South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Bank of China (BoC) have signed a framework agreement that could unlock a R10-billion funding package over the next five years to support regional projects in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and mining. Signed ahead of the Brics summit in Johannesburg, BoC CEO Dr Longjian Chen said the agreement highlighted the bank’s resolution to partner with South Africa in sustainability, just energy transformation and other funding initiatives.
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Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala on August 20 said the department was supporting efforts by the Electricity Minister to improve energy security. Among its efforts, the department was working to urgently acquire properties for the expansion of State-owned Eskom’s transmission infrastructure, as well as accelerating the expropriation applications for Eskom servitudes.
The New Development Bank (NDB) – an initiative of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa bloc – and South Africa’s Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) have signed a R3.2-billion loan agreement for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The NDB will provide the project loan to the TCTA under the sovereign guarantee of South Africa.
Independent, nonprofit economic research institution Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has launched research on a proposed Just Transition Transaction Framework. During a webinar on August 17, the institution introduced the content of the framework and the process for improving the framework over time through learning by doing, evidence collection and analysis.
Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has acknowledged that South African cities and towns face the real prospect of ongoing power interruptions even if the balance between supply and demand is restored, owing to significant investment backlogs in the distribution sector. Quoting from research conducted when he was overseeing Infrastructure South Africa, Ramokgopa estimated the backlog to be above R30-billion, given that underinvestment in maintenance and refurbishments had been found to be growing at an average yearly rate of about R2.5-billion from 2011 to 2022.
Energy Ministers and officials from the Brics bloc met in Sandton on Friday to discuss potential areas of collaboration for improving access to secure and affordable energy, while transitioning to cleaner energy systems. The meeting was chaired by South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, who reiterated his stance that the transition should address both the lowering of emissions and ongoing energy poverty.
Norway’s Scatec ASA, the biggest solar power producer in South Africa, is considering direct sales to consumers who are forced to scramble for reliable electricity amid rolling blackouts. “We are involved in a number of different negotiations, mainly with mining companies,” Scatec Chief Executive Officer Terje Pilskog said in an interview. “We’re also looking at local platforms where we can build out projects and basically sell to multiple off-takers,” which would allow for sales to smaller entities rather than just big miners.
South Africa’s Electricity Minister said he expects to seal a deal with the Chinese government next week that will help solar-power installers in the African nation secure access to panels for projects needed to tackle its energy crisis.
The matter will be discussed on the sidelines of a summit of leaders from the BRICS group of leading emerging-market powers that starts August 22 in Johannesburg, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday.
Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the importance of the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill; why the Bill has not yet been tabled in Parliament despite Cabinet having approved its tabling in March; and the implications of this delay.
Eskom says that the main mechanical work on replacing the steam generators at Koeberg’s Unit 1 has been completed and it will return to service on 3 November. Koeberg’s Unit 2 will be taken offline on 7 November, slightly later than anticipated two weeks ago, avoiding the problem that both units would be offline simultaneously.
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