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Judge to rule next week on latest Eskom-Nersa legal wrangle

Judge Jody Kollapen has reserved judgment in Eskom’s application to have the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) rejection of its latest revenue application set aside as irrational and unlawful. Following a virtual hearing on December 1, Kollapen indicated that he expected to publish a determination, along with his reasons, next week.

Eskom CEO sees end to crisis in shift from coal

South African state power utility Eskom sees an opportunity to emerge from years of crisis by shifting from coal-fired power generation towards natural gas and renewables, its chief executive told Reuters. Eskom has implemented power cuts for more than a decade in Africa’s most industrialised nation that have held back economic growth and deterred investment. It has roughly R400-billion of debt that it services through regular government bailouts.

Faster-than-ever renewable electricity growth supports emergence of a new global energy economy

Stronger policies and raised climate goals leading into COP26 are driving renewables to new records, but faster deployment across all key sectors is needed to reach net zero, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report. It adds that the growth of the world’s capacity to generate electricity from solar panels, wind turbines and other renewable technologies is on course to accelerate over the coming years, with this year expected to set a fresh all-time record for new installations.

Germiston-based DNG Energy receives first LNG shipment

Pan-African liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply network DNG Energy has received a shipment of LNG at its plant in Germiston, enabling the company to accelerate its pilot projects with its partners in the next few weeks.

DNG Energy’s pilot projects aim to test the feasibility of using LNG as an alternative to diesel, as a proof-of-concept for a cleaner and more affordable option for transport, industrial power generation and mining.

IFC, partners to build 100 MW solar plant in south-eastern DRC

Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing $900 000 in funding for project development costs for an independent power producer (IPP) project in Kolwezi, in the south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project entails a 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, with the power to be sold to the national utility and support mining operations and economic activity in the region.

PPC to invest R664m to 2025 to kick-start decarbonisation journey

JSE-listed building materials group PPC has outlined a new decarbonisation strategy that includes firm targets for implementation by 2025 and 2030 and also outlines a long-term aspirational goal of transitioning its operations to net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. The strategy is contained in the group’s inaugural Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report and the targets have been set using the 2020 financial year as the base.

Mainstream raises additional €90m

Wind and solar power multinational Mainstream Renewable Power raised €90-million in additional funding to accelerate new market entries and the build-out of gigawatt-scale wind and solar assets across Latin America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the company said on November 29. The funding round will help accelerate the company’s growth, extend its footprint and support its ambitions of building a global renewable energy major.