Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon de Ryhove.

Making headlines today:

By the third quarter of 2010 South Africa would have selected the renewable energy independent power producersto meet the country's target of 10 000 GWhs of renewable energy by 2013.

National Energy Regulator of South Africa full-time regulator for electricity Thembani Bukula says that the regulatory environment has so far been inadequate to allow for the introduction of renewable IPPs. But, he says that work on the selection criteria for the introduction of these projects is well advanced and will build on the first two rounds of the renewable energy feed-in tariffs, which were concluded last year.

Some 12-billion-rand has been approved as part of the recently approved Eskom tariff increases to enable the utility to contract with cogenerators and renewable IPPs between 2010 and 2013. Such contracting could also be concluded with the independent system operator, should it be established as proposed.

Africa's largest glass manufacturer Consol will build a new 1,9-billion-rand glass factory in Nigel, boosting its yearly output by 25%.

The new glass factory will increase the group's yearly production by 220 000 tons, to over one-million tons, which is more than four-billion glass containers.

While current production capacity exceeds demand, MD Mike Arnold says that the expansion will ensure there's sufficient production capacity to meet foreseeable market growth expectations.

Also making headlines:

South African business backs the controversial 3,7-billion-dollar World Bank loan for Eskom.
Kumba Iron Ore outlines why ArcelorMittal South Africa should pay commercial ore prices.
Agricultural company Tongaat Hulett plans to increase its sugar output to 1,9-million tons a year over the next few years.
And, GDF Suez and South Africa's PetroSA end exclusive talks on the supply of liquefied natural gas for PetroSA's Mossel Bay refinery.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit engineeringnews.co.za.