which consulting firms are embedding climate resilience at every stage of infrastructure development, says Alpenglow Consulting consultant Mbamwabi Chilembo.
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Reserve clears invasive species, aids biomass production

Black wattle trees, an invasive species, outcompete native plant species, thereby reducing biodiversity and significantly impacting on water resources, which is why Eastern-Cape-based wildlife reserve Lalibela approached the Coega Biomass Centre (CBC) for a mutually-beneficial solution. Black wattle, Acacia mearnsii, is an invasive species that arrived in South Africa from Australasia. A single adult tree can absorb up to 40 ℓ/d of underground water, and the plants spread rapidly. According to the National Environmental Management Biodiversity and the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations, landowners are legally required to manage these species.
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