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Coal & Diesel News

Eskom wants Medupi Unit 3 defect repairs completed on schedule despite Covid-19 restrictions

By: Terence Creamer 3rd April 2020 State-owned electricity utility Eskom has not shifted its April 9 deadline for returning Medupi Unit 3 to service, despite work restrictions imposed at the Lephalale site, in Limpopo, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The unit was shut for 75 days on January 26 to address defects that... →

Eskom to temporarily shut Koeberg Unit 2

By: Donna Slater 2nd April 2020 From midnight on April 3, power utility Eskom will take Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape, offline. The unit is scheduled to return to service by April 30, if not required before then. From midnight on April 3, power utility Eskom will take Unit 2 of the Koeberg... →

Eskom gearing up to run philosophy maintenance ‘as a project’ following Covid-19 hiatus

By: Terence Creamer 1st April 2020 State-owned electricity producer Eskom is gearing up to implement philosophy maintenance as a centralised project across its unreliable coal fleet, where ongoing breakdowns have increased the risk of growth- and confidence-sapping load-shedding. The utility’s board has given its approval for the... →

Eskom postpones ‘philosophy maintenance’ as it shuts units in response to drop in demand

By: Terence Creamer 27th March 2020 State-owned electricity producer Eskom has reported that demand dropped by more than 6 000 MW on the afternoon of March 26 as businesses shut in anticipation of the start of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. The utility also indicated that a further reduction in demand was anticipated for the... →

Industry reaction to Minister’s call for higher levels of clean-coal investment

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 There is much scepticism domestically and internationally about the potential for clean-coal technology (CCT). In South Africa, however, there has been an amplification in recent months of calls for accelerated efforts to be made to finding innovative solutions to the serious environmental and... →

Photo by GE
POWER PLANT OPTIMISATION Eskom’s Kusile power station’s use of the wet flue gas desulphurisation technology ensures lower emissions

Mining to be ‘scaled down significantly’ during 21-day lockdown

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2020 Mining operations in South Africa are to be “scaled down significantly” during the 21-day lockdown period, particularly labour-intensive, deep-level mining activities, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reported on March 25. However, mines supplying coal to Eskom would remain in... →

Risk of load-shedding will be low during lockdown - Mantashe

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2020 Security of energy supply remains critical during the Covid-19 lockdown period, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reiterated on March 25. The supply of fuel to critical and essential services, as well as the supply of coal to Eskom for electricity supply and liquid fuels... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe r

Greenpeace against granting of MES compliance postponement to Eskom

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd March 2020 South Africa’s National Air Quality Officer Dr Thuli Khumalo’s decision on Eskom’s application for a postponement from complying with the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) at the end of this month could have implications as far reaching as the country’s water security, says Greenpeace Africa.... →

Privatisation slowly becoming reality

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 The type of participants attending this year’s Power & Electricity World Africa & The Solar Show are proof that Africa seeks to become less reliant on governments for its electricity supply, says event organiser Terrapinn Power & Electricity World Africa conference producer Caroline Mubima.... →

DRIVEN DISCUSSION The growing adoption of electric vehicles is one trend expected to dominate discussion at Power & Electricity World Africa 2020

Africa can develop on low-carbon growth path

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 Choosing between a low-carbon future and Africa’s economic growth is a false dichotomy, as these goals do not need to be in competition, says independent power producer Pele Energy Group founder Fumani Mthembi, a speaker at this year’s Power & Electricity World Africa. “The global investment... →

SUNNY DISPOSITION The global investment sector is increasingly more interested in funding renewable-energy projects, such as solar farms, as opposed to coal projects

Re-engineering of coal sector skills needed

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 The South African renewable-energy sector will not have an adequate pipeline of competent individuals to train if it does not endeavour to re-engineer the skills of workers in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga coal mining regions, South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec) director Naim... →

Jacobs Transport strives to be a reliable and ethical company, providing its clients with the most efficient services possible.

