Author Archive for: Engineering News

On Monday, Fitch again maintained its “BB-” credit rating on South Africa – despite now expecting no economic growth this year. The US credit rating agency kept its “stable” outlook on South Africa’s long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings.

The government-default component of the government guarantees extended to the independent power producers (IPPs) that will be selected to build new solar and wind projects under the upcoming seventh bid window (BW7) of South Africa’s programme for the procurement of renewable energy will be reduced from 100% to 80%. IPP Office head Bernard Magoro tells Engineering News that the reduction follows a National Treasury review of the Government Support Framework Agreement, as well as consultations with the market over the past year.

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.

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.