Author Archive for: Engineering News

International energy and climate leaders from the world’s largest economies will take part in the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26’s) Net Zero Summit later this month to accelerate the momentum behind clean energy and examine how countries could work together more effectively to reduce their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to net zero in line with shared international goals. Co-hosted by IEA executive director Fatih Birol and COP26 president Alok Sharma, the Net Zero Summit is a critical milestone on the road to COP26 in Glasgow in November.

A mixture of Covid-19 restrictions and related subdued consumer behaviour and poor national grid electricity stability are impacting on small businesses chances of survival, states South African Solar Photovoltaic Industry (SAPVIA) COO Niveshen Govender.

He notes that South Africa’s economic future depends on the lights staying on, especially at a time when the national power utility Eskom has again been implementing load-shedding.

In this opinion piece, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) COO Niveshen Govender points out that proposed changes to the electricity tariffs charged by Eskom  shows that the utility is moving to a more proactive position that responds to the needs of consumers but also ensures increased uptake of alternative energy connections in a responsible way. Over the years, criticising Eskom has become quite the pastime for many South African commentators. While the State-owned utility is not immune from criticism, this time, Eskom is taking necessary, proactive, and productive steps to respond to the country’s changing energy environment.

Real estate investment trust (Reit) Fortress is effectively executing its development strategy and has managed to secure tenants for about 340 000 square metres of gross lettable area (GLA) out of its one-million square metre GLA logistics development pipeline in South Africa. Nearly 62 500 square metres of GLA was completed and let in the six-month interim reporting period to the end of December 2020, while the remainder of about 278 000 square metres is work-in-progress.

Domestic natural gas and helium producer Renergen has made another significant gas strike at its Virginia gas project, this time in well MDR1, 300 m north of the currently producing MDR5 well. The Virginia project is located in South Africa’s Free State province.