Kenyan, Japanese groups sign agreement to cooperate in developing geothermal power

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the predominantly (70%) State-owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) of Japan, as a precursor to the creation of a partnership between the two groups in the area of geothermal power. The intent is to combine the expertise of the two companies and provide operation and maintenance services for geothermal power plants in developing countries, initially in East Africa. “Geothermal energy provides sustainable power supply,” highlighted KenGen MD and CEO Rebecca Miano. “It is a resource we have in abundance in Kenya, an advantage that has enabled us to build a considerable wealth of expertise in its exploration and development. This we have done for more than 50 years.”
/by

Europe’s crisis shows value of coal – Mantashe

South Africa’s energy minister dismissed the notion that renewable electricity can bring an end to years of rolling blackouts, pointing to Europe’s pivot back to the use of fossil fuels as evidence of the constraints of using green energy. Solar and wind plants could be used to supplement coal, gas and nuclear power generation, but had limitations when it came to meeting South Africa’s needs, such as supplying mines, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said.
/by

South African energy issues need joint effort – Minerals Council

South Africa’s energy conundrum will require a concerted effort by both industry and government, the Minerals Council South Africa said. Speaking to Mining Weekly Online on the sidelines of Paydirt’s Africa Downunder conference, in Perth, Minerals Council CEO Roger Baxter said that the solution to solving South Africa’s energy crisis is unlocking ‘massive’ private sector investment.  
/by

Eskom warns of summer load-shedding as it confirms 91 days of cuts for year to date

Electricity utility Eskom told lawmakers on Wednesday that the risk of load-shedding remained high for the upcoming summer season, while confirming that there had already been 91 days of load-shedding during 2022. Eskom’s summer ‘base case’ is premised on there being 13 000 MW of onging unplanned breakdowns in addition to any planned maintenance, which rises substantially in the lower-demand summer months.
/by

Impower to supply Capitec with battery backup system

Financial services provider Capitec has commissioned solar installation company Impower to design, install and maintain an electricity solution that integrates both solar and a battery backup system, at its headquarters in Stellenbosch.   The banking giant says it has turned to solar as a long-term solution to reduce its reliance on the national grid, minimise energy costs and play its part in contributing toward net zero.
/by

A plan for a new State power company takes shape in South Africa

South Africa is forging ahead with a plan to create a new State-owned power company by converting three coal-fired plants into gas-burning generators to ease the nation’s energy crisis. State power utility Eskom generates most of South Africa’s electricity, and has subjected the country to rolling blackouts since 2008 because its old and poorly maintained facilities can’t keep pace with demand. The proposed new company, dubbed Generation 2, will take over the three plants that are set for decommissioning, according to Energy, Minerals and Resource Minister Gwede Mantashe.
/by

Shoprite finalises R3.5bn in sustainability-linked loans

The Shoprite group has finalised R3.5-billion in sustainability-linked loans, 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. 
/by

Visa backlog hobbling French business ambitions in South Africa – BLSA

A letter by a group of French businesses, who collectively employ more than 65 000 South Africans, has frustrated Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso with its detailing of significant problems facing the businesses in obtaining vital visas to enable French nationals working in South Africa.

“The letter set out the massive problems the companies have had in trying to secure work visas for key personnel – engineers, business controllers and experts needed to run specialised equipment,” she outlines in her latest weekly newsletter on August 29.

/by

Globeleq signs memorandum for 3.6 GW Egypt green-hydrogen project

Africa-focused independent energy company Globeleq has signalled its intention to develop a large-scale green hydrogen facility in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone. The company, which is 70% owned by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, says it aims to capitalise on Egypt’s best-in-class wind and solar resources to competitively produce hydrogen and derivate products for export and the local market.
/by

Korean company wins major contract for Egyptian nuclear power plant

South Korean company Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) will construct the ‘turbine islands’ for Egypt’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), at El Dabaa, on the country’s Mediterranean coast, some 320 km north-west of Cairo. NPPs are subdivided into ‘nuclear islands containing the reactors and their associated systems and infrastructure, turbine islands, with the electricity-generating turbines and their associated systems and infrastructure, and the ‘balance of plant’, which is basically the …
/by