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Numsa claims Eskom provoked the ‘rage’ that led to protests and more load-shedding

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) laid the blame at Eskom’s feet for the protests at power stations that ultimately plunged South Africa into Stage 4 load-shedding late last week. Speaking to Fin24 on Monday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola denied any involvement by the union in planning the protests but said they were a direct outcome of what she called Eskom management’s unwillingness to negotiate with organised labour in good faith.
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Eskom says most workers at power plants, still sporadic protests

South Africa’s power utility said most of its workforce is in place, despite some ongoing demonstrations that started last week after a breakdown in wage negotiations, though generation capacity has yet to improve. “The greater majority of employees are reporting for duty,” Eskom Holdings’ media desk said in an emailed reply to questions. There were still some “sporadic protests” and demonstrations on Monday and there’s more generation capacity unavailable then there was in previous days.
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UK to guarantee $2bn of AfDB debt to boost climate fight

The UK has agreed to guarantee $2-billion of the debt the African Development Bank has extended to governments on the continent, allowing the lender to free up finance for climate-related projects. The additional lending capacity will be used to fund projects for climate resilience and renewable energy, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire-based bank, said in interview last week.
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Stage 4 power cuts to continue until Wednesday due to labour action, says Eskom

Stage 4 load-shedding will continue to be implemented from 05:00 in the morning until Wednesday, Eskom has announced.  The power utility said the power cuts would be implemented every day until midnight. 
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Earth & Wire targets Eastern Cape for first long-duration storage roll-out

Independent renewable energy company Earth & Wire expects to begin installing its first long-duration energy storage system in South Africa in 2024 after announcing a 300 MW/1 200 MWh order for a battery system from Ambri, of the US. First deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, and implementation, which could be across multiple sites, is expected to involve a capital investment of between R3.5-billion and R4-billion depending on exchange-rate, interest-rate and supply-chain fluctuations.
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Reform, State capability, corruption must be addressed before South Africa can progress – Mavuso

Three critical issues stand in the way of South Africa moving forward in terms of developing and attracting investment, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso said at the Southern Africa France Business Forum on June 22.

Hosted by Business France, French Foreign Trade Advisors and the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the forum sought to strengthen business ties between France and South Africa.

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Renewed focus on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the fresh attention this week on the $8.5-billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) between South Africa and various developed countries; the importance of South Africa finalising a JET-P investment plan before COP27 in November; and other projects in South Africa that may in future be bundled under the JET-P banner.
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Load-shedding to hit stage 4 all weekend after wage talks deadlock – Eskom

Eskom will implement stage 4 load-shedding from 11am on Friday until midnight, and again on Saturday and Sunday from 5am until midnight, amid ongoing unprotected labour action, it said in a statement on Friday. “It is necessary to bolster emergency generation reserves to react to unforeseen circumstances, as well as to replenish emergency reserves to prepare for the week ahead,” spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said.
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If power station protests persist, there’ll be much more load-shedding, Eskom warns

Power utility Eskom warned on Friday morning that if protests at nine of its power stations and facilities continue, it increases the risk of higher stages of load-shedding. SA is currently experiencing Stage 2 load-shedding every day up to midnight until Sunday.
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Is it possible to convert old coal mines into successful farms?

The rehabilitation of South Africa’s closed coal mines has long been a source of contention among miners, environmental activists and affected communities. Numerous old mines were not rehabilitated at all, while many others were rehabilitated to within only the bare minimum requirements of the law, leaving the land looking restored but, ultimately, not suitable for the growing of crops, owing to the plethora of toxic chemicals and metals that remain in the soil and water.
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