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Renewable power costs rise, just not as much as fossil fuels

By: Bloomberg Updated 6 hours ago It’s costing more these days to build and run solar farms and wind turbines, but they’re still cheaper than power plants that rely on fossil fuels. The costs of renewable plants are rising after years of declines due to soaring prices for materials, shipping and labour, according to a... →

Manufacturer now offers new stainless steel braided hose

Updated 6 hours ago Earlier this year, industrial hose specialist Truco announced it had started manufacturing stainless steel braided hose at its Chamdor campus in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Initial capabilities are for hose assemblies from 6 mm to 25 cm in diameter. →

A reel of stainless steel braided hose which is impervious to fire chemicals and pressure

STEELING THE SHOW The new sheet braided hose offered by Truco is ideal for use across a range of industries

Renergen strikes new gas blower named Gandalf, making progress on plant

By: Schalk Burger 30th June 2022 ASX- and JSE-listed natural gas and helium producer Renergen announced a new gas blower named Gandalf at its Virginia gas project, in South Africa’s Free State province, after gas was intersected at 480 m from surface with a flow rate of about 90 000 cubic feet a day. The target depth is 1 200 m,... →

Reunert targets renewable energy market

By: Natasha Odendaal 30th June 2022 JSE-listed industrial group Reunert has set its sights on capturing a critical market in South Africa and beyond: renewable energy. The group, during its investor day showcase on June 28, highlighted its renewable energy strategy execution, which leverages its renewable energy cluster that spans... →

Three South African technologies pitch for Innovate UK funding

By: Schalk Burger 28th June 2022 During a briefing by energy technology innovation and funding network Innovate UK for technology innovators and entrepreneurs on June 27, three South African technology companies presented their innovations for potential funding from the UK organisation. The three companies also served as... →

Ducere MD André Reyneke discussing Miser Technologies drivetrain fuel savings and emissions reductions systems and Greenthermo Energy operations director Rearabetswe Dire discussing the company's project to increase production of biodiesel

G7 to allow fossil-fuel financing if climate pledges are kept

By: Bloomberg 28th June 2022 Group of Seven (G7) nations are set to allow some exceptional public financing of overseas fossil-fuel projects to continue provided that the investments are consistent with prior climate-change agreements, according to people familiar with the matter. The final text of the leaders’ statement,... →

Western Cape govt, DTIC driving green hydrogen research in Vredendal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th June 2022 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Western Cape provincial government have committed to putting support mechanisms in place to help resource a green energy hydrogen project in Vredendal. As a starting point, senior government officials already visited the Keren... →

Right decisons key in green transitioning

24th June 2022 “South Africa’s drive towards a just energy transition and net zero carbon emissions should be seen as a great opportunity, rather than a cumbersome task. While the transition is sure to be a challenge, it doesn’t have to be a headache if the right decisions are made, backed by the right... →

Image of a solar installation on a tiled roof

SOLAR EXPERTISE The solar power supply chain must be prepared to act not just as suppliers, but also consultants to ensure the success of new PV installations

GreenYellow secures contracts with Retailability, PPC Cement in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 24th June 2022 Energy efficiency, services and solar photovoltaic solutions company GreenYellow has secured two contracts in South Africa, including a seven-year energy efficiency partnership agreement with retail investment holding company Retailability that will provide 16 GWh of annual energy savings,... →

Transnet, Sasol, Total, and the apartheid-era pricing deal. Why ConCourt agreed it should end

By: News24Wire 22nd June 2022 The Constitutional Court has ruled that Transnet was entitled to terminate a long-term pricing agreement, put in place in the apartheid era, and relating to the transportation of crude oil to Sasol and Total. Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga handed down the judgment on Tuesday. →

Hyve Group opens Johannesburg office

By: Donna Slater 21st June 2022 International exhibition and conference organiser Hyve Group has opened a Johannesburg office as a means to enhance its presence in South Africa and expand opportunities for South African citizens.  Hyve Group, which employs over 650 people in 12 offices globally, organises over 50 trade... →

PASA welcomes recognition of natural gas’ role in Africa’s energy transition

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 21st June 2022 Industry organisation the Petroleum Agency SA (PASA) has welcomed the release of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s ‘Africa Energy Outlook 2022’ report, which outlines possible pathways for Africa’s energy system that are consistent with both the pressing need for a transition to a cleaner... →

