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Sasol tax break, subsidy support boosts pollution, group says

Sasol got a R8.1-billion profit boost last year thanks to the country’s fuel subsidies and its exemption from a South African carbon tax, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

In a report, the institute says that Sasol’s proprietary coal-to-fuel technology is a significant source of greenhouse gases from its Secunda plant yet it still benefits from government policy on emissions and fuel price regulation. The company’s biggest shareholder is the fund manager that oversees state worker pensions, the Public Investment Corporation.

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Eskom yet to decide next steps after Nersa publishes reasons for 2019 RCA decision

State-owned electricity utility Eskom says it is reviewing the detailed reasons for decision published by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), in which it outlines why the utility was granted a R13-billion regulatory clearing account (RCA) balance for the 2019 financial year instead of the R27-billion for which it had applied. On October 7, Nersa called for comment on the implementation plan for the liquidation of the R13-billion RCA amount, which could affect the electricity tariff increase scheduled for implementation on April 1, 2021.
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Growing determination for municipalities to build, procure own electricity

There is a growing determination among some municipalities to begin building and procuring their own electricity to reduce their dependence on Eskom. Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer unpacks the prospects in this regard.
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Opinion: Black-blade mitigation – a new and exciting mitigation for wind turbines to reduce …

In this opinion piece, ecologist, environmental consultant and conservation biologist Dr Rob Simmons writes about black blade mitigation can help wind farms to prevent thousands of bird deaths each year. The renewable energy industry promises green energy that comes with numerous benefits to the planet. Given that South Africa is blessed with abundant resources in both solar and wind, there is little reason for us to be so dependent on fossil fuels that continue to warm the planet. Indeed, South Africa contributes about half of the Africa’s total greenhouse-gas emissions, through the burning of dirty coal and other fossil fuels. This has given us a bad reputation as a major polluter and we are the fourteenth worst emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
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De Ruyter: Benefits of Eskom maintenance to be felt by April 2021, but power cuts won’t be over

The effects of Eskom’s maintenance programme – which is expected to ease the risk of load-shedding- would be felt by April next year as the power utility works to ensure the long-term sustainability of its infrastructure, its CEO Andre de Ruyter said on Thursday. “We anticipate that by April next year we will see the first benefits of enhanced maintenance,” said De Ruyter, adding that by September 2021, the power utility would have significantly reduced the risk of load-shedding.
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Eskom implementing five-step turnaround plan, says De Ruyter

As part of State-owned utility Eskom’s turnaround strategy, it is implementing five urgent and interdependent priorities, Eskom Group CE André de Ruyter told delegates on the second day of the virtual Joburg Indaba on October 8. Firstly, the utility is aiming for operational stability, which would considerably reduce the risk of load-shedding, he stated.
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Energy expert calls for RMIPPPP overhaul to facilitate cheaper, cleaner emergency power

Energy expert Clyde Mallinson is calling on government to urgently overhaul its Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), which he says not only fails to address the country’s immediate electricity needs, but will also lock in dirty and expensive energy for the next 20 years. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy formally initiated the procurement process for 2 000 MW of so-called emergency power under the RMIPPPP on August 23 when the request for proposals (RFP) bid documentation was made available online for a nonrefundable fee of R25 000.
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World Bank forecasts ‘weak’ recovery for South Africa from Covid-19

The World Bank expects South Africa’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic to be weak relative to most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, forecasting an economic expansion of only 2.6% in 2021 on the back of a massive 7.2% contraction this year. In its latest ‘Africa’s Pulse’ publication, the bank attributed the sharp fall in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 to South Africa’s “strict national lockdown” and warned that future local lockdowns could stymie the economic recovery.
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Solar, renewable energy conference to be held virtually next month

Solar power capacity and energy generation is rapidly increasing and has, over the last decade, become one of the fastest growing sources of renewable energy in the world. As a result of technological advances, sharp declines in costs, improved policies and growing concerns over climate change, renewable energy has been placed front and centre on both the public and private agendas.
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Perdekraal East Wind Farm one step closer to achieving commercial operations

The Perdekraal East Wind Farm project has completed its grid code tests – the final milestone before achieving its commercial operations date (COD). This comes almost two years after construction began at the site.
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