Electrical equipment manufacturer WEG has worked for a year to internally evolve its brand, rebranding from Zest WEG to WEG, and with this comes an increased focus on sustainability. WEG has established its presence in Africa over four decades under the Brazil-headquartered Zest WEG brand.
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Eskom has confirmed that it is likely to apply for a licence to operate the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape, beyond the 20-year envelope that it has secured for Unit 1 and is optimistic of also securing for Unit 2. In a response to a question posed about the long-term future of the power station, chief nuclear officer Keith Featherstone told the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy that it would make sense to seek a further extension to the two licences if the assets remained in a condition to continue operating for longer.
South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) expects to finalise nuclear-procurement consultations in the coming two to three months before approaching the regulator for its concurrence with a new Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa withdrew the Section 34 Ministerial determination he Gazetted in January ahead of a court hearing into whether the correct procedures had been followed prior to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) concurrence with the determination.
The recovery of South Africa’s two biggest State-owned companies — beset by years of corruption and theft — relies on one common component: protecting thousands of miles of cables from theft and rolling out more. Both freight-rail operator Transnet and power utility Eskom battle to hang onto lines that typically contain copper and which criminals steal and sell as scrap.
Energy and chemicals group Sasol has reiterated that its target to reduce its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 remains in place, but has also confirmed that it is refining its “pathways” towards meeting that goal. In a note to shareholders, the JSE-listed group indicated that these refinements might involve “shifts in feedstock, energy and products to support our pathway towards being more sustainable”.
Germany’s climate envoy said her country is seeking clarity on South Africa’s plans to slow down the closure of its coal-fired power plants and alter the terms of a landmark climate-finance pact. The European nation is a founding member of the $9.3-billion agreement, known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership, under which some of the world’s richest nations will give South Africa loans and grants on condition it cuts dependence on coal.
Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the implications of moving that State-owned enterprises that previously fell under the Department of Public Enterprises to new departments.
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says the State-owned company is eager to participate in a “holistic conversation” about the gap that has emerged between the changes under way in the electricity sector and the rules governing the industry, including those related to the way tariffs are set. In an exclusive interview with Engineering News, Marokane expressed optimism in Eskom’s ability to bring an end to the devastating era of loadshedding, and indicated that the recent period of operational stability had helped to restore morale, slash diesel costs and provide the board and executives with time and space to begin focusing on the future strategy for the unbundled entities.
Independent oil and gas company Perenco Cameroon launched Perenco Group’s first gas-to-industry supply project in Central Africa, in July this year. The project involves the delivery of gas from the Bipaga Gas Processing Centre, located in Cameroon and operated by Perenco Cameroon, to the ceramic manufacturer Keda Ceramics’ manufacturing plant.
Johannesburg gas supplier Egoli Gas aims to develop the capacity to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) into its pipeline network, with plans to expand access to other major metropolitan areas (metros), positioning Egoli Gas at the forefront of natural gas distribution in South Africa, says recently appointed Egoli Gas MD Mncedisi Mlilo. “When LNG is introduced into the energy mix in South Africa, we are looking forward to expanding our reticulation infrastructure to other metros and underserviced areas, beyond the greater Johannesburg Metro,” he says.
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