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Energy Regulator postpones Eskom tariff decision as Christmas Eve deadline looms

The Energy Regulator has postponed deciding on Eskom’s tariffs for 2023/24 and 2024/25 after the Electricity Subcommittee (ELS) of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) requested more time to finalise its recommendation – this only ten days out from a looming December 24 deadline for the regulator to finalise its decision as stipulated in an order made earlier in the year by the High Court. Eskom’s fifth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD5) revenue application, if fully approved, would translate into a 32% hike in its standard tariff on April 1, 2023, followed by a 9.74% increase in 2024/25.
December 14, 2022 by

New JV to build, operate battery recycling facilities in South Africa

US-based recycling platform for battery materials ACE Green Recycling and South African investment business Tabono Investments have signed a term sheet to form a joint venture (JV) to build and operate two environmentally sustainable battery recycling facilities in South Africa.  Through the JV, the companies aim to enact significant change to the management of the country’s battery waste. 
December 14, 2022 by

US researchers achieve unprecedented breakthrough in nuclear fusion

Late on Tuesday, South African time, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) confirmed what had been rumoured for the previous couple of days: a huge breakthrough in the field of controlled nuclear fusion research and development. Scientists and engineers of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in Livermore, in the state of California, had, for the first time ever, achieved fusion ignition (more technically called scientific energy breakeven). In plain English, the NIF experiment produced more energy from a controlled fusion reaction that it used to create that reaction. Hitherto, such outcomes had only been achieved with uncontrolled fusion reactions, that is, with thermonuclear weapons (popularly called hydrogen bombs or H-bombs). The NIF used 2.05 megaJoules (MJ) of energy to trigger a fusion reaction which produced 3.15 MJ of energy output. This happened on December 5.
December 14, 2022 by

Stats SA considers adding self-generated power to data set

South Africa’s statistics agency is considering including self-generated power in its monthly electricity-generation data as more households and businesses reduce their reliance on State-owned utility Eskom. Adding the metric would broaden a key indicator used by economists to compile estimates of gross domestic product at a time when consumers are being forced to find alternative sources of energy because Eskom’s old and poorly maintained plants can’t cope with demand.
December 14, 2022 by

High Court orders DMRE to release records of decision to include new coal power in IRP 2019

In an early victory for CancelCoal applicants, the Pretoria High Court on December 12 ordered Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to release records relating to the decision to include new coal-fired power in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), and to the 2020 Ministerial determination for new coal issued under the IRP. The court has ordered the Minister to release the documents in question and ordered government to pay costs, clearing the way for the main CancelCoal case to proceed, says the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), which represented the environmental applicants in the case, namely the African Climate Alliance, the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action and groundWork.
December 13, 2022 by

Puma Energy has 184 sites with solar power

Fuel retail chain Puma Energy says 184 of its sites are now powered, in part, by solar power installations. This accounts for about 39% of its 467 owned and leased fuel stations where solar installations are commercially and technically feasible and it remains on track to reach its target of 200 solar installations by the end of this year.
December 13, 2022 by

Diversification of critical minerals supply chain key to sustainability of energy transition …

The UK needs to establish independent, sustainable and resilient supply chains to diversify its sourcing of critical minerals and reduce dependence on such minerals being sourced from China, said UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre chairperson Paul Atherley, who is also chairperson of magnet metal and rare earths miner Pensana.

He was called to give evidence to a House of Commons Select Committee on Critical Minerals, relating to the recently enacted National Security and Investment Act, on December 6.

December 12, 2022 by

Germany extends €15m grant in support of Secunda green hydrogen project

The German government has approved a €15-million (about R277-million) grant in favour of chemicals group Linde in support of a renewable hydrogen project in Mpumalanga known as HySHiFT, which is being pursued jointly with Sasol, Enertrag and Hydregen Energy. The grant was confirmed during the recent visit to South Africa of German Economic Affairs and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck, who is also Germany’s Vice Chancellor. The funding has been approved through Habeck’s own Ministry, known by its German acronym of BMWK.
December 12, 2022 by