DBSA, IDC and NEF team up to mobilise finance for just transition to low-carbon economy

The CEOs of three leading South African development finance institutions (DFIs) have established a collaborative platform, known as the DFI CEOs Forum, that aims to support the financing of the country’s just transition to a low-carbon economy and climate resilient society by 2050. Led by Development Bank of Southern Africa CEO Patrick Dlamini, Industrial Development Corporation CEO TP Nchocho and National Empowerment Fund CEO Philisiwe Mthethwa, the forum will seek to locate, define and execute just transition financing.
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Study shows potential of off-grid anaerobic biogas energy in South Africa – SANEDI

A study, commissioned by the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), has uncovered the untapped potential for a micro-digester sector to aid in climate mitigation and the green circular economy, and showed that the sector has significant opportunity to grow if it can strengthen partnerships within the sector and with stakeholders in allied sectors. South Africa’s uptake of this technology is low compared with other African countries. South Africa’s total number of small-scale biogas digesters installed is estimated to be only 350 compared with 14 000 in Kenya, 11 000 in Uganda and 10 000 in Ethiopia, the study finds.
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DA wants State of Disaster declared on Eskom

Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises Ghaleb Cachalia on Thursday called for a State of Disaster to be declared on power utility Eskom following a heavy run of load-shedding this year. The DA has also written to Presidency Director-General Phindile Baleni requesting a State of Disaster on Eskom and asking for the electricity sector to be placed on the agenda of the next Cabinet meeting.
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Eskom says power cuts to resume on Thursday

Power utility Eskom will again implement rotational power cuts from 117:00 to 22:00 on Thursday, as it struggles with breakdowns at its generating units. Eskom said in a statement the outages will be under Stage 2, which requires up to 2 000 MW to be cut from the national grid.
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Eskom sets August 2024 target date for return of damaged Medupi 4

Electricity utility Eskom has set a target date of August 2024 for the return to service of Medupi Unit 4, the generator of which was “catastrophically” damaged during an explosion on August 8, 2021. Acting generation MD Rhulani Mathebula, who has stepped into the role following the resignation of Phillip Dukashe, says assurance and forensic investigations have been completed and that management expects to institute consequence management against those involved by the end of May.
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Talk must make way for action if ‘SA Inc’ is to navigate looming 22 GW coal exit

Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer has appealed for urgent and coordinated public-private action to close an immediate electricity shortfall of up to 6 000 MW and to prepare the way for the replacement of 22 000 MW of coal capacity that will be shut over the coming 14 years. Speaking during a system briefing and amid persistent bouts of power cuts, Oberholzer said the time had come to stop talking and begin acting as ‘South Africa Incorporated’ to tackle the immediate crisis and to prepare for the longer-term transition from coal.
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Busa welcomes Operation Vulindlela progress, but calls for further advances

Business organisation Business Unity South Africa (Busa) says in a statement that business has taken note of the report from Operation Vulindlela on the progress made in implementing some of the structural reforms required to attract investment and put the country on a path to sustained and inclusive economic growth. “Business has supported the work of Operation Vulindlela, and we consider this to be a successful bilateral arrangement between government and business to enable progress and implementation.
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Law firm suggests govt recognise role of storage in energy regulation

As South Africa takes its first steps towards a just transition and as decarbonisation becomes a strategic imperative for heavy electricity users, the role of energy storage and hybrid technologies is becoming more relevant, says law firm Allen & Overy South Africa.

Electricity storage paired with renewable energy generation can contribute to many of the challenges faced by the country’s electricity infrastructure.

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Eskom confirms winter load-shedding risk and warns on diesel costs

Electricity utility Eskom has again highlighted the risk of load-shedding during the current winter period, during which it will rely heavily on the country’s expensive diesel-fuelled open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) to either avoid rotational cuts or reduce the intensity of such cuts. Transmission MD Segomoco Scheppers again confirmed that there could be as many as 104 days of load-shedding during the period from May to the end of September, with the utility having already implemented 32 days of load-shedding from January 1 to May 11.
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South Korea to again boost nuclear power

New Republic of (South) Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol (inaugurated on Tuesday) is committed to his policy of strengthening the country’s nuclear power sector, reversing his predecessor’s policy (adopted in 2017) of phasing nuclear power out. Investing in nuclear energy formed part of the platform on which Yoon fought the election. The President’s position was reaffirmed by his nominee for the post of Industry Minister, Lee Chang-yang, during his parliamentary confirmation hearing. “I will seek measures to reasonably utilize nuclear energy, which is a major means of energy security and carbon neutrality, and to boost the competitiveness of the sector to actively support its exports,” he affirmed.
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