Author Archive for: Engineering News

Renewable energy company G7 has failed to interdict Eskom from applying its new grid access rules. Had the interdict been granted, the progress of new energy projects, both those planned by the private sector and those commissioned to supply Eskom, would have stalled. Judge Basheer Vally dismissed the application for an interdict, with costs, on Monday. Part B of the case – on the substantive issue of Eskom’s authority to change grid rules – is still to be argued. 

The head of Eskom’s transmission division says he was not surprised by the decision of the Energy Regulator to approve only one of the three licence applications made by the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTC), which is being unbundled from Eskom. However, the Presidency has expressed concern that the decision to process the licence applications separately could delay the operationalisation of the independent grid company, which it views as a priority reform for the embattled sector.

Stage 4 loadshedding will continue to be implemented until 05:00 on Saturday, Eskom has said. Thereafter, various stages of loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Monday. Breakdowns have reduced to 16 686MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 3 966MW. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit at Camden, Duvha and two generating units at Kendal power stations were returned to service. But in the same period, a generating unit at Medupi and two generating units at Kriel power stations were taken offline for repairs. “The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal, Majuba and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints,” Eskom said.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has launched the Energy One-Stop Shop (EOSS), as well as the Energy Resilience Fund (ERF), as part of efforts to streamline the process of renewable energy project development and to enable more investment. The EOSS is aimed at fast-tracking energy projects, in line with government’s broader effort over the last few years to increase the supply of energy available to the grid.

Universal clean cooking access could be reached worldwide by 2030 with yearly investment of $8-billion, and clean cooking is a cornerstone of global efforts to improve energy access, gender equity, economic development and human dignity, says global body the International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Dr Fatih Birol. Nearly one-in-three people around the world cook their meals over open fires or on basic stoves, resulting in significant damage to health, living standards and gender equality.