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Fuel cell electric vehicle demonstration seen as catalyst for nascent green hydrogen economy

In a milestone for South Africa’s nascent green hydrogen economy, three large corporates have teamed up to showcase the potential of using domestically produced hydrogen as a zero-emission transportation alternative. During a demonstration in Gauteng, a second-generation Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) was refuelled with hydrogen produced by Sasol in Sasolburg, in the Free State. The hydrogen was transported by truck in an Air Products tube trailer, and the vehicle was refuelled on site using the US multinational’s mobile hydrogen dispensing technology.
October 2, 2023 by

Study confirms South Africa can produce most components needed for the transmission, …

A study on value chain mapping of the South African transmission and distribution networks published by nonprofit the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) finds there are opportunities to localise components in this value chain, should concerns and constraints be effectively addressed.

The Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) of 2022 estimates that 53 GW of new generation capacity will be added to the network between 2023 and 2032.

October 2, 2023 by

Ramaphosa highlights collaboration to address crimes targeting infrastructure

President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Monday that business is working with government to build capacity within the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks, alongside the modernisation of the 10111 emergency response centre and collaboration between industry and the South African Police Service to address crimes targeting key infrastructure. In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa pointed out that since June, government has been working closely with alliance group Business for South Africa (B4SA) on critical actions to address the key challenges of energy, logistics, and crime and corruption.
October 2, 2023 by

As Kusile unit returns early, South Africa misses renewables procurement deadline

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has welcomed the earlier-than-expected return of Kusile Unit 3 coal-fired generation, but has also acknowledged that government simultaneously failed to meet its end of September deadline for the release of the next public procurement round for renewable energy. Eskom confirmed on Saturday September 30 that Kusile Unit 3 had been restarted nearly a year after it, together with units 1 and 2, became inoperable after a slurry build up in the Unit 1 flue led to its collapse, damaging the other two flues in the west chimney they share in the process.
October 1, 2023 by

Seriti’s Teke defends his dual belief in coal and renewables

Coal mining company Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke has hit back at critics who have labelled his desire to invest in renewable energy while being a coal advocate as contradictory. Speaking at the Wits Mining Seminar, in Johannesburg, on September 28, Teke said he had received criticism for being “neither fish nor fowl”, with one foot in coal and the other in renewables.
September 29, 2023 by

No daytime loadshedding expected over the weekend

Due to the sustained improved performance of generation availability as well as the anticipated lower demand over the weekend, loadshedding will be suspended between 05:00 and 16:00 on Saturday and Sunday, Eskom said on Friday.  Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on both Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, meanwhile, Stage 3 loadshedding will still be in place from 16:00 until 05:00 on Saturday. Breakdowns are currently at 14 266MW of generating capacity while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5 388MW, Eskom said. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha, Ingula and Vanderkloof power stations was taken offline for repairs. In the same period, meanwhile, a generating unit at Hendrina Power Station was returned to service.
September 29, 2023 by

JET pledges rise to $11.9bn as South Africa moves to finalise implementation plan

The South African government has received additional pledges, worth nearly $3.5-billion, in support of its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP), increasing the overall envelope of concessional debt and grant funding to R11.9-billion. The Presidency’s Rudi Dicks told the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) that Denmark and the Netherlands had combined their pledges with those of the International Partners Group (IPG) of France, Germany, the UK, the US and the European Union, which committed $8.5-billion to the JET IP in 2021.
September 29, 2023 by

Striking workers at key South Africa coal port reject wage offer

Workers at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa rejected its latest wage offer and will continue to strike, according to the main labor union at the port. Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union lowered their demand to a one-year 7% basic salary increase and a housing allowance, said Bheki Sithole, the union’s regional secretary. RBCT, the biggest coal export facility on the continent, offered a minimum 6% annual increase for three years. Volumes shipped at RBCT have dropped to the lowest level in decades because state-owned ports and rail operator Transnet’s operations have been hobbled by sabotage, cable theft and aging equipment. The walkout by RBCT workers that began Sept. 17 isn’t affecting operations, Sithole said. RBCT didn’t comment. Glencore, Thungela Resources and Exxaro Resources are among companies that use the terminal to ship coal.
September 29, 2023 by

Export component of South Africa’s green hydrogen strategy will seek to lock in price subsidies

The initial export component of South Africa’s yet-to-be-approved Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy is not premised on the trade of scarce renewable electrons – converted into molecules or other tradeable derivatives – to decarbonise the industries of developed economies in Europe and Asia, Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) commissioner Joanne Bates insists. Instead, such exports are designed to ensure that South Africa can “lock-in” the grants, concessional debt and contract-for-difference price subsidies that are currently being offered by countries such as Germany and Japan to stimulate the use of green hydrogen products in their hard-to-abate sectors of steel, cement, petrochemicals, shipping and aviation.
September 29, 2023 by

Eskom reports initial success in avoiding prepaid meter catastrophe

Eskom has finally started a national update for the 6.6-million prepaid electricity meters under its control before they all become non-operational late next year. The utility said that the update, which has been under way for a little over a month, has been a success so far. The update is necessary to avoid a date rollover issue that will stop all 70-million STS-compliant prepaid electricity meters in the world from vending electricity after 24 November 2024.
September 29, 2023 by