Eskom to add synchronous condensers to network

Eskom is preparing to introduce 11 synchronous condensers – seven new and four repurposed – across its transmission system to support grid stability as the penetration of variable renewable-energy... 

No love, but some sympathy

There is not much love for ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA). The near-monopoly business is seen as over-protected, and under responsive by many of its customers. Many questions have been raised... 

Electricity reform bears fruit with 1 185 generators now registered with Nersa

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) reports that it registered a further 98 generation facilities – with a combined capacity of 908 MW and an investment value of R17.3-billion –... 

Spares deal expected to boost performance of straddle carriers at congested DCT Pier 2

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has concluded a seven-year agreement with four original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the supply of critical spares for equipment across its terminals, including... 

Report poses serious questions about effectiveness of scrap export ban

Serious questions about the effectiveness and desirability of South Africa’s prevailing scrap export ban have been raise in a new report, which calls for its immediate lifting unless evidence can... 

Two more solar projects from delayed BW5 set to begin construction in early 2024

Two 75-MW apiece solar photovoltaic (PV) projects bid under the much-delayed Bid Window Five (BW5) of South Africa’s public renewables procurement programme have officially advanced to commercial... 

Pioneering 195 MW solar plant to sell clean electricity to multiple customers nationwide

South African independent power producer the SOLA Group has started construction on a pioneering 195 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Free State, which will wheel and sell clean electricity... 

Red Rocket confirms initial 500 MW of interest in 2 000 MW virtual wheeling renewables scheme

Independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket reports that it has signed up customers for 500 MW of the 2 000 MW of capacity it aims to deploy over the coming three years as part of an innovative... 

TNPA seeks bidders for big berth expansion at congested Durban terminal

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a tender for the reconstruction, deepening and lengthening of three berths at the Pier 2 North Quay of the currently congested Durban... 

Both Koeberg units to be offline from July unless NNR approves Eskom’s licence decoupling request in Jan

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) will decide in January whether to grant Eskom’s request for the Koeberg Unit 1 and Unit 2 licences to be separated to reflect a later commercial operation date... 

Curtailment framework submitted to Nersa as new deadline is set for restart of IPP procurement

Eskom has confirmed that it has delivered a curtailment framework, as well as its proposed Gated Generator Connection Process (GGCP) to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for... 

Sasol appoints adviser to search for Boegoebaai hydrogen export hub coinvestors

A financial adviser has been appointed to assist Sasol in a search for potential coinvestors into a green hydrogen and ammonia export hub at Boegoebaai, in the Northern Cape, following the... 

Treasury says equity injection can be averted as it unveils R47bn Transnet guarantee

A R47-billion guarantee facility, effective immediately, has been extended to struggling State-owned freight logistics group Transnet in support of its recovery plan and to meet its immediate debt... 

Eskom’s hockey-stick-shaped grid deployment plan comes under scrutiny

The hockey-stick-curve shape of Eskom’s ten-year execution plan for delivering much-needed new transmission infrastructure continues to come under intense scrutiny from domestic industry, with... 

New Eskom curtailment framework to promptly unlock 4 GW of grid capacity in wind-rich provinces

Eskom has confirmed that it will release a curtailment addendum to its recently published Generation Connection Capacity Assessment (GCCA) that will unlock 4 GW of connection capacity immediately... 

Envisaged State petroleum company will be empowered to be involved in ‘any form of energy’

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has released a draft Bill for public comment outlining the establishment of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), which the... 

Green growth and jobs

Transitioning South Africa’s energy ecosystem from its current over-reliance on coal to one progressively based on the country’s natural advantages of abundant sun, wind and land will take decades.... 

Mantashe says special Cabinet meeting will consider IRP update after Ministers request time to ‘apply their minds’

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe confirmed that an update of the Integrated Resource Plan, which he has previously dubbed ‘IRP2023’, had served before Cabinet on November 29,... 

Four utility-scale battery projects worth R10bn selected following inaugural public tender

The South African government has selected preferred bidders for the development of four utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Northern Cape, with a combined investment... 

75 MW Umoyilanga hybrid project reaches financial close under much-delayed risk-mitigation round

The Umoyilanga hybrid renewables-battery project, which will supply 75 MW of dispatchable electricity daily from 05:00 to 21:30 when built, has officially achieved commercial and financial close... 

