Godongwana says Eskom, crime key disruptors to South Africa’s investment case

Ahead of South Africa’s government delegation traveling to Davos, Switzerland, to take part in the upcoming yearly World Economic Forum, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa’s electricity crisis and high crime rates are chief among the challenges faced by the country, requiring urgent attention so the country can attract more investors.

Other areas of focus include balancing focus between the macro and microeconomic environment and appropriate policies and decisions thereto, as well as reducing the amount of burdensome “red tape” for foreign companies wanting to invest in South Africa.

/by

Steenhuisen questions govt’s slow progress in dealing with loadshedding

Political party the Democratic Alliance (DA) federal leader John Steenhuisen has written a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking why his government refuses to implement the obvious solutions to the electricity crisis that have been proposed for years.

This comes as the country is again experiencing Stage 6 loadshedding and follows what has been exponential loadshedding growth from 141 hours (six days) in 2018 to 3 776 hours (157 days) in 2022.

/by

Constant Stage 6 loadshedding leaves little time to fix electricity infrastructure in Tshwane …

City of Tshwane Utility Services MMC Daryl Johnston says constantly switching the electricity on and off for Stage 6 loadshedding gives the electrical team “significantly less time” to work on repairs and maintenance. Johnston was responding to the implementation of Stage 6 loadshedding “until further notice” on Wednesday.
/by

Generator breakdowns contribute to latest Stage 6 loadshedding escalation

State-owned power utility Eskom will implement Stage 6 loadshedding from 16:00 on January 11, until further notice. The entity cites severe capacity constraints as the reason behind the more prevalent planned blackouts, particularly since eleven generators totalling over 5 GW of capacity had broken down on January 10.
/by

Stage 6 loadshedding to run continuously until further notice

Eskom has announced that Stage 6 loadshedding will now run continuously from 16:00 on Wednesday until further notice.  The power utility said that 11 generators amounting to 5 084MW of capacity suffered breakdowns since Tuesday morning. These were a unit each at the Camden, Duvha, Grootvlei, Hendrina, Kendal, and two units each at Kriel, Majuba and Matla power stations. 
/by

South Africa at key stage of nuclear revamp as power grid reels

South Africa has entered a critical phase of revamping its sole nuclear plant and needs it to run according to plan to avoid deepening power cuts that are already at a record and wreaking havoc on the economy. The first of two units at the 1 940-megawatt Koeberg plant was shut down last month for refueling and the replacement of its steam generators, work that’s expected to be completed in early June, state power utility Eskom said in an emailed response to questions. The overhaul of the second unit is due to begin a few months later.
/by

Zambia extends electricity rationing to mining firms

Zambia has started rationing electricity supply to mining firms following reduced power generation after a big drop in water levels in lake Kariba, the chairman of state-owned power utility Zesco said on Tuesday. Water levels in the lake were down at 1.66% of usable storage on Monday for the Kariba North Bank Power Station in Zambia and the Kariba South Bank Power Station on the Zimbabwean side of the lake, said the Zambezi River Authority, which manages the dam.
/by

€25m loan pledged for 44 MW Côte d’Ivoire hydroelectric plant

Infrastructure development funds, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), have announced a €25-million finance facility to Ivoire Hydro Energy (IHE), which will build a 44 MW hydroelectric generation plant on the Bandama river near the village of Singrobo, in Côte d’Ivoire.

EAIF’s long-term financing package enables IHE to achieve financial close for the project, accelerating the design, construction and operation of the power plant and associated infrastructure and boosting rural access to clean energy.

/by

DA says it will fight Eskom’s move to Energy Dept

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday that it is “implacably” against the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) intention to move Eskom from the Department of Public Enterprises to the Ministry of Energy, overseen by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. The DA said the move also had potentially significant financial implications for the country.
/by

Zambia to engage Zimbabwe over use of hydro plant at Kariba Dam

Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema says he will engage his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a private “family conversation” over the use and management of the hydro plant at Kariba Dam. This at a time when both Zimbabwe and Zambia are experiencing reduced electricity generation because of low water in the dam.
/by