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Gas

LPG could plug backup energy gap

By: Cameron Mackay 24th April 2020 Research conducted by strategy agency Birguid shows that liquified petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers can approach State-owned power utility Eskom, as well as other independent power producers, to offer LPG supply as a backup energy source instead of diesel or petrol. Birguid researcher Patience... →

LNG market sees increased clean energy demand

24th April 2020 Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) increased by 12.5% to 359-million tonnes last year, which is a significant increase that bolsters LNG’s growing role in the transition to a lower carbon energy system. This is according to a LNG outlook report that was published by natural gas and... →

AN EVOLVING MARKET New spot-trading mechanisms and a wider variety of indices used for long-term contracts point towards LNG becoming an increasingly flexible commodity

Opportune time for LPG growth

By: Cameron Mackay 24th April 2020 The local liquified petroleum gas (LPG) market is an underdeveloped industry and has significant growth potential, largely owing to its use as an energy source, says the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Association of South Africa acting MD Nirvan Brijlal. Moreover, he highlights the... →

POTENTIAL UNLOCKED LPG’s versatility in domestic, commercial and industrial applications, and impending supply capacity improvements, are significant factors signalling the potential for growth for the industry

Association improves technicians training

By: Cameron Mackay 24th April 2020 The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Association of South Africa has been investing in improving its LPG technicians’ installation training through collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) as one of its mandates for the LPG sector. “This will enable us to ensure that... →

NIRVAN BRIJLAL The industry is well regulated, with many safety standards in place

New gas gensets launched

By: Mamaili Mamaila 24th April 2020 Global diesel, alternative fuels and generator set (genset) supplier Cummins launched its new “innovative power generation products” at the Middle East Energy (MEE) event earlier this year. →

PROGRESSIVELY FORGING AHEAD Cummins remains hopeful about the future, as it will introduce two new digital master controls which provide comprehensive design flexibility

Carbon tax awareness leads to gas conversions, growth for company

By: Cameron Mackay 30th August 2019 Increased demand for converting to the use of natural gas from heavy fuel oils for energy solutions has led to opportunities for compressed natural gas supplier Virtual Gas Network. The introduction of the Carbon Tax Act in June this year has led to an increase in awareness in the industrial and... →

ACCESS FOR GROWTH Importing and increased access to LNG would allow for downstream development and could help Virtual Gas Network become a national gas distributor

Post-harvest tech expands to fire sector

By: Cameron Mackay 30th August 2019 While on-site industrial gas generation solutions provider Gas at Site has traditionally focused on the post-harvest sector using technology – referred to as controlled atmosphere – that controls the concentration of atmospheric gases to store fruit at low oxygen levels, this technology can also... →

FIRE SUPPRESSION ACCEPTANCE The challenge lies in presenting this solution, which cannot be seen, compared to solutions which can be physically seen such as foam or sprinkler systems

Virginia project to stimulate local gas economy

By: Cameron Mackay 30th August 2019 Alternative fuels investment firm Renergen’s Tetra4 Virginia natural gas project, in the Free State, will produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2021, with a Phase 2 expansion being planned. Tetra4 is a natural gas and helium company, which Renergen acquired 90% of in December 2015. →

DOMINO EFFECT Once the plant is built and producing commercially, it will inspire confidence for other project developers to bring similar projects on line

Wieland SA

27th August 2019 Wieland SA celebrates 45 years of supplying high-quality, semi-finished copper and copper alloy products to the local and export markets. →

Buses using natural gas to curb fuel costs

By: Halima Frost 1st February 2019 Since the initial introduction of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in South Africa, natural gas supplier CNG Holdings has successfully converted about 180 dual-fuel compressed natural gas- (CNG-) run buses for the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). This makes Johannesburg one of the first cities in... →

GAS, NATURALLY Natural gas had been selected as a fuel of choice for global bus companies

Biogas flowmeter introduced for variable compositions

1st February 2019 Industrial process instrumentation supplier Krohne announced the introduction of the new Optisonic 7300 Biogas ultrasonic flowmeter to the Southern African market in the last quarter of last year. The Optisonic 7300 Biogas is an ultrasonic flowmeter for low pressure biogas, landfill and sewage... →

GOING WITH THE FLOW The flowmeter is suited to biogas as well as landfill and sewage gas applications

