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Eskom arrests suspected coal-swapping thief

State-owned power utility Eskom says the security investigation team at its Arnot power station has arrested a truck driver, who is suspected of having participated in the swapping out of coal destined for the power station with lower-quality product. On June 8, a tactical team spotted a truck loaded with coal to be delivered to Arnot entering a coal yard in Middelburg and then leaving after about an hour.
June 11, 2024 by

Eskom seeks executive to lead renewables division

South Africa’s Eskom Holdings is looking for a manager to lead its clean energy projects even as the utility extends the use of coal plants to mitigate nationwide electricity shortages. The group executive will be “responsible for leading and overseeing the renewable energy initiatives within Eskom” as well as driving its Just Energy Transition Strategy to move away from coal, the company said in an advertisement in the Johannesburg-based Business Day newspaper. The person will act as the primary liaison for such projects and oversee their planning.
June 11, 2024 by

Civil society coalition emphasises need for accountability, transparency, equity to achieve a …

A coalition of civil society organisations from Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Vietnam on June 10 launched their ‘Principles for a Fair Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)’, which emphasises the integral need for accountability, transparency and equity in climate finance. International renewable energy advocacy organisation 350.org said the guiding principles were identified with the input of Global South communities.
June 10, 2024 by

Guinea signs agreement with Russian group to investigate use of floating nuclear reactors

The Republic of Guinea has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russian State-owned nuclear energy and technology group Rosatom to explore the use of sea-based floating nuclear reactors to generate electricity for the coastal West African country. The MoU was signed at last week’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum, in Russia. “The cooperation involves joint work on developing a power supply solution both to industrial and domestic consumers in the Republic of Guinea, deploying floating nuclear power units with RITM-200 reactors, which have already proven efficient,” explained Rosatom Mechanical Engineering Division Deputy Head Vladimir Aptekarev. “The power supply issue in the African region is urgent, and our main task is to provide a fast reliable and environment-friendly solution for our partners.”
June 10, 2024 by

Reform momentum must be sustained ‘regardless of the form or composition’ of new government

President Cyril Ramaphosa has underlined the importance of the new government – which is yet to be formed after no single party secured an outright majority in the recent elections – continuing with the economic reforms under way in the electricity, logistics, water and telecommunications sectors. Writing in his weekly newsletter days after the national executive committee of the African National Congress (ANC) agreed that it should initiate talks with other parties on the formation of a possible government of national unity (GNU), Ramaphosa insisted that there was “broad support for the continuation of economic reforms” that have been spearheaded under Operation Vulindlela.
June 10, 2024 by

SAWEA, Germany’s BWE partner to stimulate wind energy investment

Industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the German Wind Energy Association (Bundesverband Windenergie or BWE) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 6 with the mutual goal of promoting wind energy and advancing renewable energy solutions globally. The South African and German markets are expected to attract investment and facilitate knowledge exchange, with South Africa learning from Germany’s extensive experience in wind energy technology and infrastructure, SAWEA said in a statement.
June 6, 2024 by

Eskom ‘decouples’ renewables roll-out from coal station closure plan

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that a decision has been made to “decouple” the closure of its coal stations from the building, in partnership, of new renewable energy generation capacity linked to its goal of being a net-zero emitter by 2050 and the just energy transition strategy. In an address to members of the South African National Energy Association, Marokane also revealed that a board decision had been made for Eskom to participate directly in renewables projects on land adjacent to its existing power stations rather than releasing those grid-ready sites to private generators.
June 6, 2024 by

Marokane says R285m spent on diesel in May compared with R2.8bn in May 2023

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has rebuffed persistent suggestions that the utility is keeping loadshedding at bay owing to an “excessive” reliance on the diesel-fuelled open cycle gas turbines, reporting that it spent R285-million on diesel during May compared with R2.8-billion in the same month last year and against a budget for the month of R1.7-billion. Addressing the South African National Energy Association AGM against a backdrop of deep suspicion about how Eskom has managed to avoid resorting to rotational power cuts for 71 days, including over a highly competitive election period, Marokane attributed the stabilisation to the Generation Recovery Plan, which had been under way since March 2023.
June 6, 2024 by