Earthlife Africa engages communities on Just Transition Framework

Nonprofit organisation Earthlife Africa is requesting increased grassroots-level engagement and popular education on the energy-related Just Transition Framework to ensure ordinary people in South Africa understand the issues relating to climate change and the just transition.

Over the past few weeks, the Presidential Climate Change (PCC) Commission has started to ramp-up its consultation with communities on a framework pathway for a just transition.

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Becker files for High Court to declare his dismissal unlawful, invalid

Koeberg Alert Alliance (KAA) activist Peter Becker has filed an application in the Cape Town High Court to declare Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s decision to dismiss the applicant from his office as director of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) unlawful and invalid.

Mantashe in January suspended Becker from the NNR board over allegations of misconduct and conflict of interest, before making a final decision on February 25 to dismiss him from the position.

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Eskom warns of load-shedding risk when work week resumes after long weekend

Eskom has indicated that there is a threat of a resumption of load-shedding after the Easter long weekend given its assessment that more than 9 700 MW of capacity is currently “at risk” of tripping in addition to that which is currently unavailable owing to planned or unplanned outages. Generation executive Phillip Dukashe reported on Thursday that there was a plan to use the space created by the falloff in demand over the public holiday weekend to tackle those units that were currently showing signs of being under strain.
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COGTA declares provincial disaster in KZN

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has declared the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) floods, that has claimed the lives of over 200 people and displaced many families, a provincial disaster in line with the Disaster Management Act. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the province on Wednesday, accompanied by Premier Sihle Zikalala and Cogta Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to see firsthand how the floods affected infrastructure.
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Green hydrogen pioneer seeks finance for commercial plant as Vredendal proof-of-concept …

A small proof-of-concept green hydrogen facility in Vredendal, in the Western Cape, has entered into production and its developers are now seeking to raise finance for a 5 MW commercial project, which they believe could be the precursor to a ‘hydrogen valley’ in the province. The commercial plant would comprise a 10 MW solar photovoltaic facility and a 5 MW hydrogen plant and is expected to involve an investment of R460-million, depending on the cost of the electrolyser units.
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SANEDI helps train 50 young electricians in energy efficiency for building EPCs

The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is leading the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Practitioner Skills Programme, in partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa, to train 50 qualified youth to obtain energy use data required for buildings’ EPCs. EPCs provide buildings a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square metre.
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Eskom warns another 11 000 MW ‘at risk’ as it extends load-shedding

State-owned electricity producer Eskom warned on Wednesday that there was 11 000 MW of capacity currently “at risk” over and above the more than 13 600 MW out owing to full or partial load losses and the 5 300 MW unavailable owing to planned maintenance. Speaking after the utility again extended load-shedding, which was implemented at extremely short notice on April 11, by a further two days, generation executive Phillip Dukashe said that the number of units at risk of breakdowns was disturbingly high.
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Global renewable power prices soar on heavy demand, chaotic supply chain

Prices for wind and solar power in major global markets have climbed nearly 30% in a year as developers have struggled with chaotic supply chains and surging costs for everything from shipping to parts to labor, according to a report published on Wednesday. Contract prices for renewables jumped 28.5% in North America and 27.5% in Europe in the last year, according to a quarterly index by LevelTen Energy that tracks the deals, known in the industry as power purchase agreements (PPAs).
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ArcelorMittal studies 100 MW renewables projects for Gauteng and Western Cape

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa has initiated feasibility studies for two 100 MW renewable energy projects to supply electricity to its existing facilities in Gauteng and the Western Cape. The studies should be finalised during 2023/2024, the company said in a statement.
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DFFE invites public comment on standard for the development of power lines, substations

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has opened channels for the public to comment on the ‘Standard for the Development of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas Revision of August 2021’, which negates the need for environmental assessments in certain instances in which power lines and substations will be developed.  The public consultation process was launched through the publication, on April 7, of Government Gazette 46209 in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.
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