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Ngonye sun-tracking solar plant in Zambia a pioneer in sub-Saharan Africa

Renewable energy multinational Enel Green Power’s (EGP’s) Ngonye solar plant, in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone, is using tracking systems that feature solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to track the movement of the sun throughout the day, capturing sunlight and converting the energy into electricity. EGP highlights that this is the only site in sub-Saharan Africa to use tracking technology from Convert Italia, with the choice to use this made when designated land from the solar farm was not large enough to accommodate the planned infrastructure.
January 13, 2022 by

South African prepaid startup WiSolar plans initial fundraise

WiSolar, a South African startup that sells solar power on a prepaid basis, plans to raise R45-million this quarter in its first funding round as it gears up for growth. The company, founded by Tonye Irims in 2016, plans to expand from offering its product to residential home owners to working with property developers to install decentralised solar-power systems in buildings being constructed. Its current model sees systems installed at properties that are then paid for over as long as 72 months through the prepaid purchase of power.
January 12, 2022 by

Corruption Watch turns focus to Eskom in review of Zondo Commission report

Corruption Watch has released its latest statement sharing findings of the first report released by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which identifies the key players who Judge Raymond Zondo believes were embroiled in what he termed a “mastery of undue influence” at State-owned enterprises (SOEs). Corruption Watch this time turned its focus to former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, who is alleged to have interfered in Eskom’s business dealings with Gupta-owned TNA Media, despite many protestations to the contrary, when SOEs were under his watch between 2010 and 2014.
January 12, 2022 by

Eskom calls for community help to combat theft, vandalism of its assets

State-owned power utility Eskom requests that community members play an active role in preventing criminal activities and minimise vandalism of its assets. Eskom continues to experience high incidents of theft and vandalism of its distribution infrastructure around the country. The perpetrators vandalise and steal transformers and copper cables and bypass meter boxes, substations, control rooms and security fences, impacting on the security of supply.
January 10, 2022 by

JERA, MHI demo plant aimed at increasing ammonia co-firing rate at coal-fired boilers

Japanese power generation company JERA and industrial equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will conduct a project to develop and demonstrate technology to increase the ammonia co-firing rate at coal-fired boilers, after their grant application, under the Green Innovation Fund programme of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation, was accepted. This project aims to develop an ammonia single-fuel burner suitable for coal-fired boilers and to demonstrate operation of the burner at actual boilers. The project is expected to continue until 2028.
January 7, 2022 by

The EU includes nuclear in a draft amendment to its clean energy ‘taxonomy’

The European Commission, which is the executive branch of the European Union (EU), has included nuclear energy in its draft ‘Complementary Designated Act’ (CDA) of the EU ‘Taxonomy Regulation’ regarding green energy. The draft CDA, which had previously been leaked to the media, has now been formally released to EU member states for consultation. (The draft CDA also includes natural gas as a green energy source, but only on a transitional basis. This means that natural gas will have to be phased out as more sustainable energy sources become available. The terminal date for the construction of taxonomy-compliant natural gas energy projects is December 31, 2030.)
January 7, 2022 by

Sefa provides $1m to support Botswana’s energy transition

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (Sefa), managed by development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB), has approved a $1-million grant to facilitate Botswana’s transition to clean energy. The technical assistance project supports the government of Botswana in closing critical gaps in policy, regulatory and legal frameworks, which were identified at the Africa Energy Market Place and which include the introduction of least-cost planning, reduction of adverse environmental impacts and support for increased private sector participation in renewable energy generation investments.
January 7, 2022 by

Clean energy and climate change on South Africa’s radar

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses decarbonisation as an opportunity to create quality employment; South Africa’s need to transition to clean energy without creating job losses and ghost towns in areas where fossil fuels provide the overwhelming economic support; and South Africa’s appreciation of platinum fuel cells being recognised increasingly as the world’s only zero-emission answer to climate change.  
January 7, 2022 by

Ukraine announces plans to expand its uranium sector to boost energy self-sufficiency

The government of Ukraine has approved a plan to expand the country’s uranium production. “The main purpose of this concept is to create conditions for increasing uranium production to fully meet the needs of domestic nuclear energy, as well as increase Ukraine’s energy independence,” explained Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Currently, nuclear energy provides Ukraine with 54% of its electricity. The country has 15 operational large reactors, all of Russian design. In the past few months, the Ukrainian government has announced a nuclear new build programme, which will be developed in cooperation with the US. This programme will make use of the AP1000 reactor developed by US company Westinghouse, of which at least five are to be built. All will be located at existing nuclear power plant sites, with the first to be constructed at Khmelnitsky.
January 6, 2022 by