South Africa needs nuclear energy for net-zero energy, says Deputy Minister

Mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has reaffirmed the government’s policy of building 2 500 MW of new nuclear energy capacity in the country, with the process starting in 2024. She was delivering the keynote address at the 2022 Nuclear Technology Imbizo (conference) on Wednesday. In her address, she particularly stressed the role of nuclear energy in achieving net-zero carbon emission energy generation, both locally and globally. “[W]e recognise that nuclear plays a pivotal role as one of the clean energy sources that are needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” she affirmed.
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Standard Bank halts new coal-power funding, but backs gas as ‘transition fuel’

The Standard Bank Group has become the latest South African bank to confirm that it will no longer finance new coal-fired power plants or support the expansion of existing coal-fired power plants as part of its newly unveiled commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from its portfolio of financed emissions by 2050. The group has also pledged, in a climate policy released by CEO Sim Tshabalala on March 16,  to achieving net zero carbon emissions from its own operations by 2040.
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Clothing maker starts up East Africa’s largest operational rooftop solar plant

Kenya-based apparel manufacturer United Aryan has officially switched to using green power for manufacturing and inaugurated its new rooftop solar plant.

The 1.8 MW plant is the largest operational rooftop solar facility in East Africa.

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Gauteng SMEs invited to apply for green support incentive programme

The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development invite local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply for the Green Support Incentive Programme. The programme is aimed at providing financial support for renewable energy implementation at the operations of SMEs affected by the economic downturn of the past two years.
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Drones successful in deterring railway cable theft syndicates

Johannesburg-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator and developer UAV & Drone Solutions (UDS) proposes that government departments and State-owned entities (SOEs) use, to a far greater extent, the services it provides to curb critical infrastructure theft and vandalism.

Cable theft for SOEs like Transnet, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Eskom has a significant negative impact on the operators’ ability to transport people and goods; as well as to provide electricity.

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Creecy wants climate commission to oversee consultations on air quality disputes

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request that the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) be allowed to oversee public consultations on appeals that have arisen in relation to air-quality compliance by Eskom power stations. Several appeals have been lodged against decisions taken by the Department’s National Air Quality Officer in relation to  the requests for the suspension and/or postponement of compliance with the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and the issuance of provisional atmospheric emission licences.
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Engineering firm hoping to help ‘rebuild South Africa’ through new energy projects

Founded in 1998, engineering firm TerraStruc will soon set up shop on South African soil as part of its growth trajectory, which includes contracting capabilities and design, construction and property development for renewable energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of this move into the lower half of Africa, TerraStruc partner Johann Schoeman says that the company is aiming to have its first project in South Africa up-and-running by mid-2022.
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SA turns to Mozambique’s vast natural gas reserves as Eskom battles to keep the lights on

South Africa will seek to bolster its energy security by tapping into neighbouring Mozambique’s vast natural gas reserves. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Friday morning in his opening remarks at the third South Africa-Mozambique Bi-National Commission Plenary Session held at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria.
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Eskom CEO holds talks on potential projects with World Bank

The head of South Africa’s state power utility held discussions with the World Bank as it explores options for transitioning from coal-fired stations to cleaner sources of energy. Eskom Holdings CEO Andre de Ruyter travelled to the bank’s headquarters for the talks earlier this week. The utility supplies more than 90% of the country’s electricity, the bulk of it from coal.
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AfricaGoGreen Fund receives $31.5m to promote private sector efficiency investments

Development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) have approved a combined-equity investment of $20-million in the AfricaGoGreen Fund (AGGF) debt fund, which was established to promote private investments in energy-efficient technologies and business models, decarbonise African economies and accelerate the energy transition. This is in addition to the $11.5-million equity contribution approved by development finance institution the Nordic Development Fund (NDF).
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