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Masterplan to position South Africa as ‘globally significant’ renewables manufacturer

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy director-general Advocate Thabo Mokoena reports that government intends using the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), which is currently being drafted, to position the country as a “globally significant” producer of inputs used in renewable-energy plants. In a keynote address to the virtual Enlit Africa conference on Tuesday, Mokoena said the SAREM would help “coordinate the renewable-energy requirements” to support such an industrialisation drive and to boost manufacturing employment.
June 9, 2021 by

Global supply chain squeeze, soaring costs threaten solar energy boom

lobal solar power developers are slowing down project installations because of a surge in costs for components, labor, and freight as the world economy bounces back from the coronavirus pandemic, according to industry executives and analysts interviewed by Reuters. The situation suggests slower growth for the zero-emissions solar energy industry at a time world governments are trying to ramp up their efforts to fight climate change, and marks a reversal for the sector after a decade of falling costs.
June 9, 2021 by

Presidency backs hydrogen strategy, as new report confirms viability of ramp-up to 3.8mt/y by 2050

Green hydrogen has been identified by The Presidency as the first of five ‘Big Frontier’ strategic investment opportunities and will be directly involved in the finalisation of a much-anticipated ‘Hydrogen Strategy and Investor Roadmap’ Infrastructure & Investment Office head, Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, reported during a webinar on Tuesday that attracting investment to support the development of a green-hydrogen industry was viewed as increasingly important by The Presidency to raising fixed investment to 30% of gross domestic product in line with the National Development Plan’s – the figure currently about 17%.
June 8, 2021 by

SAHPRA registers Janssen Covid-19 vaccine with conditions

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) announced on Monday the registration of the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine on March 31, with conditions. SAHPRA CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela explained that one of the conditions is that the vaccine be manufactured under conditions of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as determined by SAHPRA and aligned with global best practice.
June 7, 2021 by

South Africans to remain focused on delivering Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan

With economic growth fundamental to a brighter future for South Africa, Busines Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso suggests it is the “only way to turn the trajectory of government’s fiscal position as it will boost earnings” and, therefore, tax collection and start to get debt under control. She adds that it is also an important component to solving the unemployment crisis, which has been exacerbated by 1.4-million fewer people in employment, compared with before the Covid-19 pandemic.
June 7, 2021 by

eSwatini highlights considerable strides in renewable energy development

eSwatini has added two more solar photovoltaic (PV) plants to its sustainable energy portfolio, as another of its projects – the Lavumisa 10 MW solar PV plant – nears completion. In a statement, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy acclaimed that eSwatini has made considerable strides in establishing itself as a leader in the rollout of sustainable energy projects while becoming less dependent on neighbouring Mozambique and South Africa for electricity.
June 4, 2021 by

Johannesburg seeks R3.8bn for solar, gas and batteries

South Africa’s biggest city plans to seek at least R3.8-billion in investment in solar and gas-fired power as well as battery storage to improve electricity supply. The City of Johannesburg will issue a request for information for the construction of a 150-megawatt solar plant, 50 megawatts of rooftop solar panels and the refurbishment of an idle gas-fired plant that could generate 20 megawatts in September, the municipality said in a presentation on Thursday. It will also seek information for the installation of 100 megawatts of battery storage.
June 4, 2021 by