SIU’s Mothibi says contents of private Eskom investigation ‘cannot be ignored’

Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi says the fact that former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter did not receive board authorisation to commission a private intelligence investigation into criminality and sabotage at the State-owned utility raises potentially grave governance issues. Nevertheless, he stresses that the report’s content “cannot be ignored” and is proving useful in guiding several ongoing investigations. In a presentation to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Mothibi confirmed that George Fivaz Forensics and Risk (GFFR) had been appointed by Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) to conduct the probe in a contract facilitated by De Ruyter, who “was acting on his own”.
/by

South Africa to co-host grid financing seminar with JSE in September

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that he is planning to co-host a seminar with the JSE in September to unpack various financing options for the expansion of South Africa’s electricity grid. Insufficient investment in the transmission system over the past number of years has emerged as a key constraint to the integration of much-needed new generation capacity and is particularly acute in regions with high-calibre wind and solar resources such as the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces.
/by

Nine people arrested at the Kusile power station for theft of coal, fraud

Power utility Eskom reports that nine people were arrested at the Kusile power station on September 7 for theft of coal and fraud. Eight of the nine were weighbridge operators employed by Eskom Rotek Industries (ERI), with the ninth being a coal truck driver.
/by

Loadshedding to ease further on Saturday

Rugby fans can expect slightly fewer interruptions to their TV time this weekend, with scheduled power cuts expected to ease a little from early on Saturday morning.  This follows the implementation of Stage 6 when Eskom recently suffered several breakdowns at the same time as it ramped up maintenance.
/by

Solar energy storage system launched

The pressing need for effective energy storage systems has become undeniable owing to the severe energy crisis marked by an unreliable power supply and frequent, at times, daily loadshedding. In this challenging landscape, the Row Pow Energy Storage System emerges as a solution to the power crisis, offering innovative features and remarkable benefits for businesses and households.
/by

Firm offers immediate solar solutions

Solar energy company SunSource Solutions remains committed to not only providing immediate solutions to South Africa’s energy challenges but also contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. By promoting the adoption of solar energy, the company aims to reduce carbon emissions and decrease the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
/by

Firm pushing for investment in energy projects

Having realised the potential of particularly solar energy in the renewable-energy sector, independent investment and advisory firm Bravura aims to implement additional in-house capabilities to further develop and promote energy projects. “The decision has been made in the wake of a number of successful projects being executed by our associate, solar solutions provider SolarSaver,” says Bravura business development head Ian Matthews.
/by

Solar streetlights installed along Gqeberha street

Lighting manufacturer BEKA Schréder has supplied its solar lighting highmast the SOLARFLOOD solution for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, along a stretch of Stanford road in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, in June. This installation is the result of the municipality’s initiative to keep cables out of the reach of thieves through its highmast solar lighting pilot programme.
/by

Group installs 1.1 MW solar system at manufacturing facility

After a year of planning and installing alternating-current and direct-current solutions, standby equipment manufacturer Static Power has commissioned a 1.1 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied system at its ACTOM Medium Voltage Switchgear manufacturing facility in Knights, Gauteng. Static Power is a business unit within the division of Actom Smart Technologies which is within the ACTOM group. 
/by

New inverter, battery solutions distributed

Energy technology provider Midea Energy Solutions, a product division of global appliance and air conditioning manufacturer Midea, has partnered with local distributors Livance Distributors and Fourways Group to launch the Midea Energy Solutions range of inverter and energy storage products. The Midea brand has been in South Africa since 2013, and has now undertaken to extend its product offerings to include Midea Energy Solutions’ products through its networks in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
/by