Reflecting on Marokane’s first 100 days as Eskom CEO
Engineering News editor Terence Creamer reflects on Dan Marokane’s first 100 days in office as Eskom CEO and the direction Eskom is taking under his leadership.
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SAWEA, Germany’s BWE partner to stimulate wind energy investment
Industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the German Wind Energy Association (Bundesverband Windenergie or BWE) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 6 with the mutual goal of promoting wind energy and advancing renewable energy solutions globally. The South African and German markets are expected to attract investment and facilitate knowledge exchange, with South Africa learning from Germany’s extensive experience in wind energy technology and infrastructure, SAWEA said in a statement.
Eskom ‘decouples’ renewables roll-out from coal station closure plan
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that a decision has been made to “decouple” the closure of its coal stations from the building, in partnership, of new renewable energy generation capacity linked to its goal of being a net-zero emitter by 2050 and the just energy transition strategy. In an address to members of the South African National Energy Association, Marokane also revealed that a board decision had been made for Eskom to participate directly in renewables projects on land adjacent to its existing power stations rather than releasing those grid-ready sites to private generators.
Marokane says R285m spent on diesel in May compared with R2.8bn in May 2023
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has rebuffed persistent suggestions that the utility is keeping loadshedding at bay owing to an “excessive” reliance on the diesel-fuelled open cycle gas turbines, reporting that it spent R285-million on diesel during May compared with R2.8-billion in the same month last year and against a budget for the month of R1.7-billion. Addressing the South African National Energy Association AGM against a backdrop of deep suspicion about how Eskom has managed to avoid resorting to rotational power cuts for 71 days, including over a highly competitive election period, Marokane attributed the stabilisation to the Generation Recovery Plan, which had been under way since March 2023.
NOA helps Tronox decarbonise its South African operations with 25-yr energy supply agreement
Local integrated energy company NOA Group Holdings has entered into a 25-year energy supply agreement with NYSE-listed titanium dioxide pigment manufacturer Tronox Holdings for its South African operating sites. Under the terms of the agreement, NOA will supply Tronox’s operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape with 497 GWh of renewable energy.
Namibia’s audacious plan to become a global green hydrogen hub
Early in May, King Philippe of Belgium was on the edge of the Namib desert to inaugurate a project that aims to help decarbonize European industry, and which might just enable one of Africa’s smallest economies to hit the clean-energy big time. It was a humble start for such grand designs, as Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba hosted the king at an unfinished site near the port of Walvis Bay on the southern Atlantic Ocean, the baking rust-colored dunescape silent except for an occasional truck passing on the new roadway.
Investment in clean energy to reach $2tr this year, outpacing investment in fossil fuels
Investment in clean energy technologies will climb to $2-trillion this year, almost double the amount spent on fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Two-thirds of the record $3-trillion invested in energy sources in 2024 will be devoted to sectors such as renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage and efficiency, even as higher financing costs hinder projects, the Paris-based agency said. The remaining $1-trillion will go to coal, gas and oil — a level that’s still too high to conform with global climate goals.
Eskom confirms conviction of suspect found tampering with infrastructure at Matla
State-owned power utility Eskom reports that one of the two accused suspects in a case involving critical infrastructure tampering has been convicted at the Kriel Magistrate Court and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.
The two suspects were arrested on February 24, 2022, on suspicion of stealing copper bars and installed copper at a substation in Mpumalanga. Eskom used drone surveillance to confirm the crime and suspects involved.
Balancell named fastest growing manufacturing company in Africa in new list
The Financial Times, in partnership with Statista, has published its list of Africa’s 125 Fastest Growing Companies for the Year. In the top spot for manufacturing was Balancell Energy, a South African business that designs, engineers and manufactures smart lithium-ion batteries for multiple applications.
Green Connection petitions court to ‘force’ Nersa, DMRE to supply Karpowership information
Environmental activist nonprofit organisation the Green Connection has taken the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to court in an effort to “force” them to supply key information regarding the Karpowership deals. Karpowership uses powerships, or floating power plants, that can anchor at ports and provide electricity facing power supply constraints.
