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Three risk mitigation projects finally advancing

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the latest developments in the Risk Mitigation energy procurement programme, what the prospects are for all the energy procurement projects that are under way, efforts to streamline processes for both utility and embedded generation projects and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s announcement that the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 will be updated.

Motor efficiency critical for sustainability

In pursuit of global targets to reduce climate change, many countries have enforced the use of various efficiency classes of motors, but Africa, including South Africa, does not have something similar in place. Considering that between 40% and 50% of power consumed on an electricity grid can be attributed to the use of electric motors, manufacturer Zest WEG sales manager for electric motors Francois Labuschagne states that “any improvement in motor efficiency would greatly reduce the total electricity load”.

Renergen says gas project can catalyse Free State manufacturing revival

Emerging integrated energy producer Renergen is confident that its Virginia gas project, in the Free State, will become a catalyst for “more than just gas” in South Africa, with CEO Stefano Marani expressing optimism about the project’s positive impact on the province as it develops into a manufacturing hub. The aim of the project, which comprises exploration and production rights over 187 000 ha of gasfields, is to produce all of South Africa’s helium requirements and export the balance of production, while also producing the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will be locally available for commercial consumption.