Posts

R12m grant supports RTE international-NTCSA grid-resilience cooperation

Agence française de développement (AFD) has approved a €650 000 (about R12-million) grant to facilitate a two-year technical cooperation programme between RTE international and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA). This collaboration between the French and South African electricity transmission operators has been formalised through a memorandum of understanding involving Eskom, RTE international, AFD, and NTCSA, signed on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town.
/by

Johannesburg electricity interruptions still a threat, despite Eskom’s extension – OUTA

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has welcomed State-owned entity Eskom’s decision to extend, by 30 days, the public participation process relating to its proposed reduction, interruption and/or termination of electricity supply to certain City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and City Power bulk supply points. The consultation process is being conducted in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), which requires public bodies to follow a fair process before making decisions that may materially affect people or businesses.
/by

Scatec starts building 120 MW Sidi Bouzid II solar plant in Tunisia

Renewable energy company Scatec has reached financial close and started construction on the 120 MW Sidi Bouzid II solar plant, in Tunisia. The €96-million project is expected to reach commercial operation in the second half of 2027.
/by

Investment vehicle Zafiri launches with $176m to support African distributed renewables firms

A new investment vehicle dedicated to deploying long-term equity into distributed renewable energy businesses across sub-Saharan Africa has been launched with initial committed capital of $176-million. Known as Zafiri, the blended-finance vehicle is a flagship programme under the broader Mission 300 initiative, which has been created with the objective of expanding electricity access to 300-million people in the region by 2030.
/by

Eskom says CoJ PAJA consultation process extended by 30 days

Power utility Eskom says it has, in the interest of ensuring a fair administrative process, extended the deadline for the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) notice issued previously to the City of Johannesburg and City Power by 30 days.  The public is, therefore, urged to make representations, submissions, comments and/or requests by July 17.
/by

A.P. Moller Capital moves to buy Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa

Global institutional fund manager A.P. Moller Capital has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of renewable-energy developer and independent power producer Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa. The transaction is subject to regulatory and other third-party approvals, and is being executed by A.P. Moller Capital-Emerging Markets Infrastructure Fund II (EMIF II) through a special purpose vehicle.
/by

ZET says ExxonMobil agreement further strengthens LNG terminal’s commercial foundation

The Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET), which is aiming to build South Africa’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at the Port of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, has signed heads of agreement with an ExxonMobil affiliate – a move that it says signals international market interest in supplying LNG to the country. It is the second heads of agreement signed by ZET this month, with the first signed on June 5 with Eskom.
/by

Grid Access Unit must move out of Eskom sooner rather than later – Sola Group CEO

Eskom’s Grid Access Unit (GAU) must be moved to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) as soon as possible, says Sola Group CEO Dom Wills. Speaking at a Webber Wentzel Power Breakfast held in Cape Town on Wednesday, Wills said the NTCSA essentially owned and managed South Africa’s power grid and access to the grid, yet the GAU remained within Eskom Holdings.
/by

Transmission expansion remains energy sector’s biggest unlock — Mulilo

Mulilo CEO Jan Fourie speaks to Engineering News at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town about the priorities for South Africa’s renewable energy sector, the investment and policy actions needed to accelerate energy development, and the role of clean energy in supporting Africa’s industrialisation ambitions.
/by

South Africa must not miss gas-to-power opportunity – Marokane

South Africa is closer than ever to getting gas-to-power projects off the ground, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane said on Tuesday, arguing that the country has a unique opportunity to use gas to strengthen energy security, support industrial growth and accelerate the expansion of renewable energy. Speaking at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, he said a combination of policy alignment, infrastructure planning and growing recognition of gas’s role in modern electricity systems had created conditions that were more favourable than in previous attempts to establish a gas-to-power industry.
/by