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Fixing logistics, water sectors still long way to go in South Africa – BLSA

While South Africa is starting to see the fruits of energy sector reforms, it still has a long way to go to fix the water, and transport and logistics sectors despite recent progress, says business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso. BLSA supported the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) in its efforts to develop the Freight Logistics Roadmap, with an important success being the establishment of the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Management company, with its own management and reporting structure separate from Transnet Freight Rail.
December 9, 2024 by

Ramaphosa reflects on government progress, notes slow pace of economic growth

President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out on Monday that strengthening local government is the Government of National Unity’s (GNU’s) key priority, noting disruptions in the supply of electricity and clean water in many districts. Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to nation that many local councils are plagued by “poor governance, limited capacity and severe financial constraints”, all of which are affecting service delivery.
December 9, 2024 by

Eskom, NTCSA brief lawmakers

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the key themes that emerged during a briefing by Eskom and the National Transmission Company South Africa to lawmakers this week. The briefing focused on the Transmission Development Plan and its implementation, private sector participation in the grid and Eskom’s plans to remain a big contributor of electricity generation.
December 6, 2024 by

Green hydrogen project aims to advance sustainability goals

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village (DGHV) project, in the Erongo region of Namibia, has the potential to produce 5.6 GW of renewable energy comprising 5.1 GW solar and 427 MW wind power. Of this generated power, about 700 MW will be curtailed power, a further 70 MW of which will be fed into the national grid, says DGHV business development manager Dr Lutz-Heiner Otto.
December 6, 2024 by

Growth drives job creation, skills development

Namibia is undergoing a transformative period in energy development, with significant developments in the traditional and renewable-energy sectors. Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange basin, together with green hydrogen and renewable-energy projects, offer strategic opportunities for economic growth, job creation and skills development, says technical recruitment specialist Workforce Staffing Namibia country manager Julien Karambua.
December 6, 2024 by

Eskom outlines ‘aspirational’ generation vision in meeting with lawmakers

Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane has outlined an “aspirational” and largely unfunded new generation project pipeline to progressively replace its aged and polluting coal fleet. Having previously declared that Eskom had a 22 GW project portfolio, Marokane told members of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy that the generation division, which is yet to be unbundled, was “working on a pipeline of new clean energy to ensure security of supply in the long term”.
December 4, 2024 by

High Court says State can’t order new coal plants

South Africa’s High Court upheld a legal challenge to the government’s plan to procure 1 500 megawatts of new coal-fired power, ruling that it was unlawful because of the potential impact on public health. Plans for more electricity from the dirtiest fossil fuel in South Africa, which has the most carbon-intensive economy among the Group of 20 nations, violate the constitutional right to health, Judge C.J. van der Westhuizen wrote in a ruling released on Wednesday.
December 4, 2024 by

NTCSA still mulling private participation in grid roll-out but confirms deployment ‘step …

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has told lawmakers that a “step change” will be needed in the delivery of new grid infrastructure if 14 500 km of new powerlines and 133 000 MVA of additional transformers are to be added to the grid by 2034. However, government and NTCSA were still investigating possible private-sector participation as a “potential alternative delivery mechanism”. This, in addition to its traditional engineer, procure and construction management approach, as well as through the more recently adopted engineer, procurement and construction (EPC) contracting model.
December 4, 2024 by