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Major contract awarded to complete development of Brazil’s third nuclear reactor

Brazilian Federal State-owned nuclear energy company Eletronuclear has signed a “Term of Commitment” with another Brazilian company, Nuclebrás Equipamentos Pesados (Nuclep), which is also a Federal State-owned undertaking, to manufacture and deliver new heat exchangers for the country’s third nuclear reactor, Angra 3. The contract is worth more than $84-million. Currently, Brazil has two operating nuclear power reactors, Angra 1 and Angra 2. All three reactor sites are in a single nuclear complex on the coast at Angra dos Reis in Rio de Janeiro State, about 100 km south west of Rio de Janeiro city.

SANEDI celebrates more efficient waste-to-energy system design

The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has, ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, announced the finalisation of a concept design for an efficient and sustainable waste-to-energy technology. SANEDI had commissioned the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) to design and build a more environment-friendly waste gasification and waste-to-energy system, and the result of this long-term project has been a success, the institute says.

Load shedding to kick in again on Monday night after further breakdowns, says Eskom

Load shedding be implemented at Stage 2 during the peak hours on Monday evening after generation units broke down at Majuba and Medupi power stations.  Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said three generation units were expected to return to service by Monday evening, which would ramp up through the night. However, load shedding would kick in at 17:00 and remain in place until 22:00.

Uranium investors await price rally to revive Namibia projects

Namibia’s finance minister said uranium miners are waiting for prices to recover before reviving projects in Africa’s biggest producer of the ore, which is needed for nuclear power in a world shifting away from fossil fuels. The semi-arid southwest African nation is investing in water facilities and is planning a second desalination plant to supply mines in the dry Erongo region in anticipation of higher uranium prices attracting investors, according to Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi.

Investors should focus on climate opportunities instead of risks

There is significant tension not so much between the need for economic development and the need for climate action, but rather between the losses expected to be incurred as a result of climate inaction and the immense opportunities for growth that result from taking action, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) programme manager Louise Naudé has said. Speaking during a panel session at the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association’s 2022 conference, in Johannesburg, on May 26, she said the idea that we have to somehow balance socioeconomic and environmental needs to effect a just energy transition was a false dichotomy, because pursuing climate goals would create immense socioeconomic opportunity.

Enlit Africa is back

Enlit Africa returns to Cape Town as a live conference and exhibition from June 7 to 9 this year, focusing on the current opportunities and challenges in the energy sector – from self-generation for municipalities and gas exploitation to renewable and energy storage solutions for the commercial and industrial sectors.