Treated water from wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant cleared for discharge into the sea

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan has given formal approval to the plan of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) to discharge into the sea treated water from the disabled and deactivated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP). The operational reactors at the plant had been wrecked by the devastating tsunami which hit north-eastern Japan, following a massive undersea earthquake, in 2011. Following the consequent meltdowns of the three reactors, water was used to cool the melted nuclear fuel. That, and other contaminated water, has been stored in a tank farm, containing some 1 000 tanks, constructed on the NPP site. The water is being treated, using an Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). This removes all the radioactive contamination, except for tritium (which is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen).
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IFC provided $9.4bn for private sector development in Africa in the past year

Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided record financing of $9.4-billion in investments between July 2021 and June this year across 36 countries in Africa, helping to develop regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, increase intra-Africa trade, expand access to climate financing and strengthen food security. The investments include $3-billion in trade financing that is unlocking intra-Africa trade for thousands of small businesses; $2.1-billion that is supporting the continent’s green transition, from increasing access to climate finance to funding renewable energy projects; and $861.7-million that is supporting increased digital connectivity.
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Eskom warns of load-shedding at short notice as five generating units at Kriel power station trip

After load-shedding was suspended for the first time in five weeks this weekend, Eskom warned that it may return at short notice on Monday. During the early hours of Monday morning, there were two electrical faults in quick succession in the high voltage yard at Kriel power station.
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TUT team wins South Africa’s first closed-track solar vehicle challenge

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Solar Team were declared the winners of the first ever Ilanga Cup Solar Challenge, which took place at the 4.2-km-long Red Star Raceway, in Delmas, on July 21. “We would like to congratulate the TUT Solar Team for winning the first event of the Ilanga Cup. The weather was not solar car friendly but the team persevered,” Ilanga Cup director Robert Walker said.
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Load-shedding suspended from Saturday

Stage 1 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 to 24:00 on Friday evening. Load-shedding will then be suspended as the generation system has recovered sufficiently at this point. “Eskom thanks the public and all stakeholders for their patience and understanding during this difficult period of load-shedding. While we are able to suspend load-shedding at this point, Eskom cautions that the power system constraints continue to persist,” Eskom said in a statement. Eskom has 3 693MW on planned maintenance, while another 14 261MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.
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Sosimple Energy provides cheap clean energy that reduces electricity costs

Clean energy provider Sosimple Energy is protecting businesses in South Africa against rising electricity prices, helping them to save money through its solar installation offerings. The offering, which requires no investment and no costs for maintenance or insurance, provides businesses with an opportunity to save more than 20% on their electricity costs.
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Mantashe says De Ruyter is not the right CEO to fix Eskom – report

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has questioned the skills of Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, saying he isn’t the type of leader Eskom needs at the moment.  In an interview with the Mail & Guardian, the minister, who is also the national chairperson of the African National Congress, said that the power utility currently needs a “fixer”, and De Ruyter isn’t necessarily that person due to a skills mismatch.
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Bioeconomy could support S Africa’s energy needs

Amid unstable power supply, the development of a wood bioeconomy could help support South Africa’s energy needs while ensuring that the country meets its carbon emission reduction targets, says University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management senior lecturer Schalk Grobbelaar. The country intends to limit greenhouse gas emissions to between 398 t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) and 510 t CO2-e by 2025 and to between 350 t CO2-e and 420 t CO2-e by 2030.
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S Africa offers pragmatic solution but still far from sustainability

While South Africa offers the rest of Africa practical examples of sustainable infrastructure development, there is still much that needs to be done before the country achieves a sustainable transition, says Stellenbosch University Centre for Sustainability Transition professor Desta Mebratu Belay. The country is reaching for a more sustainable future, but two years after Cabinet approved 62 strategic infrastructure projects (SIPs), including in the energy, water and sanitation sectors, almost one-quarter of these projects, worth R340-billion, were delayed or on hold as of late May.
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MBSA’s pilot solar project ‘a success’, expansion planned

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has declared its pilot solar energy project a success. MBSA piloted the project in order to evaluate the solar yield for the East London manufacturing plant, in the Eastern Cape.
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