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R40m earmarked to help curb, prevent electricity vandalism in Cape Town

The City of Cape Town is investing R40-million to curb and prevent vandalism of electricity infrastructure in the province. The funds were set aside as part of the city’s approved 2022/23 budget. In a media release on Monday, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen said that the injection would focus on securing critical infrastructure and to further boost security patrols in hotspot areas and permanent security deployments to strategic energy …
June 14, 2022 by

SAPVIA elects Dr Rethabile Melamu CEO, Chanda Nxumalo chairperson

Industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has elected Dr Rethabile Melamu as its new CEO and Chanda Nxumalo as its new chairperson during the organisation’s tenth annual general meeting held on June 9. Melamu is a chemical and environmental engineer by training and has become renowned for her international expertise in the green economy and energy sectors.
June 13, 2022 by

Anuva seeks to expand solar PV investment portfolio

Alternative investment fund manager Anuva Investments is seeking to collaborate with industry experts and reputable engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partners to fund solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the agricultural, commercial and industrial, as well as residential space.

To supplement its existing agriculture-focussed solar PV project pipeline with projects in the Western Cape and North West provinces, Anuva will continue to source and secure new technical partners in other sectors.

June 13, 2022 by

Motsepe plans to boost clean power generation seven fold

African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP), backed by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, is looking to boost renewable power generation sevenfold to become one of the biggest clean electricity providers on the continent. The Johannesburg-based company ultimately has a target of adding as much as 5 000 MW of assets. It’s invested in more than 700 MW already and looking with partners at an additional 2 000 MW by the end of the second quarter next year.
June 13, 2022 by

Exxaro secures Nersa registration for 80 MW solar project at its Grootegeluk coal mine

Diversified mining and renewable energy company Exxaro Resources and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cennergi has confirmed the successful registration of the 80 MW Lephalale Solar Project (LSP) by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and the regulator’s executive committee.

The project marks the first phase of decarbonisation at the Grootegeluk mine, in Limpopo.

June 13, 2022 by

New report outlines strategy for ending load-shedding by early 2024, but delivery hinges on …

A comprehensive strategy for drastically reducing, or even eliminating, the scourge of rotational power cuts in South Africa by early 2024 has been outlined in a new public-interest report published by Meridian Economics. The authors warn, however, that load-shedding is poised to rise to extreme levels unless unprecedented interventions, underpinned by “substantial political will”, are taken urgently to introduce about 10 GW of mostly wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) generators into the energy starved system by that date.
June 13, 2022 by

Nedbank CIB facilitates R10bn loan to realise Harmony’s renewable energy goal

Nedbank, acting through its corporate and investment banking (CIB) division, has coordinated and structured an innovative financing solution for Harmony Gold to enable the miner to refinance and upsize its key corporate debt facilities through a R10-billion package.

JSE-listed Harmony formally appointed Nedbank CIB to act as a global coordinator and bookrunner, as well as a global sustainability coordinator, to structure and arrange the substantial dual currency, multi-tranche debt package.

June 10, 2022 by

SAWEA appreciates President’s energy reform efforts

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has applauded President Cyril Ramaphosa’s support for the energy sector’s transformation and welcomes the clarity he has provided on various reforms.

The association deems the reforms vital for the sector to become competitive, with multiple generators of power competing to supply electricity at the lowest cost and selling power directly to customers.

June 10, 2022 by

Solving Eskom’s inability to meet demand requires multistakeholder participation – EIUG

The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) says that the task of mitigating risks related to the system performance and defining future electricity supply is too complex to be resolved by power utility Eskom alone, but instead requires active participation by other stakeholders as well.

EIUG CEO Fanele Mondi notes that the latest Eskom system status briefing (its winter plan) and poor performance during May, are evidence of increased levels of system strain, characterised by growing unplanned generation outages and a shortage of generation capacity to perform maintenance and meet demand.

June 10, 2022 by