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Botswana seeks new Eskom power deal as supply crisis deepens

Government officials from Botswana will meet with South Africa’s electricity ministry this week after power-import costs more than doubled, worsening a supply crisis. Breakdowns at Botswana’s main plant, the 600 MW Morupule B facility, have caused blackouts that last as many as four hours. South Africa’s state-owned power company fills the shortfall, but Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. has raised tariffs significantly, Botswana’s energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, told lawmakers Monday.
April 1, 2025 by

Globeleq appoints Jonathan Hoffman as fulltime CEO

Independent power producer Globeleq has appointed interim CEO Jonathan Hoffman as its permanent Group CEO following a thorough and extensive search process that evaluated internal and external candidates. Hoffman joined Globeleq in 2010. He was appointed chief development officer in 2020 and took over as interim CEO in July 2024.
March 31, 2025 by

George insists new air-pollution exemptions for eight Eskom coal stations not a ‘blanket …

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has granted Eskom air-pollution exemptions for eight power stations that would otherwise have been forced to close on April 1. He insists, however, that the exemptions do not represent a “blanket reprieve” and that they have been granted together with “rigorous conditions”. On December 10, Eskom applied for relief from the minimum emission standards (MES) for eight of its coal-fired power stations, including Duvha, Kendal, Lethabo, Majuba, Matimba, Matla, Medupi, and Tutuka.
March 31, 2025 by

The Southern African Power Pool looks ahead to growth as it marks 30 years

Southern Africa, like much of the rest of the continent, has long struggled with inadequate electricity supply. Yet, amid the chronic shortages, some countries find themselves sitting on surpluses while their neighbours remain in the dark. This state of affairs led the 12 inland members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to flick the switch on a bold idea – the creation of a central electricity trading hub – in March 1995 to take advantage of the surpluses by sharing electricity across the region. Although it started as a regional cooperation and electricity resource sharing initiative, it later shifted to a more competitive set of wholesale electricity markets, including a short-term energy market, introduced in 2001, and a day-ahead market, which was added in 2009.
March 28, 2025 by

Nelspruit branch helps paper and pulp facility remain competitive

South Africa’s paper and pulp industry is a vital economic sector, with the adoption of sustainable practices, such as improved energy efficiency, having bolstered its resilience despite challenges such as high transportation costs, water and energy intensity and limited suitable forestry land. Drive technology and automation specialist SEW-EURODRIVE  says it has dedicated many years to modernising the industry through key initiatives that ensure cost effectiveness and alignment with global technology and trends. Bringing these advancements to Mpumalanga, which is the home of South Africa’s paper sector, the company has supplied purpose-built and precisely engineered industrial gears, geared motors, servo drives and a range of electronic products that were tailored to meet an operation’s specific needs.
March 28, 2025 by

South African Renewable Energy Masterplan approved for implementation by Cabinet

Cabinet has finally approved the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), which will seek to leverage green industrialisation opportunities from the country’s deployment of wind, solar and battery storage facilities. The SAREM was drafted well ahead of the 2024 elections and has now been adopted by the multiparty Government of National Unity, with Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré having been delegated political responsibility for its implementation.
March 27, 2025 by

Ivanplats signs ten-year green-electricity deal with Enpower for Platreef

Registered energy trader Enpower Trading has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with platinum mine developer Ivanplats for the yearly delivery of 48.30 GWh of renewable electricity to the Platreef mine, which is under construction on the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex in Limpopo. The wheeled electricity will be sourced from SolarAfrica Energy’s 342 MW SunCentral PV plant in De Aar, located in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.
March 26, 2025 by

Decision on Eskom’s application for more air pollution exemptions to be announced on March 31

Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George will on March 31 announce a decision regarding Eskom’s application for additional minimum emission standards (MES) exemptions for some of its coal-fired power stations. In May last year, then Minister Barbara Creecy granted Eskom permission to continue to operate Hendrina, Grootvlei, Arnot, Camden and Kriel at existing MES plant limits until March 31, 2030, after which the stations would be decommissioned.
March 26, 2025 by