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OptiPower, Coxabengoa JV awarded R1.2bn solar contract for mining company

Energy infrastructure project delivery company OptiPower, which is a trading division of engineering and contracting company Murray & Roberts (M&R), has, in a joint venture (JV) with Spanish energy and water utility Coxabengoa, been awarded a contract to build a 100 MW solar PV plant for an unnamed mining company with operations in South Africa’s North West province. The contract is valued at about R1.2-billion, with OptiPower’s share in the JV being 50%, M&R says.
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NTCSA appoints 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three supplier panels

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has appointed 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three separate supplier panels as it moves to position itself for a R32-billion build programme over the coming eight years. The companies were selected following a tender issued in May 2023, with five of the companies having been appointed to an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) panel, nine to a procurement and construction panel, and 17 to a construction panel.
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WEG Africa builds substation E-house facility for Sasol’s Upstream PSA project in Moz

Electrical equipment manufacturer WEG Africa has completed a large substation E-house solution, which includes distribution transformers and a diesel generator set, for energy and chemicals company Sasol’s Upstream production sharing agreement (PSA) project, in Mozambique. The E-house solution was procured by engineering, procurement and construction management contractor Wood, was locally designed and manufactured by WEG Africa and supplied in partnership with local engineering firm Proconics.
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Interest from IPPs aiming to connect renewables to grid surges to 133 GW

The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to the South African grid. Published jointly by Eskom Holdings’ National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association and the South African Wind Energy Association, the survey shows there to be projects with a combined capacity of 133 GW at various stages of development across the country.
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AfriForum plans to have Nersa reimburse consumers over unlawful tariffs since July

The Gauteng High Court’s rejection of a leave to appeal application by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) related to proposed municipal tariff hikes, is a victory for municipal electricity consumers, civil rights organisation AfriForum says. Earlier this year, the same court ruled in AfriForum’s favour, confirming that Nersa’s decision to consider municipalities’ applications for tariff hikes without the required cost-of-supply studies was unlawful.
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Wärtsilä signs decarbonisation agreement for Madagascan power plant

The renewal of technology group Wärtsilä’s operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement with QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), which is part of the Rio Tinto group, has been expanded to include a decarbonisation agreement. Wärtsilä says the agreement is a groundbreaking offering in the energy sector and allows for optimising all of the assets in the microgrid, including renewable-energy use, thereby not only reducing emissions but also producing notable cost savings.
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Wind bids fall well short of BW7 allocation, while PV bids far exceed provision

The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that 48 onshore wind and solar PV bids with a combined capacity of 10 218 MW have been submitted under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The bids were submitted ahead of the August 15 deadline, which was postponed from an initial date of April 30, largely owing to grid-access-related delays.
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Ramaphosa signs Electricity Regulation Amendment Act into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the much-anticipated Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act, which lays the legislative foundations for the establishment of a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) in the coming five years. The ERA Bill was approved by lawmakers ahead of the May 29 elections and the President’s assent on August 16 has come amid some concern about the constitutionality of provisions that could affect the authority that municipalities currently have over electricity distribution.
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Open Access Energy secures $750 000 from Factor E Ventures

Grid- and energy-optimisation software company Open Access Energy (OAE) has secured a $750 000 investment from technology innovations venture capital firm Factor E Ventures. The funding marks the initial tranche of a $1.5-million seed round for OAE, which is developing software solutions to address South Africa’s energy challenges.
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Ramokgopa withdraws 2.5 GW nuclear-procurement determination citing lack of public consultation

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has withdrawn a Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity, which was being contested legally, having concluded that there was insufficient public consultation prior to the regulator providing its concurrence with the determination. The withdrawal comes ahead of a scheduled court case initiated by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, which are contesting the legality of the gazetted Section 34 determination signed by Ramokgopa.
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