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Eskom seeks to show prudency of running diesel plants as its pegs cost of load-shedding at R9.53/kWh

State-owned electricity producer Eskom sought to demonstrate the economic prudency of running the diesel-fuelled open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) harder to mitigate load-shedding during the fourth day of National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) public hearings into its latest allowable revenue application. Eskom is seeking allowable revenue of R293.4-billion for 2022/23, which would result in a 20.5% tariff hike from April 1 if granted.
January 20, 2022 by

Renewable alternatives critical to support Mpumalanga’s decarbonisation drive

The transformation and decarbonisation of the South African energy system is gathering momentum; however, a regional plan is required for the coal mining region of Mpumalanga, to prevent considerable economic and socioeconomic losses and ensure a just transition, and a push for renewable energy in the province has the potential to achieve that transition. This is according to the South Africa Benefits study report: “From coal to renewables in Mpumalanga: Employment effects, opportunities for local value creation, skills requirements, and gender-inclusiveness”, which was published on January 18.
January 20, 2022 by

Eskom says some industrial customers require ‘urgent’ assistance, but urges targeted subsidies

Eskom has acknowledged that urgent interventions are needed to assist certain large industrial customers, some of which are competing with international companies whose electricity is subsidised, to navigate the transition to cost-reflective electricity tariffs. In a presentation on the third day of public hearings into the State-owned utility’s 2022/23 allowable revenue application, CFO Calib Cassim said that the country needed to assist industry to remain sustainable, as retaining such operations was critical from an economic perspective.
January 19, 2022 by

NPA steps in as Optimum Coal Terminal interdict falls away

The Johannesburg High Court has declined to grant a declaratory order sought by directors of the Gupta-linked Tegeta Exploration and Resources to prevent business rescue practitioners from progressing the rescue of Optimum Coal Terminal. The judgment, handed down on Tuesday, has, however, immediately sparked an engagement between the business rescue practitioners of the Terminal and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which has threatened to seek another interdict if talks fail.
January 19, 2022 by

Eskom sustains 20.5% request despite big updates to cost assumptions

State-owned electricity producer Eskom has submitted major updates to the cost assumptions included in its latest allowable revenue application but has nevertheless sustained its request for a 20.5% tariff hike for its upcoming 2022/23 financial year. In a presentation delivered on the second day of National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) public hearings on the application, CFO Calib Cassim said the updates reflected changes that had arisen subsequent to its initial submission, which was made on June 2 last year.
January 18, 2022 by

Investec to offer private bank clients solar-power financing

Investec plans to offer its private banking clients funding to install solar panels and battery storage systems in homes, bolstering its own green credentials and providing a power solution in a country regularly hit by electricity outages. The offering, which follows a pilot programme for 1 000 customers in South Africa, will allow clients to tap unutilized home-loan facilities or have money re-advanced to them to put in place the systems that can cost about $10 000, or significantly more depending on the size of the property.
January 18, 2022 by

Brazil takes first step towards expanding its nuclear generation capacity

Brazil has begun the process of identifying new sites for new nuclear power plants. The first step was the recent signing of a cooperation agreement between the federal Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Centre for Electric Energy Research (acronymed to Cepel, in Portuguese). Brazil has one of the lowest carbon electricity generation systems in the world. This is the result of its very heavy dependence on hydroelectricity, which stood at 80% for many years. But by 2018 this figure had declined to 65%, entirely as a result of changes in rainfall patterns. Brazil thus needs to diversify its generation capacity while retaining its low level of carbon emissions.
January 18, 2022 by