Shoprite clinches R3.5bn in sustainability-linked loans

The Shoprite group has finalised R3.5-billion in sustainability-linked loan agreements, with the aim to expand its key environmental programmes as part of a wider sustainability strategy.  The finance agreements include a R2-billion loan from Standard Bank, as well as an R800-million sustainability-linked loan and a R700-million green loan from Rand Merchant Bank for investment in environmental projects. 
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Cape Town to build first solar plant in Atlantis next year 

The City of Cape Town plans to build its first grid-connected solar plant next year as one of its interventions to end load-shedding over time.  The city has issued the tender for the engineering, procurement and construction of a 7 MW solar photovoltaic facility in Atlantis. 
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Increased generation capacity of wind farms to boost decarbonisation

The increase in capacity of wind energy generation is a key benefactor for the country to decarbonise its power sector, says South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Niveshen Govender. Over the past year, operational wind projects have reduced carbon emissions by 8.1-million tons.
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WASA Phase 3 has reached completion

The Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA) Phase 3 project, which anchored the development of wind resource mapping-capacity, reached completion at the end of 2021, says energy research institution South African National Energy Development Institute GM Dr Karen Surridge. The objective in all phases of the WASA project was to employ quantitative ground measured wind resource and modelling methods to assess the wind resource across South Africa. This is designed to support industry and government in the planning and rollout of large-scale exploitation of wind power in South Africa, she notes.
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Sasol addresses food security, unemployment in its communities

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has launched Bridge to Work (BtW), a portfolio of initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment in its communities across the country. This is done by developing emerging farmers and improving access to economic opportunities for the youth, women, and adults out of work by providing training in critical skills such as agriculture, motor mechanics, welding, technology and digital business management skills.
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Plans in place despite setbacks

Despite global energy markets being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, consequently causing inflation, chemicals and energy company Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler said, during the company’s yearly financial presentation in August, Sasol was still able to progress its Future Sasol aspirations. The Future Sasol strategy outlines concrete plans to accelerate the decarbonisation of the company’s business operations.
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Substantial green energy investment needed to bridge African power gap

The shortage of electricity in many African countries is about equivalent to 1% of the global average and if this energy poverty gap is to be bridged by renewable energy in line with carbon-neutral targets, Africa will need to deploy an additional 2 354 GW of renewable generation by 2050 to bring the continent up to the world average for electricity access and meet decarbonisation commitments, professional services firm PwC estimates. This increase of nearly 40 times the current installed renewables capacity of 59 GW is estimated to cost Africa about $2.6-trillion – about the current size of Africa’s gross domestic product.
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Besides 2021, more power was cut in September than in any other year since load-shedding started

Eskom data has confirmed that South Africans endured their worst-ever month of load-shedding in September 2022, with a total of 1 503 GWh estimated to have been shed and with 572 hours of the month’s 720 hours directly affected. Analysis by Eskom Research, Testing and Development’s Dr Ulrich Minnaar also shows that, besides 2021, there were more power cuts in September than had been experienced in any other entire year since load-shedding started in 2007.
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Decarbonisation underpins RBM’s move to buy solar electricity from 148 MW project

Leading South African mineral sands producer Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with independent power producer Voltalia for the supply of wheeled renewable energy from a 148 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in Limpopo to its smelting and processing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. Voltalia and its black economic empowerment partners will begin construction of the Bolobedu solar project in 2023 at a site that is about 120 km east of Polokwane.
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Some relief as load shedding drops to Stage 3 on Thursday

Load shedding will be maintained at Stage 4 until Thursday at 05:00, whereafter it will be reduced to Stage 3 until 05:00 on Saturday morning, Eskom announced on Wednesday.  This after a generation unit each at Arnot, Kriel, Lethabo, Matla as well as two units at Camden Power Station returned to service on Tuesday night.
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