Biltong receives gas flush and packaging makeover

1st February 2019 South Africa’s unique and favourite snack, biltong, has received a packaging makeover from equipment manufacturer Safari-Vac, in partnership with modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) specialist Afrox. To give biltong a longer shelf life, industrially produced biltong can now be sold in MAP.... →

BEST-LOVED SNACK Biltong, South Africa’s best known snack, stays fresher for longer with this new technology

Fighting fire with gas

31st August 2018 With gas suppression systems being automatic fire extinguishing systems that use inert gases or chemical agents to control and extinguish a fire, without human intervention, fire protection company Centa Group ensures that specialised fire protection and prevention solutions are engineered to... →

Gas monitor upgraded for better accuracy

31st August 2018 Mining equipment supplier Becker Mining South Africa has extended its range of safety and communications systems to include an upgraded atmospheric and environmental monitoring system, designed for use in industries where the presence of gases may pose a safety or health risk for employees and... →

SUPER SENSITIVE The smartsense monitor is even more accurate after recent upgrades.

High-value industrial safety offering

31st August 2018 Industrial gases company Afrox now offers six nine (N6) of HiQ, which is the global brand for a specific range of made-for-purpose gases, gas mixtures and associated products that comply with high purity and quality standards. →

HANS STRYDOM Precision matters in everything Afrox does

Saldanha facility ramping up gas supply

By: Halima Frost 31st August 2018 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplier Avedia Energy has announced the first year of operational success of its Avedia Energy LPG storage facility in Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape. With the installation of the 2 000 t LPG facility and six road loading gantries built at the Saldanha terminal,... →

THE RIGHT A MOUND A view of the gas mound and administrative building in Saldanha Bay

Waste gas fuels smelter

By: Halima Frost 31st August 2018 A gas processing plant, built by backup and continuous power solutions provider Diesel Electric Services, in Boshoek near Rustenburg, has achieved over 45 000 lost-time injury-free hours in its first year of operation. The project – which started in January 2016, and took about 16 months to... →

HOUSING THE GASSES 13 gas generators are housed 300 m away from the smelter

Carbon emissions reduced at hospitals

By: Halima Frost 31st August 2018 Gas suppliers CNG Holdings through its wholly owned subsidiary Virtual Gas Network (VGN) will start the installation of two natural gas boiler systems – the final phase of the Gauteng Province Department of Infrastructure Development (GPDID) Greening Initiative – at provincial hospitals on the... →

UP IN THE AIR An aerial view of the revolutionary Langlaagte CNG filling station

S Africa’s changing energy landscape

31st August 2018 Natural gas is one of the cleanest, safest, and most useful forms of energy, providing the world with over 20% of its energy requirements across power generation, industry and transport applications. In South Africa, at just 3%, the meaningful addition of natural gas to the country’s energy mix... →

VIRTUALLY FREE CNG has quickly become the go to for SA’s gas needs

Industry body authorised as verification authority

2nd February 2018 The Department of Labour has authorised industry body the Southern African Gas Association (Saga) to be the verification authority for the natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industrial equipment industry for South Africa. All industrial equipment needs to conform to the SANS 329 and... →

DoL mandates committee to ensure practitioners are certified

2nd February 2018 The Department of Labour (DoL) has mandated the South African Qualification and Certification Committee for Gas (SAQCC Gas) to ensure that all gas practitioners are trained and certified through the four different gas associations. These associations are the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety... →

New flowmeter from South African manufacturer

2nd February 2018 South African manufacturer Instrotech is offering a flow meter called Kobold RCD, for measuring and monitoring the flow of liquids and gases. The company explains that depending on the model, the measuring range of the Kobold RCD ranges from 0.5 ℓ/min to 2 350 ℓ/min for water and 0.5 Nm3/h to 2... →

New gas detection sensors available in SA

2nd February 2018 A range of compact gas sensors from gas detection sensor technology developer Figaro is now available for purchase in South Africa through electronics components supplier RS Components (RS). The company explains that the gas sensors are targeting a wide range of gas monitoring and detection... →

New tool ensures accuracy for transition flow of gas

2nd February 2018 Industrial automation multinational Endress+Hauser’s new integrated pressure measurement tool, the Prowirl F/R/O 200 (Prowirl) is able to record energy and mass flows with maximum accuracy for transition flow of gases or liquids up to Re ≤ 10 000. The Prowirl is a central measuring point for... →

Production starts at Algerian gasfield

2nd February 2018 Energy company Repsol has started production from the Reggane Nord gasfields, in Algeria. With construction completed in December, the company explains that the Reggane Nord gasfields are expected to produce eight-million cubic metres a day of gas. →