‘Jackpot’ oil discoveries may help Namibia double GDP by 2040

By: Bloomberg 21st June 2022 Namibia expects its biggest oil discoveries since independence to help double its economy by 2040, Jennifer Comalie, chairperson of National Petroleum Corp of Namibia, said in a Bloomberg TV interview. TotalEnergies in February said it had made a “significant” oil discovery off the coast of... →

The Industry Transition: A Pathway to Decarbonising the Hard-to-Abate

By: Simone Liedtke 21st June 2022 The hard to abate sectors currently produce more than a third of the worlds’ climate chaining emissions, which we must sharply curtail if we are to hold global warming to 1.5ºC. Yet, they are integral to humanity and ultimately they ’re playing an integral role in reducing our reliance on fossil... →

Calls for petrol price deregulation display lack of knowledge – FRA

By: Irma Venter 17th June 2022 Increasing calls from the public for the petrol price to be deregulated speak of ignorance, warns Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) CEO Reggie Sibiya. “As fuel prices continue to rise, there is pressure on retailers to cut margins and be in competition with each other, which is absolutely... →

Gas can meet commercial and industrial energy needs

By: Nadine Ramdass 17th June 2022 While there are various sources of energy, gas remains one of the primary sources that can sustain a large amount of industrial and commercial requirements, says consulting service provider Synergy oil & gas consulting and training GM Ismaeel Fataar. He explains that a strong ripple effect from... →

An image of an engineer at an oil and gas processing plant

SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE Skills need to be developed now to meet the future needs of the gas-to-power industry

Increased interest in gas-powered generators

By: Nadine Ramdass 17th June 2022 Since the lifting of the own-generation licence threshold to 100 MW, interest in using gas for embedded power generation has increased significantly, says gas engine and hybrid power plant specialist Clarke Energy business development manager Kara Neale. The high efficiency of gas-powered... →

An image of maintenance of Gas-to-power equipment

TAILORED TO GAS CHARACTERISTICS it is important to ensure that the equipment is suited to the particular gas

Africa’s governments face stark choices as fuel prices scale new highs

By: Bloomberg 16th June 2022 African governments face stark choices over fuel prices as sanctions on Russian oil disrupt global markets for energy, according to one of the continent’s key suppliers. “There is no doubt that this has a disproportionate impact on the economies of Africa,” Fadi Mitri, head of Africa for Puma... →

Beheadings show Islamist peril persists for Total in Mozambique

By: Bloomberg 16th June 2022 A fresh wave of attacks by an Islamic State affiliate in northern Mozambique has prompted the evacuation of the nation’s biggest solar power plant and threatens to further delay TotalEnergies' $20-billion liquefied natural gas project. Forces from Rwanda and a southern African regional bloc have... →

South Africa should consider Russian crude imports, Mantashe says

By: Reuters 16th June 2022 South Africa's Energy Minister on Wednesday said the country should consider importing crude oil from Russia as part of efforts to curb rising fuel prices, which have soared since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. "We should consider importing crude oil from Russia at a low price because it... →

Wärtsilä signs performance-based agreement for African gold mine

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2022 Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a five-year performance-based agreement for a 20 MW power plant combined with a 40 MW plant extension installation at a gold mine in Africa. The agreement was signed in March, and in alignment with the company’s service agreements, Wärtsilä books expected net... →

Climate Commission sets sights on energy mix as it wraps up work on just transition framework

By: Terence Creamer 14th June 2022 The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is initiating a process of research and consultation on South Africa’s future energy mix, which it aims to present to Cabinet before the end of 2022. Speaking at a conference hosted by the RES4Africa Foundation in Johannesburg, executive director Dr... →

PCC executive director Dr Crispian Olver

New report outlines strategy for ending load-shedding by early 2024, but delivery hinges on ‘substantial political will’

By: Terence Creamer 13th June 2022 A comprehensive strategy for drastically reducing, or even eliminating, the scourge of rotational power cuts in South Africa by early 2024 has been outlined in a new public-interest report published by Meridian Economics. The authors warn, however, that load-shedding is poised to rise to extreme... →

Key questions remain on journey to a just transition in the liquid fuels industry – Crompton

