China bailing on overseas coal should be a boon for renewables

If China puts the same financial heft behind green energy in emerging nations as it has in developing fossil fuels projects overseas, it’ll be a step change for global investment in renewables.

President Xi Jinping told the United Nations General Assembly this week that China will accelerate support to developing nations to install low-carbon energy sources as the nation also halts the building of new coal power overseas.

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Sasol’s revised decarbonisation commitments

Sasol has announced revised and accelerated decarbonisation commitments. Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer unpacks the significance of the 2030 target and the group’s promise to be net-zero by 2050.  
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AIMM says six more solar PV projects reach commercial operation

Six more solar photovoltaic (PV) projects situated in the Northern Cape and North West provinces have reached commercial operation, infrastructure equity investment management company African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) reported on Wednesday.

These projects include the 50 MW De Wildt solar project, the 68 MW Bokamoso solar project, the 75 MW Zeerust solar project and the 75 MW Waterloo solar project in the North West, as well as the 55 MW Boikanyo and the 75 MW Malta A Bokone projects in the Northern Cape.

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Exxaro, Cennergi developing 70 MW solar project in Lephalale

Diversified miner Exxaro Resources’ renewable energy subsidiary, Cennergi, will develop the 70 MW Lephalale solar project to supply the Grootegeluk coal mine, near Lephalale, Limpopo. The group announced on Wednesday that Exxaro Coal and Cennergi had concluded a term sheet, setting out material terms upon which a long-term power purchase agreement would be concluded.
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Sasol triples 2030 decarbonisation target, makes net-zero by 2050 pledge

Chemicals and energy group Sasol has announced a material acceleration of its decarbonisation plans, confirming that it will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 rather than by the much-criticised 10% level to which it initially committed. CEO Fleetwood Grobler has also pledged that the group will transition to net-zero emissions by 2050 and has confirmed that Sasol will not invest in any new coal reserves.
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Importance of sustainable energy underlined

In dealing with its current energy crisis, South Africa must ensure that it shores up reliable short- and long-term supply options that adhere to sustainable energy objectives.    This was indicated by speakers on the first day of the 11th yearly Sustainability Summit on September 21, during the Sustainable Energy Seminar in partnership with DND Energy.
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China to stop building new coal-fired power projects abroad

China plans to stop building new coal-fired power plants abroad, President Xi Jinping said at a virtual United Nations General Assembly meeting on Tuesday.

The announcement came a year after Xi surprised world leaders by pledging to make China carbon-neutral by 2060 after reaching peak emissions by the end of the decade. He has come under pressure to back up that promise with concrete short-term goals ahead of global climate talks, known as COP26, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

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Nersa approves Karpowership generation licences

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved three generation licences for floating powership provider Karpowership.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the energy regulator on Tuesday afternoon. The regulator approved generation licences for Karpowership at Saldanha Bay, Coega and Richards Bay.

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Nkabane says South Africa will move ahead with nuclear procurement in 2022

Deputy Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane says that South Africa plans to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for a 2 500 MW nuclear programme by the end of March 2022 and complete the procurement in 2024. In an address to the sixty-fifth general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, Nkabane reported that government had received positive responses from 25 companies to a request for information issued in June 2020 and stated that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) had concurred with a Ministerial section 34 determination for the procurement.
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Banks balk at backing emergency power bidders

A court case filed by a losing bidder in South Africa’s emergency power program threatens to delay the provision of the electricity by months as banks balk at providing funding because of the risk of an adverse judgment.

Officials at three of the seven preferred bidders selected to provide power by August 2022 said the lenders are refusing to sign off on the projects until the court case is complete. They asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential.

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