Finding immediate steel alternatives a concern as AMSA prepares to wind down longs unit

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has indicated that it will enter discussions with buyers of its noncommodity long-steel products in an effort to limit the disruption that is set to arise because... 

Gore warns of ‘plateauing’ pace of delivery on power, logistics, crime reforms

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) president Adrian Gore has warned that the pace of delivery across the joint initiatives being taken with government on electricity, logistics and crime is... 

ArcelorMittal SA CEO sees no way of avoiding longs closure, says wind down to start in Jan

ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Kobus Verster believes there is no immediate prospect of addressing the structural issues undermining the financial viability of the group’s long-products business... 

3 500 jobs at risk as ArcelorMittal mulls closure of longs units at Newcastle, Vereeniging

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa has indicated that it may close its long-products business, which could result in the loss of 3 500 direct and contractor jobs at its Newcastle and... 

As Eskom outlines worsened prognosis, City Power confirms loadshedding schedule review amid ‘Stage 8’ uproar

Having outlined an improving power system prognosis for the working week on Sunday, following the shock implementation of Stage 6 on Friday November 24, Eskom has since reported that the outlook... 

Graphics confirm 2023 as loadshedding’s annus horribilis

South Africans are already painfully aware that 2023 has been a devastating year for power disruptions, with the latest bout of Stage 6 loadshedding having provided yet another traumatic reminder... 

De-escalation in loadshedding forecast for coming week as country emerges from renewed Stage 6 trauma

Eskom is forecasting a de-escalation in the intensity of rotational power cuts for the coming week following the traumatic return of Stage 6 on Friday November 24 and complaints in certain... 

Black Friday loadshedding triggered by depletion of reserves and heat-wave demand spike

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa attributed the “unwelcome” ramp up in the intensity of loadshedding to Stage 6 to a need for Eskom to rebuild its emergency reserves that had been... 

Eskom’s Hex battery the first of eight utility-scale projects being deployed across four provinces

Eskom has officially started operating the first of eight utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects being introduced as part of Phase 1 of a World Bank-funded programme to add... 

Regulator approves Eskom tariff discounts for ferrochrome groups

The Energy Regulator has approved six-year negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) for ferrochrome smelters operated in South Africa by both Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture and Samancor Chrome. The... 

Light from the tunnel?

Reform progress in South Africa rarely moves in a straight line from A to B, with the stop/start nature of the country’s electricity reform being a case in point. Nevertheless, there is a... 

Renewables bodies await publication of Eskom’s curtailment framework

The associations representing the wind and solar sectors as well as independent power producers (IPPs) more generally are eagerly awaiting a proposed curtailment addendum to Eskom’s Grid Connection... 

SAAFF warns of rising port-congestion costs

The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) estimates that the current congestion at South Africa’s ports is costing at least R124-million a day in direct and indirect costs. With... 

Aveng shifts 'epicentre' to Melbourne as it names Cummins as new CEO

The locus of JSE-listed construction group Aveng is set to shift to Australia following the appointment of Scott Cummins, who currently leads McConnell Dowell, to succeed Sean Flanagan as CEO, as... 

Sasol, Air Liquide conclude corporate PPA with Mainstream for 97.5 MW solar project

A 97.5 MW solar photovoltaic project will be constructed in the Free State following the signing of a 20-year corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) between Mainstream Renewable Power and... 

New $1.8bn-plus concessional loan package signed to support JET-IP

South Africa has confirmed the signing of three new policy loan agreements – worth more than $1.8-billion – in support of the country’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), the... 

Report proposes replication of collaborative water model in electricity sector

A new PwC report makes the case for replicating a collaborative infrastructure model that has been used in South Africa’s Limpopo province to provide bulk water to both mines and some 400 000... 

No ‘overnight’ solution to vessel congestion at Durban container terminal

The prevailing backlog of ships at anchorage outside the country’s largest container terminal is currently forecast to be cleared only by the end of February amid persistent equipment shortages and... 

IPG confirms increase in just energy transition funding to $9.3bn

The enlarged International Partners Group (IPG) has reaffirmed its commitment to extend concessional funding to South Africa in support of the country’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan... 

Eskom to add synchronous condensers to network, including repurposed Camden and Grootvlei generators

Eskom is preparing to introduce 11 synchronous condensers – seven new and four repurposed – across its transmission system to support grid stability as the penetration of variable renewable-energy...