Eskom talks to get coal for Kusile plant drag on for 13 years

By: Bloomberg 19th March 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom has yet to agree a supply contract for the bulk of coal needed for its newest power station, more than a decade after approving a plan to negotiate with Anglo American. In 2007, an Eskom committee signed off on the start of talks with Anglo for as much as... →

Nersa finally initiates public process for concurring with Mantashe’s power determinations

By: Terence Creamer 18th March 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) published two consultation papers on Wednesday for two separate Ministerial determinations submitted by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe for the regulator’s concurrence as required by the National Energy Regulator Act. By... →

Eskom graft probe widens into contracts with global partners

By: Bloomberg 16th March 2020 Eskom Holdings contracts with five international companies will be scrutinized by South African state investigators as part of a widening probe into graft at the debt-laden State-owned utility. The probe will review agreements with North American engineering services firms WSP Global and Black &... →

Shares in South Africa's Sasol jump nearly 30% as oil price recovery sparks buying

By: Reuters 13th March 2020 Shares in South African petrochemicals group Sasol surged nearly 30% on Friday as a recovery in oil prices sparked buying of the stock, which was pummelled in the previous session. Brent crude prices rose over 3% on Friday after falling more than 7% the day before, a drop which helped send Sasol... →

Eskom to restart Koeberg unit on Sunday

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th March 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom plans to restart Koeberg Unit 1 on Sunday, which should help to stabilise the grid. On March 10, Eskom’s operators had to manually trip the unit, owing to increasing temperature on the secondary side of the plant. This put further strain on the grid, forcing... →

Eskom seizes assets from Emfuleni to recover millions in arrears

By: African News Agency 11th March 2020 Eskom on Tuesday began implementing an attachment order against the Emfuleni municpality in response to its failure to pay millions in arrears, with the sheriff seizing cars, furniture and other moveable assets. A court order in 2018, gave Eskom the go ahead to recover R615-million in arrears... →

South African court sides with Eskom in 2018/19 tariff dispute

By: Reuters 10th March 2020 A South African court on Tuesday sided with State power utility Eskom in a dispute with energy regulator Nersa over electricity tariffs in the 2018/19 financial year. The court "set aside" Nersa's tariff decision and granted Eskom leave to apply to Nersa for additional expenses it incurred in... →

Eskom moves to Stage 4 load-shedding after Koeberg unit trips

By: African News Agency 10th March 2020 South African power utility, Eskom, on Tuesday announced Stage 4 load-shedding from 14:00 after Koeberg Power Station's unit 1 tripped. "The unit has been disconnected from the grid due to a fault on the turbine side, however, the nuclear reactor remains safe. The teams are investigating the root... →

Legal threats set to stymie South African unions’ Eskom plan

By: Bloomberg 10th March 2020 A plan proposed by South Africa’s biggest labor group to get pension funds and state lenders to refinance part of the state power utility’s gargantuan debt faces hurdles that may be impossible to overcome. Under the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ so-called social compact, Eskom Holdings... →

Ncondezi nears tariff offer submission stage, to commission off-grid project soon

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th March 2020 Aim-listed Ncondezi Energy is at an advanced stage with the project financing model for its 300 MW coal-to-power project, in Mozambique, and expects sign off from its partners before the end of the month. Once the financial model is signed off, the company can start with a formal tariff offer... →

Eskom warns of 8 000 MW power cuts if maintenance delayed

By: Bloomberg 6th March 2020 Eskom Holdings warned that its maintenance plan must be supported by the government or South Africa can expect regular blackouts from power cuts of 8 000 MW by mid-2021, a move that would cripple the economy. Shortly after taking up the role in January, CEO Andre de Ruyter said more planned power... →

Eskom initiates liquidation of Trillian

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th March 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom plans to start liquidation proceedings against Trillian Management Consulting and Trillian Capital Partners, in the North Gauteng High Court later this month. This follows after the Supreme Court of Appeal last month dismissed the two Trillian companies’... →

Companies urged to embrace disruptive technology

By: Kim Cloete 5th March 2020 Companies and governments have been urged to embrace disruptive technology, as it can contribute to decarbonising energy and make it cleaner, greener and more accessible. Executives and experts attending the Africa Energy Indaba, in Cape Town, this week, outlined huge advances in electric... →

BBC has role to play in tackling South Africa’s economic crisis

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 4th March 2020 While the country is in an economic crisis, having just entered a technical recession and grappling with no economic growth, this presents an opportunity for the Black Business Council (BBC) and its members to find ways to help overcome the challenges, president Sandile Zungu said on Wednesday.... →

