Mantashe denies corruption in electricity feud

South African Mineral and Energy Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and the two most senior officials in his department denied corruption in court papers responding to allegations by a losing bidder in a power tender. Director-General Thabo Mokoena confirmed that he and his deputy met Aldworth Mbalati, executive director of DNG Energy, at Kream Restaurant in Pretoria in November, but denied they tried to secure a bribe. Mantashe denied allegations by Mbalati that a business associate and a relative of the minister tried to interfere in the process of awarding contracts.
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Industry insight opportunity for students

Owing to the fast-paced changes in the boilers and burners sector, technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges have initiated an Occupational Qualification Dual System programme that entails sending students into the industry to ensure that they are prepared when they obtain an artisan qualification.
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Steam generator reduces heat loss by 20%

Steam boiler supplier Steam Generation Africa, exclusive distributor of the CERTUSS steam generators, is testing the generators at a brewery in Ghana.
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Institute working to host international event locally

The South African Institute of Tribology (SAIT) is collaborating with industry bodies and relevant government departments to host the International Tribology Council’s (ITC’s) eighth International World Tribology Congress in South Africa in 2025 or 2026, says SAIT president Patrick Swan.  “We are working hard to get interested parties involved. the Department of Science and Innovation, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and other companies are supporting us.”
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Water, offtake markets core focus areas for green hydrogen project developers in South Africa

While renewable energy prices are tracking lower and electrolyser technology is evolving, the availability of water as an input for the production of green hydrogen, sustainably generated from renewable power sources, and the specific markets for green hydrogen products are important focus areas for project developers, a panel of industry experts said on June 3. Industrial technology multinational Siemens Energy Southern and Eastern Africa sales and generation VP Mark van Antwerp, law firm Webber Wentzel partner Gillian Niven and environmental consultancy SLR Africa power sector lead Stuart Heather Clark spoke during a briefing on the global, technological and local regulatory framework, obstacles and opportunities for the production of green hydrogen in South Africa.
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South Africa’s just transition must accommodate myriad of considerations

As South Africa seeks to scale up the move away from being reliant on coal-fired energy towards cleaner energy forms, the resultant just transition process to enable this must be cognisant of a number of different stakeholders. This was indicated during a ‘Key priorities and challenges for a Just Transition in Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete’ webinar held on June 3.
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Public Enterprises committee welcomes De Ruyter’s clearance on racism allegations

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises chairperson Khaya Magaxa has welcomed the announcement by Eskom’s board that it has cleared CEO Andre de Ruyter of racism allegations.

Magaxa says the utility can now move on with turning the power utility around and meet its responsibilities.

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Macsteel seeks reimbursement for ‘unlawful’ duty payments

Macsteel CEO Mike Benfield is confident that the company has a strong legal case against the continued application of an 8% safeguard duty on hot-rolled coil (HRC) and confirms that it is also asking the court for an order granting that it be reimbursed for the duties paid since the extension was confirmed in August last year. Should Macsteel succeed in its challenge, which is scheduled to be heard on June 22, it is possible that other domestic steel consumers that have imported HRC from nonexempt countries since August will seek similar reimbursements from the South African Revenue Service.
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Opinion: Current priorities for South Africa’s electricity policy

In this summary of a presentation made to a colloquium organised by Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion, Creamer Media CEO and Wits University economics lecturer Dr Kenneth Creamer outlines five priorities for South Africa’s electricity policy
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STI Norland South Africa optimistic about solar market developments

Solar tracker manufacturer STI Norland South Africa is optimistic about the solar market in South Africa, particularly as Bid Window 5 of the renewables programme was launched earlier this year and a 10 MW licence-exemption threshold for small-scale embedded generation has been proposed by government.

The company stands ready to supply the market with its proven STI-H250 dual-row solar trackers, after establishing its presence in 2013 and moving its office to Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, in October last year.

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