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Ramaphosa promises rapid power roll-out, but two-year timeframe for solving crisis ambitious

President Cyril Ramaphosa listed the rapid expansion of South Africa’s electricity generation, primarily through the building of additional renewable-energy capacity, as a key priority in government’s long-waited ‘Reconstruction and Recovery Plan’, which he unveiled in Parliament on Thursday. The other components of the plan, developed in response to the economic and employment fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, included: a multibillion-rand infrastructure roll-out; the creation of 800 000 employment opportunities through public works schemes; initiatives to revive industrial growth; a fast-tracking of reforms to reduce the cost of doing business and lower barriers to entry; actions to combat crime and corruption; and programmes aimed at improving the capability of the State.
October 15, 2020 by

Ramaphosa unveils infrastructure, jobs plan after Covid-19 hit

South Africa will roll out a big infrastructure spending programme and large-scale employment stimulus to revive an economy that was ailing even before the coronavirus crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday. Unveiling a Covid-19 economic recovery plan in parliament, Ramaphosa said the government would unlock more than R1-trillion rand in infrastructure investment over the next four years and would create more than 800 000 jobs in the immediate term. Government is also working on finalising a long-term solution to State power utility Eskom’s debt burden, without giving a time frame.
October 15, 2020 by

Standard Bank continues to increase exposure to renewables, move away from coal

Standard Bank has released its interim Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures report, highlighting that environmental, social and governance aspects remain at the centre of the bank’s agenda of driving sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa.

Sustainability head Wendy Dobson says the bank continues to consider climate-related risk as a top risk and material issue and its working to better understand and manage its exposure.

October 15, 2020 by

Landmark court judgment enhances Eskom’s collection efforts

The South Gauteng High Court has affirmed Eskom’s right to interrupt, or terminate, electricity supply to nonpaying customers.

The case was brought against Eskom by Pioneer Foods, in which the packaged goods company sought to review and set aside Eskom’s decision in 2018 to interrupt electricity supply to the Walter Sisulu municipality, in the Eastern Cape, owing to its failure to pay its electricity bill.

October 14, 2020 by

Landmark court judgment affords Eskom enhanced collection efforts

The South Gauteng High Court has affirmed Eskom’s right to interrupt, or terminate, electricity supply to nonpaying customers.

The case was brought against Eskom by Pioneer Foods, in which the packaged goods company sought to review and set aside Eskom’s decision in 2018 to interrupt electricity supply to the Walter Sisulu municipality, in the Eastern Cape, owing to its failure to pay its electricity bill.

October 14, 2020 by

Tribunal confirms settlement between commission, Aberdare Cables

The Competition Tribunal on October 14 confirmed a settlement agreement between the Competition Commission and cable manufacturer Aberdare Cables.

Under the terms of the settlement, Aberdare has admitted to price fixing, market allocation and collusive tendering in contravention of the Competition Act, between 2001 and 2010, but will not be paying an administrative penalty.

October 14, 2020 by

SAPVIA joins forces with European solar association to realise opportunities

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the European association for solar SolarPower Europe has joined forces to unlock the potential of solar power and ensure that South Africa reaps the economic and societal benefits of renewable energy.

Both associations have been at the forefront of shaping the regulatory environment in their respective territories.

October 14, 2020 by

78 MW Bokamoso solar park begins commercial operations

Another large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project procured under the fourth bid window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has entered into commercial operation. The fourth bid window eventually closed in 2018, following a four-year delay, precipitated by Eskom’s then refusal to enter into new power purchase agreements with projects procured by government under the REIPPPP.
October 14, 2020 by

Renewable energy tool to assist household applications

Energy company Total and cloud computing company Google Cloud have pooled their expertise to jointly develop an innovative tool – Solar Mapper – which aims to accelerate the deployment of solar panels for individuals.

The business-to-consumer tool works by providing an accurate and rapid estimate of the solar energy potential of an individual’s home, and will be rolled out first in Europe and then worldwide.

October 13, 2020 by

Solar ‘new king’ of electricity, but shift to net zero will require ‘unwavering efforts …

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has declared solar the “new king” of electricity, arguing that, while renewables technologies as a whole are poised for rapid growth over the coming several decades, solar will be “at the centre of this new constellation of electricity generation technologies”. The agency’s ‘World Energy Outlook 2020’ notes that, with sharp cost reductions over the past decade, solar photovoltaic (PV) is now consistently cheaper than new coal- or gas-fired power plants in most countries, while solar PV projects now offer some of the lowest cost electricity ever seen.
October 13, 2020 by