South Africa’s biggest power shift in over a generation holds big promise, and some risk

Next year, 2021, is poised to be a pivotal one for South Africa’s renewable-energy sector – for real this time! The industry will have an opportunity, finally, to participate in the fifth bid window of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the bid documentation for which will be released in January.
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Flagship project set to demonstrate flexibility, convenience of procuring independent power

A flagship renewable energy project, commissioned by Amazon and to be rolled out by SOLA Group, is set to demonstrate the flexibility and convenience of procuring independent power through the electricity grid. The project will see 28 GWh of solar energy wheeled via State-owned power utility Eskom’s grid from a solar farm in the Northern Cape to Amazon’s facilities each year.
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Standard Bank publishes climate-change-mitigating fossil fuels financing policy

Financial services company Standard Bank Group has published its Fossil Fuels Financing Policy (FFFP) as part of its efforts to improve its management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and contribute to the sustainable development of Africa.
 
This follows the 2019 adoption of policies on lending for coal-fired power projects and coal mining operations specifically.
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2020s a ‘once-in-generation opportunity’ to scale job-rich, zero-carbon industries

The 2020s represent a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for countries, companies and investors to scale zero-carbon industries that will stimulate growth, support more resilient economies and create millions of jobs, a newly released global report argues. Titled ‘The Paris Effect: How the climate agreement is reshaping the global economy’, the report has been published by global consultancy SYSTEMIQ, a Certified B Corporation founded in 2016 to drive the achievement of the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. B Corporations are for-profit companies that seek to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
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Western Cape Cabinet approves Atlantis SEZ land transaction

The Western Cape Cabinet has approved key amendments to the founding documents of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone Company (ASEZ Co), which enabled the purchase of land on which the ASEZ Co is located from the City of Cape Town in exchange for minority shareholding in the ASEZ Co. This is considered a critical step in the development of the ASEZ Co, as it allows the company to attract and engage investors independently over the next three years, with the ability to negotiate terms directly.
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juwi appoints new South Africa MD, Emea financial director

International project developer juwi has appointed Richard Doyle as its new MD for South Africa, while Carlos Duran has been appointed the new Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) FD. Both appointments are effective December 1.
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AfDB, Irena to jointly advance Africa’s energy transition

The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) will jointly support investment in low-carbon energy projects, a move which is expected to advance Africa’s energy transition. The two entities have signed a declaration of intent to coordinate on a range of activities, including co-organising renewable energy investment forums as part of Irena’s contribution to the Climate Investment Platform, and collaboration on the AfDB’s yearly flagship Africa Investment Forum event.
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Pay for electricity to help Eskom succeed, Mabuza urges

Communities must pay for electricity if Eskom is to succeed, Deputy President David Mabuza has said. “Doing so is in the best interest of our country,” he said on Tuesday morning at a Nedlac summit, which will see business, trade union and government leaders sign a social compact to support the ailing power utility.
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Local natural gas producer keeping its foot on the gas

Emerging natural gas and helium producer Renergen, who continues to keep its foot on the gas in South Africa, invited the Engineering News team to visit the company’s project site in the Free State, South Africa. Creamer Media journalist, Simone Liedtke, gives us the update.
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Social partners ink compact on reducing Eskom’s debt and facilitating ‘just transition’ …

Organised business, labour, community and government have officially signed a social compact in support of debt-laden Eskom that also endorses the need for a “just transition” for coal workers and communities as the electricity system begins to transition to higher levels of renewable energy and self-generation. The compact, which at its core endorses the need to reduce Eskom’s unsustainable debt burden, was signed at the twenty-fifth annual summit of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
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