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Actom wins battery energy storage system supply contracts

Electrical equipment and services company Actom has been awarded contracts to supply battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for two international electrical companies appointed to design, execute and manage the first phase of State-owned Eskom’s two-phase programme, launched earlier this year. Actom’s Power Transformers, Medium-Voltage (MV) Switchgear and High-Voltage Equipment and Distribution Transformers divisions were awarded various contracts for South Korean industrial equipment company Hyosung Heavy Industries and Chinese electrical equipment and switchgear company Pinggao Group.
July 17, 2023 by

Loadshedding reduced further as six generating units come back online

Loadshedding will be reduced to Stages 1 and 3 from 5:00 on Tuesday, following the return to service of six generating units over the weekend, Eskom said in a statement on Monday. However, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Monday until 05:00 on Tuesday, as previously communicated. After that, South Africans will see Stage 1 loadshedding from 05:00 until 16:00, followed by Stage 3 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 on Wednesday. This pattern will continue to be implemented daily until further notice, Eskom said. “Breakdowns have reduced to 15 747MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 1 946MW. Since Friday, a generating unit each at Kriel, Lethabo, Majuba, Matla and two generating units at Arnot power stations were returned to service. The delay in returning to service a generating unit each at Kendal, Matla and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints,” the utility added.
July 17, 2023 by

Ramokgopa deeply worried about prospect of both Koeberg units being unavailable due to Unit 1 …

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed deep concern that another delay to the return to service of Koeberg Unit 1 could result in both of the nuclear power station’s units being out of service simultaneously later this year. The unit is currently undergoing a long-duration outage that includes the replacement of its three steam generators, which is one of the preconditions for extending the plant’s life for 20 years.
July 17, 2023 by

Compressor control solutions offer optimisation, increased efficiency

Automation technology and solutions specialist Rockwell Automation offers solutions for controlling and protecting compressors; these solutions improve energy efficiency, optimise machine performance and allow for making data-driven decisions that enable efficient and effective operations. The solutions include hardware and software, with application-focussed programming required to provide a complete solution, consequently enabling customers to efficiently manage the machine during operational times, says Rockwell Automation compressor specialist Andries Kruger.
July 14, 2023 by

Brace for a weekend of Stage 6 loadshedding

Stage 6 loadshedding will continue to be implemented over the weekend in order to replenish emergency reserves, Eskom said in a statement on Thursday.  “The increase in the demand for electricity due to the cold weather, particularly on Monday and Tuesday, was anticipated, however this demand exceeded what was forecasted,” the power utility said.
July 13, 2023 by

Eskom Generation mulling concession models as it seeks to improve coal plant performance

Eskom’s generation business is currently weighing various concession models as the utility assesses ways to improve the performance of its breakdown-prone coal-fired power stations in a context of ongoing financial constraints, as well as restrictions on the raising of new debt. Eskom Generation engineering GM Thomas Conradie confirmed during an EE Business Intelligence webinar on Thursday that the options ranged from the concessioning of entire plants to private operators, to the concessioning of ringfenced functions within power stations.
July 13, 2023 by

US agency sees Lobito rail corridor helping to diversify critical minerals supply chains

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Scott Nathan has reiterated the American government’s interest in helping to finance the Lobito rail corridor, linking the copper and cobalt mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port. Nathan, who is heading the US Delegation to the US-Africa Business Summit in Botswana this week, made specific reference to the corridor during a virtual media briefing hosted on the sidelines of the summit.
July 12, 2023 by