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Nuclear Regulator grants Eskom permission to extend life of Koeberg Unit 1 to July 2044

South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board has approved a 20-year life extension for Koeberg Unit 1, but has deferred a decision on the nuclear power station’s Unit 2 until late 2025, owing to the fact that an assessment of the second reactor’s safety case is still ongoing. The decision, which was announced on July 15, came only days ahead of the July 21, 2024 expiry of Unit 1’s existing licence and effectively extended its operating life until July 21, 2044.
July 15, 2024 by

Carbon intensity of our economy has become unsustainable – Ramaphosa

The carbon intensity of our economy has become unsustainable, President Cyril Ramaphosa writes in his latest weekly newsletter, published ahead of his address to a climate finance symposium being hosted jointly by the National Treasury and the Presidential Climate Commission. Ramaphosa notes that the world is moving towards greener economies and that a number of South Africa’s major trading partners are also taking measures to decarbonise that will affect the competitiveness of the country’s exports to these markets.
July 15, 2024 by

Actom builds first 66 kV transformer, sets sights on further expansion in Africa

Electromechanical equipment manufacturer Actom, which has manufactured its first 66 kV transformer, says it plans to supply small high-voltage (HV) power transformers in Africa, as part of plans to expand into more African countries. HV transformers are typically used in the electricity transmission and generation sector, while lower-voltage units are mainly used on the distribution side.
July 12, 2024 by

Electric buses may not be a justified public transport endeavour – Zutari

Talks of alternative energy technology and fuels have increased in frequency and prominence among stakeholders in the transport industry, with both the public and private sectors having made commitments to decarbonise transport.

For public entities responsible for ensuring viable public transport, the question of transitioning to alternative fuels is now a pertinent one, consultancy Zutari senior transport economist Marco Steenkamp said during a presentation at the Southern African Transport Conference on July 10.

July 12, 2024 by

Mining companies, suppliers team up to advance evolving ESG goals

The South African mining industry continues to be a key contributor to the fiscus, with local producers and suppliers paying about R14-billion in royalties and R90-billion in taxes in the year ended December 31, 2023, and investing billions of rands in environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. In its integrated annual review for the year, Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane says mining stakeholders continue to strive for meaningful impact in the lives of employees and communities in South Africa, particularly as the country grapples with low economic growth and unemployment.
July 12, 2024 by

Lecturer proposes e-bikes as a solution to rapid urbanisation, decarbonisation in cities

With traditional public mass transportation changing and more mobility alternatives arising, University of Johannesburg researcher and lecturer Mpho Gololo has suggested electric bicycles, or e-bikes, as a viable solution for certain use cases.

In a paper presented at the Southern African Transport Conference, on July 10, he said there was a great need to lower the carbon footprint of transportation in the country, which may be achieved by combining multiple modes of mobility and the electrification of transport.

July 11, 2024 by

Mainstream hires Rothschild to seek investors

Mainstream Renewable Power has hired Rothschild & Co to find an investor for its pipeline of South African renewable energy projects, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Japan’s Mitsui & Co.-backed group, with about 12 gigawatts of solar and wind projects in development in the most industrialized nation on the continent, seeks a joint venture partner for its South African business, said the people, who asked not be be identified as the information is still private. The size of the stake has yet to be determined, one of the people said.
July 11, 2024 by

US lends $99m to Mozambique’s first wind-power project

The US International Development Finance Corp (DFC) approved a loan of as much as $99-million to help finance Mozambique’s first utility-scale wind-power project. DFC will also provide $80-million in political risk insurance to Globeleq Africa, which is developing the 120 MW project near Namaacha in the south of the nation, the lender said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The project will require a total of about $268-million in funding, according to the DFC’s website.
July 10, 2024 by