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BBC president Sandile Zungu

Solar PV brings hope for eSwatini

By: Kim Cloete 4th March 2020 The Kingdom of eSwatini, previously called Swaziland, is confident it is on the right track by developing its renewable energy sector to help reduce its reliance on its neighbours for power. eSwatini Energy Minister Peter Bhembe on Tuesday said his country had developed a comprehensive, long-term... →

IRP to be reviewed frequently, says DMRE

By: Kim Cloete 3rd March 2020 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) says it has started with its work to implement the Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) 2019 from a policy and regulatory point of view. A Section 34 determination is needed to operationalise the IRP 2019, which supports a diverse energy mix. →

Cosatu urges private pension use to help to save Eskom

By: Bloomberg 3rd March 2020 South Africa’s biggest labour federation said private pensions must be used alongside those of government workers as part of a plan to rescue the state power company from crippling debt and spur economic growth. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) advocated the use of so-called... →

South African economy enters recession as Q4 GDP contracts 1.4%

By: Reuters 3rd March 2020 South Africa’s gross domestic product contracted 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2019, following a revised 0.8% contraction in the third quarter, data from Statistics South Africa showed on Tuesday. Economists polled by Reuters had predicted a contraction of 0.1% in quarter-on-quarter and... →

Medupi's killer fumes: The story of a power station's missing air scrubbers

By: News24Wire 3rd March 2020 Eskom's megapower station Medupi is suffocating South Africa in more ways than one: It is not just a financial black hole; it is also a health and environmental catastrophe. And the installation of crucial technology to make it less poisonous has once again been delayed. For years, Eskom has... →

Cities to receive grant funding in efforts to boost infrastructure development

By: Simone Liedtke 26th February 2020 Cities will receive grant funding through the integrated city development grant to institutionalise an effective system for preparing programmes and projects. This is in an effort to continue expanding the tools available for South African provinces and municipalities to improve spending, after... →

R16.4bn allocated to cover SAA’s debt and debt costs

By: Terence Creamer 26th February 2020 Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced on Wednesday that R16.4-billion would be allocated to South African Airways over the medium term to “repay the airline’s guaranteed debt and to cover debt-service costs”. Speaking to lawmakers, Mboweni said the “SAA Sword of Damocles has now fallen on us”,... →

Eskom faces closure threat at biggest working power plant

By: Bloomberg 25th February 2020 Eskom Holdings is battling to keep all the units of its biggest operational power plant open after being served with a compliance notice by South Africa’s environment ministry because of its high levels of air pollution. The indebted power utility has failed to fully repair pollution-abatement... →

Sasol confirms making 600 MW own-gen proposal in response to DMRE RFI

By: Terence Creamer 24th February 2020 Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler confirmed on Monday that the energy and chemicals group made a submission to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in line with its request for information (RFI) on possible emergency electricity solutions that could be “grid-connected in the shortest time at... →

Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler on the need for a culture change at the company following major cost overruns at its US project. Camera Work: Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 24.2.2020

Industry strongly opposed to further tariff increases for Eskom

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th February 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on Monday hosted the last of its public hearings on Eskom’s regulatory clearing account (RCA) application for the 2018/19 financial year, with various organisations having expressed their opposition to the granting of further tariff increases... →

Sasol pulls back on capex as it seeks to deleverage from ‘peak gearing’

By: Terence Creamer 24th February 2020 Energy and chemicals group Sasol has indicated that its capital expenditure (capex) will continue to taper during its 2020 and 2021 financial years as the group seeks to deleverage a balance sheet that reached “peak gearing” of close to 65% in the six months to December 31, 2019. Sasol’s gearing... →

Sasol CFO Paul Victor on how capex will be tapered as it seeks to navigate its 'peak gearing' phase. Camera Work: Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 24.2.2020

Mboweni’s budget unlikely to stop South Africa’s march to junk

By: Bloomberg 24th February 2020 Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s budget this week is unlikely to convince Moody’s Investors Service that he has a credible plan to rein in government debt. Of 19 economists surveyed by Bloomberg this month, 14 expect Moody’s to downgrade the country to junk this year and nine of those say it’ll... →

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