By: Schalk Burger 10th June 2022 Key considerations and challenges to support a just transition in the liquid fuels industry to a low- and zero-carbon industry include the need for financing, the need to ensure financial viability of technologies proposed for the transition, the impact on the automotive manufacturing industry... →

Sustainable aviation fuels can be a potential green industry in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 10th June 2022 Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) can contribute to a 65% reduction of emissions in the aviation industry by 2050, and South Africa has an excellent resource base to produce like-for-like replacements for fossil fuel-derived fuels that can be used with existing equipment and aeroplanes, says... →

African oil, gas producers can help to create an inclusive energy transition, says McKinsey

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th June 2022 Global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company says Africa’s oil and gas producing nations have the opportunity to embark on an inclusive energy transition and chart a course toward a sustainable future, amid a heightened focus on sustainability. “As the world looks to accelerate its... →

Committee welcomes appointment of Jacob Mbele as DMRE director-general

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th June 2022 Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo has welcomed the appointment of Jacob Mbele as director-general of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), saying he believes Mbele’s illustrious career at the DMRE qualifies him for the position.... →

Jacob Mbele

Workers must play central role in shaping just energy transition, unions insist

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th June 2022 As South Africa continues on its journey towards realising a just energy transition (JET), workers and unions have expressed their support for the move and for alternative sources of energy to be part of the energy mix, provided that labour plays a significant role, that its views are taken on... →

Ways to overcome challenges when your boiler fails

10th June 2022 Over the past 24 months, companies requiring emergency boiler systems have succumbed to price increases to keep their steam operations functioning. →

STEAM SYSTEMS A spike in boiler hire is directly proportional to an increased uptake in boiler repair services.

Just transition holds opportunities, but also risks for South Africa's liquid fuel value chain

By: Schalk Burger 8th June 2022 A just transition of the liquid fuels value chain to a low- and zero-carbon value chain presents opportunities for South Africa, but also holds risks in terms of timing and the impact of the transition on workers and employment. These were some of the impacts discussed by researchers and industry... →

Congo’s oil block sale threatens carbon sinks, forest pact

By: Bloomberg 8th June 2022 The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC's)plan to auction oil exploration blocks next month threatens to disrupt some of the world’s most important carbon sinks and could jeopardize a $500-million forest preservation agreement. Some of the blocks, estimated to contain 16 billion barrels of crude... →

Renergen nears financing close for Virginia gas’ Phase 2

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th June 2022 JSE-listed emerging helium and natural gas producer Renergen has signed a retainer letter with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for a possible $500-million loan to finance the Phase 2 development of the company’s Virginia gas project, in the Free State province of South... →

Tech company commissioned to run upgrades in UAE

3rd June 2022 Global technology company ABB has installed ABB Ability System 800xA, called the market-leading distributed control system (DCS) automation platform, to upgrade three grinding units at Star Super Cement in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), →

Company performs complex breakdown repair on rotor

3rd June 2022 Electro-mechanical services and repairs company Marthinusen & Coutts (M&C) recently performed comprehensive repairs to the rotor of an aging 30 MW generator which had failed during operation at JSE-listed forest group Sappi’s Saiccor pulp mill in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal. →

MECHANICAL REBUILD Generator rotor undergoing dimensional checks in M&C mechanical rebuild

Renergen says gas project can catalyse Free State manufacturing revival

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd June 2022 Emerging integrated energy producer Renergen is confident that its Virginia gas project, in the Free State, will become a catalyst for “more than just gas” in South Africa, with CEO Stefano Marani expressing optimism about the project’s positive impact on the province as it develops into a... →

Local assembly of MACC drives to slash lead times

3rd June 2022 Drive technology supplier SEW Eurodrive’s expanded local capability out of its new Aeroton facility will include the assembly of SEW M-Series Air Cooled Condenser (MACC) air-cooled condenser drives for delivery at a rate of three units a week →

AIR COOL CONDENSERS Air-cooled condenser (ACC) systems used in steam-driven power generation plants.

Exxaro, TotalEnergies SA donate funds to communities for education

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd June 2022 Diversified mining and renewable energy solutions company Exxaro Resources, in partnership with energy company TotalEnergies South Africa, have donated over R930 000 to education programmes in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, supporting efforts to empower the local communities. Exxaro says it believes... →

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