The first formal meeting of the small multi-stakeholder working group set up to finalise South Africa’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan is expected to take place next week, with a preliminary planning meeting having taken place on Thursday afternoon. The working group includes representatives of labour, business, community and government and its creation was agreed during the August 13 meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and the social partners represented at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
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With the Covid-19 pandemic having created the biggest global crisis in generations by sending shockwaves through health systems, economies and societies around the world, XMP Consulting senior coal analyst Xavier Prevost says the implications of the pandemic for energy systems and clean energy transitions are still evolving. With governments and economies dependent on a responsible coal industry being in place to support energy demand and infrastructure, now and in the future, for economic recovery, Prevost said on August 20 that “electricity security and resilient energy systems are more indispensable than ever for modern societies”.
South Africa has to start accelerating its drive towards a responsible transition to clean coal power generation technology to grow the country’s gross domestic product, economy and drive job creation, says empowered coal miner Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke. In delivering the keynote opening address on the Coal Industry Day’s first-ever online edition on August 20, he urged government, the private sector and all key role-players “to come to the party” in accelerating the retrofitting of most of South Africa’s coal-fired power stations, especially those marked for closure.
Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the restructuring and rationalisation plans for the Central Energy Fund group of companies and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation.
Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s monopoly power utility, shuffled some senior managers weeks after missing its own target for restricting power outages. Bheki Nxumalo has moved from his position as head of generation to the post of a group executive overseeing new projects and will be replaced by Rhulani Mathebula, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said on Tuesday, without giving reasons.
The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) expects to formally initiate a year-long rationalisation of the State-owned enterprise in September, while warning of a likely R331-million loss for the current financial year. Addressing lawmakers on Tuesday chairperson David Nicholls confirmed the board’s support for a rationalisation of the group into a single operating company and reported that a streamlined governance structure had already been put in place, with the collapsing of the NTP and Pelchem boards into the Necsa board.
South African utility Eskom said on Tuesday it would implement rolling blackouts from 4pm until 10pm, and again the following day, after breakdowns in some generation units left the electricity system severely constrained. In a statement, Eskom said six generators had been returned to service at its Medupi, Tutuka, Kendal, Majuba and Grootvlei power stations the previous day, but the breakdown of four units overnight and on Tuesday morning, as well as a delay in the expected return to service of one, had left the grid under pressure.
An extension has been granted to September 4 for public comment on the geographical areas identified as Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ) for wind and solar, as well as for the related environmental authorisation processes. In a series of government notices published in July, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy had called for public input as part of the public consultation process on the amendment of procedures to be followed in applying for, or deciding on, environmental authorisation applications for large-scale wind and solar photovoltaic activities.
German renewable energy project development company Cronimet Mining Power Solutions has merged with Namibia’s largest privately held group of companies Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L).
O&L acquired a majority stake in Cronimet from exiting major shareholder Cronimet Mining Energy, which is based in Switzerland.
Renewable energy, real estate and free zone project developer Groupe Filatex is rolling out a series of renewable energy power projects in Madagascar in partnership with Canada-based energy development company Dera Energy as part of its efforts to address a dire electricity deficit, increase access to electricity by the country’s majority rural population and reduce the country’s historic reliance of carbon-intensive fossil fuels. The company is also developing 66 MW worth of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Côte d’Ivoire at a cost of €80-million; 10 MW of solar PV and 33 MW worth of hydropower in Guinea, at a cost of €8.5-million and €105-million, respectively; 20 MW worth of solar PV in Ghana at a cost of €17-million; and in advance negotiations to acquire a 8 MW hydropower plant in the Balkans with an expansion to reach 14 MW at a cost of €35-million.
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