Entries by

Ramokgopa attacks climate finance pact

South Africa’s electricity minister attacked the country’s groundbreaking $8.5-billion climate finance pact with some of the world’s richest nations whereby it will close some coal-fired power plants and re-purpose them to produce renewable energy. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told a meeting organized by Standard Bank Group that the closure of Eskom Holdings’s Komati Power Station, the first plant to be shuttered, was “an injustice that is unfolding at Komati in the name of the transition.”
July 25, 2023 by

IFC ready to support private grid investment in South Africa

The World Bank’s private sector financier, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has indicated a willingness to fund public–private partnerships (PPPs) aimed at expanding and strengthening South Africa’s transmission infrastructure. IFC VP for Africa Sérgio Pimenta tells Engineering News that the private sector already plays a significant role in deploying electricity grids in most developed countries and some emerging markets and that South Africa is well-placed to pilot such PPPs in light of the urgent need to expand the domestic grid, particularly in provinces with potent wind and solar resources.
July 25, 2023 by

Loadshedding bumped to Stage 5

Power utility Eskom has announced that Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 14:00 on Monday. This was “due to further delays in returning generating units to service”, as well as “the further failure of 5 generating units” on Monday. 
July 25, 2023 by

Ramokgopa ‘worried and extremely upset’ over Koeberg outage slips

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he is “worried and also extremely upset” about developments at the Koeberg nuclear power station, where fears have increased that both units could be out simultaneously later this year owing to another Unit 1 outage slip.

Speaking during his weekly Energy Action Plan briefing, Ramokgopa said “he was none the wiser” about the status of the current Unit 1 outage, despite having met with Koeberg managers during the week.

July 25, 2023 by

Any interdict of Eskom’s new grid rules would create ‘problem’ for renewables roll-out

The South African government has expressed concern that its plans for the addition of new renewables capacity could be disrupted should a legal challenge launched against Eskom’s recently announced grid allocation rules prevail and has also indicated that it would favour a settlement instead. G7 Renewable Energies, together with two of its wind farm companies, has launched a two-part application to, firstly, interdict the implementation of Eskom’s Interim Grid Capacity Allocation (IGCA) rules, which came into force on June 27, as well as to have the rules reviewed and set aside based on their alleged illegality under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
July 25, 2023 by

Enter the weekend on Stage 5 as Eskom battles to meet rising demand

Due to higher than anticipated demand, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until midnight on Friday, Eskom said in a statement. Thereafter, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Sunday. Breakdowns have reduced to 16 302MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 3 616MW, it added. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha and two generating units at Matla power stations were returned to service. But at the same time, a generating unit each at Grootvlei, Kendal, Kriel and two generating units at Camden power stations were taken offline for repairs. “The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints,” Eskom said.
July 25, 2023 by

Western Cape seeking to use electricity crisis to develop low carbon energy system

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde on Friday highlighted that his administration had assigned R7-billion, over the next three years, to create an “ecosystem” that would facilitate private sector investment in renewable electricity generation capacity in the province. He was addressing the inaugural Wesgro Business Outlook conference in Cape Town. (Wesgro is the Western Cape’s trade, investment and tourism promotion agency.) The Western Cape’s energy demand currently totalled 4 000 MW. The provincial government was targeting the creation of new generating capacity totalling 5 700 MW. This was to allow for, and power, economic growth.
July 25, 2023 by

Eskom cancels R11bn deals in South Africa crackdown

Eskom cancelled coal-supply agreements and construction contracts valued at R11-billion, as the South African authorities crack down on crime at the State-owned utility, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. Litigation by Eskom has also had coal-supply agreements worth R3.7-billion declared invalid, and other coal and construction deals worth R10-billion have been set aside, Ramaphosa said in response to a question submitted by an opposition lawmaker in parliament.
July 19, 2023 by

SAWEA, climate commission support renewable energy masterplan, industrialisation

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) have welcomed the release of the draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), which was developed by the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). Stakeholders have been invited to review and comment on the draft masterplan.
July 18, 2023 by