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Seifsa, Eskom discuss private generation as key to solving South Africa’s power challenges

Industry organisation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) this week held a meeting with State-owned power utility Eskom, during which greater private sector investment into electricity generation capacity was identified as a key enabler to resolving the electricity supply challenge facing the country. Eskom does not see its future role as being one where it will be the primary source of new large-scale generation capacity, as its balance sheet simply does not permit this, Seifsa notes.
April 26, 2022 by

Progress being made to clear way for 4.5 GW of distributed generation, Presidency assures

Constraints to implementing a more streamlined registration process for distributed generation power plants below 100 MW have been fully scoped and are being addressed systematically under the aegis of Operation Vulindlela, the head of The Presidency’s project management office has confirmed. In an interview with Engineering News, Rudi Dicks reports that the issues are being tackled during weekly meetings at which private sector stakeholders, Eskom and responsible government departments are present, including mineral resources and energy, forestry fisheries and the environment, public enterprises and the National Treasury.
April 26, 2022 by

Europe’s energy rush spurs Sasol to quicken green hydrogen plan

Europe’s scramble to find new sources of energy to reduce its reliance on Russia has given Sasol, South Africa’s biggest fuel producer, a new purpose to accelerate its green hydrogen plans. Sasol is focusing on green hydrogen — made by machines called electrolyzers that are powered by the wind and sun — in South Africa’s northwest coast. The company is doing a feasibility study that it expects to complete in two years, according to Sasol’s CEO Fleetwood Grobler.
April 26, 2022 by

Investec launches first green bond

Banking and wealth management firm Investec has reaffirmed its commitment to funding a sustainable future by issuing its first green bond, which is backed by a number of Investec’s flagship renewable energy projects, all of which are helping to create a cleaner future for South Africa.

The bonds raised R1-billion under Investec’s Domestic Medium-Term Note bond programme, which was 3.8 times oversubscribed – revealing significant appetite among institutional investors who want to make a positive impact in terms of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

April 25, 2022 by

Documentary seeks to ignite conversation on Mpumalanga’s just transition

A new documentary, highlighting both the fears and potential of pursuing a so-called just transition in the coalfields of South Africa, has been released on YouTube. The 30-minute video includes interviews with community members, workers and businesspeople from the Steve Tshwete and Emalahleni municipalities, in Mpumalanga, whose lives and livelihoods are currently inextricably linked to coal.
April 25, 2022 by

We owe the board and management of Eskom our full support, Ramaphosa asserts

“We owe the board and management of Eskom our full support as they work to turn the utility around,” President Cyril Ramaphosa writes in his weekly newsletter. Published against the backdrop of a recent bout of Stage 4 load-shedding and fresh finger-pointing over who is to blame for intensifying load-shedding, Ramaphosa insists that the crisis has its roots in events that pre-date the current Eskom leadership.
April 25, 2022 by

Cast resin transformers show significant benefits

Electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand’s range of cast resin transformers (CRT) has been designed for high-efficiency, enhanced safety and low environmental impact during energy distribution in diverse applications. Typical installations include data centres, shopping malls, hospitals and residential buildings. CRTs are also suitable for photovoltaic (PV) installations and wind power, as well as offshore applications, the railways, shipping and airport facilities.
April 22, 2022 by

Delaying projects puts pressure on limited skills

The delay of emergency-generation capacity projects – all part of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) – because of the powership court case, will not only affect independent power producers but also have a knock-on effect on demand for local skills and resources, says recruitment and staffing solutions company Quyn International MD Wayne Alcock.
April 22, 2022 by