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Eskom to resume rolling power cuts due to generation unit breakdowns

South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom said on Thursday it would implement rotational powercuts from 8am to 10pm  due to an increase in breakdowns of its generation units, warning that the blackouts could continue into the weekend. “The delay of the return to service of two units at Duvha and Tutuka and the breakdowns of four units at Kriel, Tutuka and Kendal have resulted in the need for load-shedding today,” it said in a statement.
August 13, 2020 by

Despite Covid-induced demand slump, load-shedding surpasses 2019 levels and risk of more cuts rises

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) reported on Wednesday that load-shedding during 2020 had already surpassed that of 2019, which had hitherto been the country’s worst-ever year for load-shedding. In addition, it again warned that, absent urgent action, the risk of load-shedding would worsen and persist for at least two more years, but possibly to 2025.
August 12, 2020 by

Eskom again warns of constrained power system

State-owned power utility Eskom on August 12 reported that the national grid was, once again, severely constrained as the result of seven units being offline for various reasons.

The utility noted that five of its units that were due for a return-to-service had been delayed, while a further two have either been shut down or tripped.

August 12, 2020 by

Cape Town ordered to settle IPP dispute with Minister, but case can be re-enrolled if talks fail

The City of Cape Town, which approached the High Court in 2017 for an order allowing it to procure renewable energy from independent power producers (IPPs) without first securing the consent of the Energy Minister, has been directed by the court seek a settlement with the Minister and the regulator. Should it fail to secure a settlement, however, the city would be entitled to return to the court to have the matter heard again.
August 11, 2020 by

SANEDI says cool roofs could combat higher GHG emissions in South Africa

Much progress still needs to be made on the road to a more sustainable world, with South Africa facing hotter and drier summers, and continued high levels of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions when compared with the rest of Africa, says South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). “The country needs to focus on energy efficient ways to cool down our cities and towns,” comments SANEDI energy efficiency cool surfaces project officer Denise Lundall.
August 7, 2020 by

South Africa’s women nuclear professionals elect new president

Local sectoral professional organisation Women in Nuclear South Africa (Winsa) announced on Friday the election of its new president. She is radiation protection professional Tebogo Motlhabane, a scientist with the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI). She replaces Nomathemba Radebe, a senior advisor in quality assurance at Eskom, who held the presidency since 2015. Winsa is part of the global Women in Nuclear (Win) network. The election was conducted online, with voting starting during the virtual special annual general meeting on July 30. The online polls were closed on August 6 (Thursday). The post of president was also contested by Mologadi Kekane who is one of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation’s radiation protection managers. Kekane now becomes Winsa’s deputy president.
August 7, 2020 by

DBSA gears up to fill Covid-induced municipal funding gaps

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which recently disbursed loans worth R4.5-billion to two Gauteng metropolitan councils to support ongoing infrastructure delivery amid coronavirus-induced liquidity constraints, reports that it is gearing up to support several other municipalities to help close funding gaps that have arisen during the pandemic. Between June and July, the State-owned development finance institution disbursed a R3-billion loan to the City of Johannesburg and R1.5-billion to the City of Tshwane for the roll-out of infrastructure programmes, including the construction and upgrade of electrical, water, sanitation, refuse, road and stormwater facilities, as well as to support human settlements projects.
August 7, 2020 by

Peaceful use of nuclear tech underscores its value to Africa’s developmental needs

The development and peaceful use of nuclear technology could further underscore its value by helping to meet Africa’s developmental needs, says African Commission on Nuclear Energy (Afcone) executive secretary Messaoud Baaliouamer. He says the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology has already proven to be beneficial in human health, such as in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases.
August 7, 2020 by

SAFCEI encourages govt to reconsider its nuclear ambitions

According to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), the South African government should rather shift its renewed interest in building new nuclear power generation capacity to ethical, equitable and sustainable energy plans.

As “South Africa faces another push for nuclear energy” when the country is in crisis from the Covid-19 pandemic, SAFCEI is calling for “no more nuclear energy”.

August 7, 2020 by

Deputy President Mabuza blames struggling municipalities for Eskom woes

Deputy President David Mabuza has blamed the failure of municipalities to pay their debt to Eskom for ongoing service delivery issues. In replies to written questions from the National Council of Provinces submitted on 5 August, Mabuza said municipalities experiencing severe electricity challenges were often suffering as a result of usage in excess of the notified maximum demand, as well as a failure to honour debt repayment to Eskom.
August 7, 2020 by