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Treasury engages municipalities on debt owed to Eskom

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the longstanding and growing problem of municipalities’ outstanding debt to power utility Eskom: the  National Treasury’s engagement with municipalities on a scheme to potentially write off their debt to Eskom; and the conditions that may be placed on municipalities wanting to participate in the scheme.
May 5, 2023 by

Event to focus on JET

With this year’s Enlit Africa event themed ‘The Multi-dimensional, multi-sectoral energy transition’, Enlit Africa content head Claire Volkwyn says this was the natural progression following last year’s theme of collaboration.
May 5, 2023 by

Solar trailers transform industry

Equipped with solar panels that power various farming equipment, automation company Iritron’s off-grid solar trailers are especially useful for small-scale farmers who do not have access to grid power at all times. “Solar trailers are a game-changer for small farmers. They provide a reliable source of power that farmers can use to irrigate their crops, run their borehole pumps and power other equipment such as incubators,” says Iritron divisional manager Gerhard Greeff.
May 5, 2023 by

BLSA defends R18m support for private investigation at Eskom

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has defended the organisation’s decision to respond to a request by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to fund a private investigation into crime and corruption at the State-owned utility and has also confirmed that BLSA provided R18-million to support the initiative. However, she insists that BLSA had no role in the appointment of George Fivaz Forensic & Risk, nor in vetting the lead investigator Tony Oosthuizen, who has been identified in media reports as having been an apartheid military intelligence operative who allegedly claims to have killed 20 anti-apartheid activist.
May 4, 2023 by

Solar-powered PUE systems unlock more revenue, lower costs for African farmers, SMEs

Productive Use of Energy (PUE) applications powered by solar panels pose a massive opportunity for small businesses on the continent, particularly in the agricultural space, to increase revenue and achieve lower operational costs.

The Africa Solar Industry Association (Afsia) on May 4 published its ‘Productive Use Catalogue’, which unpacks the definition of PUE, as many stakeholders have varying definitions; its different applications; how beneficial it has been for many companies and end-users; and what could be expected in the near future.

May 4, 2023 by

Preece shares details of Gold Fields’ ongoing renewables plans for South Deep

Gold mining company Gold Fields has revealed that is investigating the feasibility of installing additional solar and wind power at its South Deep gold mine, in South Africa. Interim CEO Martin Preece said on May 4 during the company’s first-quarter operational update that an additional 10 000 solar photovoltaic panels were planned for installation at the mine this year. However, he said the mine was reaching a limit in terms of how much solar could help before batteries had to be installed.
May 4, 2023 by

Busa affirms support for an NHI backed by public/private collaboration

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) CEO Cas Coovadia on Thursday stressed the organisation’s support for the establishment of National Health Insurance, but only if there is collaboration between the private and public sectors. Speaking on Day 1 of the second Presidential Health Compact Summit, Coovadia said the partnership was important to coordinate healthcare delivery to South Africans.
May 4, 2023 by