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CoJ clamps down on residents not paying municipal accounts

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is accelerating action against its worst defaulters, which may see electricity meters being removed as part of the city’s aggressive credit control initiative under the Project Lokisa banner.

The CoJ has identified more than 1 300 residential customers with a combined municipal debt of R987-million, who have failed to pay their municipal accounts for more than a year.

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Ramokgopa to give keynote address at Windaba 2025 – SAWEA

Industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) says Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will open the Windaba 2025 conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with a keynote address on October 22. “The Minister’s participation presents a significant opportunity to align government’s policy direction with the wind and renewable-energy industry’s capabilities, galvanising collective action toward South Africa’s energy security and broader economic development goals,” says SAWEA CEO Niveshen Govender.
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Governance crisis unfolds at Necsa

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about what led to the recent resignation of five members of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) board; Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s continued confidence in the Necsa executive team; and the Minister’s plans for the Necsa board.
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Ramokgopa says inquorate Necsa board to be replaced by new board within three weeks

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says a new board will be appointed at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) before the middle of October, replacing the current board which has been inquorate for weeks following a slew of resignations. Speaking during a meeting convened by the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy specifically to discuss the governance crisis at Necsa, the Minister said the resignations had coincided with preparations for the appointment of a new board in January, but that the process would now be accelerated.
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Centre installs new HVAC system

The installation of a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system has begun at the Bedford Centre shopping mall, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, to meet the operational needs of a new tenant, consumer goods manufacturer Tiger Brands. The existing HVAC system had already been decommissioned, which simplified the decision to install a system that would be better suited to the needs of Tiger Brands, says SSD Management Services director Rod van der Westhuizen.
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Eskom reports major gains in containing online vending system breach

Fraud linked to Eskom’s Online Vending System (OVS) has been reduced to “very low levels of activity”, the power utility says. “Earlier this year, Eskom strengthened the protection of its systems against potential threats. All enhancements are managed through a robust change management process across all divisions, ensuring consistent oversight and control. These measures are part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding operations,” comments Eskom chief technology and information officer Len de Villiers.
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Eskom, BYD partner to accelerate South Africa’s EV future

Power utility Eskom has, through the signing of a memorandum of collaboration (MoC), signalled its intent to collaborate with automotive company BYD Auto South Africa in future and to support the launch of the BYD Dolphin Surf electric vehicle (EV) in South Africa. Under the terms of the MoC, Eskom and BYD will explore ways to support South Africa’s drive to decarbonise transport and position the country as a hub for EV adoption; the potential expansion of public charging infrastructure in key locations across the country; and opportunities for local skills development, participation by small, medium-sized and microenterprises and job creation in the EV ecosystem.
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Court annuls permit for Eskom to build new gas power plant

One of South Africa’s top courts on Wednesday annulled a government permit allowing state utility Eskom to build a large power plant burning natural gas, saying there had not been proper public consultation. The 3 000 MW plant in the east coast port city of Richards Bay is part of government plans to bolster the country’s generation capacity after years of electricity blackouts and pivot away from coal.
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Zimbabwe agrees $455m power plant refurbishment deal with Jindal

Zimbabwe has agreed a $455 million, 15-year concession deal with the Africa-focused unit of India’s Jindal Steel for the refurbishment of a 920 MW coal-fired power plant, the energy minister said. The work on six ageing units at the Hwange thermal power station is expected to take four years, July Moyo said during a post-cabinet briefing late on Tuesday. Jindal Africa will recover its investment from revenue generated by electricity sales from the plant.
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Glencore to meet with Ramokgopa in bid to save smelters

Glencore will meet with the South African government this week to seek ways to prevent smelters that make a key stainless steel ingredient from shedding thousands of jobs as they grapple with surging power prices. Japie Fullard, CEO of Glencore Alloys, will meet Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Friday in an effort to save its venture with Merafe Resources that processes chrome ore into ferrochrome, the executive said in an interview. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the meeting.
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