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Mantashe says Eskom to seek permission for coal-to-gas switch at some old stations

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says he expects Eskom to make an application soon for a Section 34 determination to facilitate gas-to-power generation at some of the coal power stations that the utility aims to repower and repurpose as part of its unfolding just energy transition strategy. Speaking during an energy dialogue hosted by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) and the Financial Mail, Mantashe indicated that the determination would be “in addition” to the 3 000 MW allocation for gas-to-power in the Integrated Resource Plan of 2019 (IRP 2019), which outlines the new electricity generation to be introduced to the system by 2030.

Indaba ties in with city’s energy plans

With the City of Cape Town being an emerging leader in the new energy space in South Africa, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says hosting the Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) bodes well for the city’s energy plans. “While we want to focus the attention on Cape Town as a tourism and event’s destination, we also want to showcase the innovative work that the city is doing on energy: reducing our reliance on State-owned power utility Eskom, increasing our reliance on renewable power, buying our own independent power and generation capacity and investing in storage. Our plans regarding the procurement of significant renewable power of our own in Cape Town will be publicly released in upcoming weeks.”

Council to coordinate content at Indaba

The South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC), supported by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), is collaborating with the Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) to profile South African companies in the energy sector at the event. SAEEC is coordinating the engagement between business advisers from Africa with South African companies, and collaborating with AEI organisers regarding content to be discussed at the event.

Power Quality the focus at AEI

The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) aims to raise awareness of the importance of Power Quality in the manufacturing industry at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba (AEI). Power Quality refers to the degree to which a power system conforms to established standards; in the South African context the standard is NRS048. It refers to voltage, waveform, and frequency parameters of power, and deviations in these parameters affect equipment connected to the power system in its ability to function properly.

EPC company a gold partner at Indaba

Engineering procurement and construction (EPC) company Lesedi is participating at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) as a gold partner, says Lesedi business development executive Shane Pereira. This will be the company’s eighth year of participation.

Law firm to provide insight on energy laws

Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright will participate at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba as a partner, providing a legal perspective on energy sector laws. The global law firm provides a business law service, with an industry focus throughout major key industries, including the energy industry.

Creecy welcomes progressive carbon tax increases

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has welcomed the announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana that government plans to progressively increase the carbon price every year to reach $20/t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by 2026, $30/t of CO2e by 2030 and $120/t of CO2e by 2050. “This policy trajectory for the carbon tax really will be very helpful in allowing us to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution that we submitted for 2025 and 2030 to the United Nations in October last year,” she noted.

Nersa approves 9.61% Eskom hike for 2022/23

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) announced on Thursday that Eskom’s tariff would rise by 9.61% on April 1, an increase that is less than half the 20.5% hike for which Eskom had applied. The tariff decision includes allowable revenue of R250-billion, against the R293-billion for which Eskom applied, which translates to a sub-inflation increase in the retail tariff of 3.49%.