Energy research and projects organisation the Global Energy Association has seen a sharp rise in the number of countries represented by candidates for the yearly Global Energy Prize. The association hopes to expand its international representation, as developing countries are playing an increasingly significant role in world energy, says president Sergey Brilev.
South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is seeking to appoint a service provider to develop a framework for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity. The department has published a terms of reference document for such a service provider and a compulsory briefing session will be held virtually on February 16 for potential bidders. The actual tender will close on February 25.
South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has issued a statement supporting the release of a Request for Information (RFI) by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) for a new multipurpose nuclear research reactor (MPR). The Department noted that the project, to replace the existing SAFARI-1 research reactor, had been approved by the Cabinet last September. SAFARI-1 is located at Necsa’s complex at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria. “The DMRE believes that this project will ensure South Africa remains amongst the top four global radioisotopes producers as well ensuring continuation of research and development on nuclear technology,” affirmed the Department in its statement. “This places Necsa on path to provide much needed radioactive isotopes for medical and industrial applications, execution of research through beam lines, bolster massive infrastructure development and create thousands of sustainable jobs which are essential for our economy.”
Botswana said its seeking companies to build and operate a 200 MW concentrated solar power plant, its biggest clean energy project to date. In an announcement on Tuesday, the Energy Ministry issued an invitation for companies to pre-qualify for the program, which would involve financing its construction and completing the project by 2027. The state-owned Botswana Power Corporation will buy the electricity produced.
Groupe Filatex, Madagascar’s largest employer, has made two acquisitions to boost its electricity generation on the island nation and to develop power storage capacity. The company bought a 40 MW heavy fuel oil power plant in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, from New York-based Symbion Power for an undisclosed amount and paid €10-million for a 41% stake in France’s Energiestro, which is developing flywheel storage technology, it said in statements sent to Bloomberg.
Eskom officially suspended load-shedding on Tuesday after a material reduction in the level of unplanned outages across its coal fleet, which fell to below 12 000 MW after having surged to about 16 000 MW on Monday. Planned outages of just over 5 000 MW were being implemented as of Tuesday afternoon.
South Africa’s problem is one of a “fossil fuel dependency crisis”, rather than an “energy crisis”, renewable power producer Scatec sub-Saharan Africa GM Jan Fourie posits. He says the country’s energy shortfalls, primarily driven by poor performance at an ageing fleet of coal-fired stations, are addressed in South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan of 2019, which commits to a shift away from coal, with a proposed 25% of South Africa’s total power to come from renewables by 2030.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former South African Reserve Bank (SARB) deputy governor Daniel Mminele to head the newly established Presidential Climate Finance Task Team, which will lead South Africa’s efforts to mobilise concessional climate finance for its just energy transition. The appointment follows $8.5-billion offer made at COP26 by France, Germany, the UK and the US, as well as the European Union to support South Africa’s just transition to a low-carbon economy, with a specific focus on the electricity, electric vehicle and green hydrogen sectors.
South African Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has undertaken to decide whether to fire a community representative from the board of the National Nuclear Regulator by February 15, heading off a court appearance that had been scheduled for Tuesday. Mantashe on January 18 suspended Peter Becker, who in addition to serving on the nuclear regulator’s board is a spokesman for the Koeberg Alert Alliance, which is opposing plans that would see the life of Africa’s only atomic power plant extended by two decades. Mantashe later said that the regulator cannot have opponents of nuclear power on its board. He was sued by Becker.
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter reports that action will be taken against management at some power stations after an unexpectedly sharp deterioration in the performance of certain coal-fired generators on Monday, which precipitated the re-introduction of load-shedding only 24 hours after rotational cuts were initially suspended. Load-shedding was re-instated at 21:00 on Monday February 7 after full and partial unplanned breakdowns surged to nearly 16 000 MW at a time when more than 3 300 MW was down for planned outages.
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