Photo by Bloomberg
CONTROLLING THE BLAZE There are several blocks of gas producing fields currently controlled by Repsol in Algeria

Versatility still important as technology develops

By: Victor Moolman 2nd February 2018 While innovation is taking centre stage amid rapid technological development, gas equipment supplier Energas Technologies says versatility remains high on the checklists of manufacturers and end-users. The company has, therefore, supplied companies in South Africa with the Protectoseal Series... →

Photo by Bloomberg
FLAME The spread of a detonation can be stopped by preventing flames from spreading

Policy limits South African gas economy

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 Policy and legislation on natural gas are currently bottlenecked in South Africa, which creates limits to South Africa’s gas economy growth, says growth strategy company Frost & Sullivan. →

Photo by Bloomberg
COVERING THE BASES South Africa is unlikely to get to a stage of fully understanding the technicalities and geology of indigenous natural gas until it gathers more empirical data

Harmful gas phase-out plan on track

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 The Department of Environmental Affairs has drafted a phase-out plan for the use of hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) across industries to be down to 2.5% by 2030, with the refrigerants industry already achieving results of 2 556 t in 2016, compared with 3 163 t in 2013. →

BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT Reducing harmful greenhouse gases is expected to lessen global warming by up to 0.5 ˚C by the end of the century

LPG production steady and in demand, says supplier

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 In the past unscheduled shutdowns affected South Africa’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), but this year, local production is steady, says LPG supplier Easigas. Easigas commercial technical manager Dave de Wit points out that supply should improve, considering the development of terminal facilities... →

DAVE DE WIT Easigas has the capability and experience to evaluate and assist in optimising a customer’s gas equipment

More participation in safety scheme ensures safe gas use

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 Despite strict safety compliance procedures, industries that use coal-fired or electrical equipment are slowly realising the benefits of using gas-fired equipment instead. →

Photo by Bloomberg
SAFETY CONCERN Having equipment conform to international/national safety standards is key to an effective gas system

Project to unlock local gas economy

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 The pursuit of piped gas into South Africa from Mozambique could unlock South Africa’s gas economy, says investment and project development company Fortune Capital. →

Photo by Bloomberg
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL Fortune Capital is an entity that is going to enable power players to access gas in South Africa Filename:

Underground coal gasification can provide solutions to energy challenges

1st September 2017 With declining mineable coal reserves and increasing global energy demand, underground coal gasification (UCG) is a resurging technology that provides a solution to these challenges. →

Waste management company recommends alternative energy switch

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st September 2017 Considering natural gas as an alternative energy source could prove beneficial for the country’s economy in the long run, says waste management company Interwaste COO Jason McNeil. →

JASON MCNEIL South Africa’s gas economy is in its infancy, but once the market becomes more competitive, you will see a lot more technology introduced

Plan to phase out ozone depleting substance

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd February 2017 Owing to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) containing substances that are harmful to the ozone layer, South Africa is set to adopt its HCFC phase-out plan in a Government Gazette dated May 8, 2014, says the Southern African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning... →

GAS IN REFRIGERANTS Hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs) have been used as replacements in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment

Company celebrates success in gas markets

3rd February 2017 Engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services company Fluor Igoda Projects is celebrating ten successful years of undertaking capital projects in the oil, gas and chemicals markets in South Africa. →

RISHAD KHAN Fluor Igoda Projects has long-standing relationships with many refineries and has also developed a solid platform to support the bulk fuels storage and logistics network

Resources demand exceeds global expectations

3rd February 2017 African growth is currently exceeding global expectations, and with this comes an increase in demand for products, fuels and resources, says Southern Africa Compressed Gases Association (SACGA). →

Smarter portfolio choices and lower costs could drive higher returns in 2017

3rd February 2017 The resource exploration industry has a good chance of achieving double-digit returns in 2017, as smarter portfolio choices and lower costs are already paying off, says analytics business Wood Mackenzie exploration VP Dr Andrew Latham. →

Photo by Bloomberg
EMERGING EXPLORATION THEMES Some of the emerging exploration themes in 2017 include exploration for pipe gas opportunities near undersupplied markets

Gas practitioners to adhere to DoL regulations

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd February 2017 The South African Qualification and Certification Committee (SAQCC) for Gas urges all gas manufacturers and installers to adhere to the gas regulations set up by the Department of Labour (DoL) to ensure that fatalities are minimised. →

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