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Gas

Hydrogen a suitable greener alternative

By: Nadine Ramdass 27th August 2021 South Africa’s Gas Act defines “gas” as natural gas (CH4) and hydrogen (H2). Hydrogen will, in the future, be a suitable substitute for natural gas to support decarbonisation, says South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA) Gas Economy Leadership Group chairperson Craig Morkel. However, the... →

LNG opportunities abound

By: Nadine Ramdass 27th August 2021 The anticipated decline of Mozambique’s Pande & Temane gasfields creates a need for new sources of natural gas for the local industry, says engineering services consulting firm WSP regional director Martin Mkhabela. “The quickest and most cost-effective option to fill the gap is through the... →

An image of WSP regional director Martin Mkhabela

MARTIN MKHABELA Gas-fired power plants are cost-effective and dispatchable alternatives

Fully developed legislation needed

By: Nadine Ramdass 27th August 2021 The legislation has not caught up with where the gas industry needs it to be, says gas producer Renergen CEO and MD Stefano Marani. Technical aspects that are critical to companies’ decision-making have not yet been addressed, with industries in the gas sector consequently unable to develop to... →

An image of gas extraction at Renergen's Virginia Gas project

GAS EXTRACTION Renergen is the only onshore petroleum rights holder in South Africa

The Bank

27th August 2021 The 12-storey marvel caters for office space, a luxurious hotel, restaurants and a host of boutique stores offering upmarket shopping and dining experiences. Due to constrained electrical supply in Rosebank, Blend Properties opted to augment its existing electrical supply shortfall with a... →

Rare helium supply opportunity unlocked

By: Nadine Ramdass 27th August 2021 While the South African helium market is small, helium is sought after in the international market, which has created a good opportunity for dual-listed helium, liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas producer Renergen’s Virginia gas project, in the Free State. Helium is found at a... →

An image of extraction at Renergen's Virginia Gas Project

VIRGINIA GAS PROJECT Average helium found in the Free State is 3.4%

Significant gas supply opportunity for company

By: Cameron Mackay 23rd April 2021 Power generation, while remaining South Africa’s largest barrier to economic growth, provides piped natural gas supplier Egoli Gas with a significant opportunity to provide more piped natural gas for the local industry, says Egoli Gas MD Vishal Pooran. “We are all aware of the current challenges... →

VISHAL POORAN The pandemic had a significant impact on the hospitality sector, and resulted in an increase in demand in the domestic, central-water heating and multi-dwelling markets

Low price could boost LNG development

By: Cameron Mackay 23rd April 2021 A decrease in oil demand and, consequently, in prices last year because of Covid-19 also resulted in lower prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Business research consultancy Birguid associate researcher Patience Panashe argues that LNG buyers can take advantage of this to import LNG into South... →

GAS CEILING Given the increased LNG exploration in Africa, more acquisition transactions are expected to occur. This will consolidate the African LNG market, bolstering growth and production

Egoli Gas

23rd April 2021 Embedded Power generation has become a priority and vital factor to sustainability for businesses in South Africa. Consideration to piped natural gas allows different types of solutions to be explored, such as managing energy resource supply, the viability and efficiency utilizing the source to... →

Embracing digitalisation amid pandemic

28th August 2020 Over the past few years, member association South African Qualifications and Certification Committee for Gas (SAQCC Gas) has been gearing up to fully adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and the Covid-19 pandemic has not found the organisation unprepared. →

Environment-friendly catalysts reduce emissions

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 28th August 2020 High-performance catalyst manufacturer Clariant Catalysts has developed the EnviCat N2O catalyst, to remove nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases almost entirely from the waste gases emitted by industrial plants. →

DR JONATHAN CHETTY N2O is a climate-changing gas, with an average life span of 114 years in the earth’s atmosphere

Regulations, pricing a challenge for local LNG uptake

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 28th August 2020 Despite there being vast benefits to using liquefied natural gas (LNG) locally, natural gas producer Renergen tells Engineering News that regulations and pricing are impeding the growth of the LNG sector. →

RENEWING ENERGY Renewable energy is fast becoming more affordable

LPG upcoming in SA’s energy mix

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 28th August 2020 Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has an important role to play in the complete energy mix of South Africa – it is a clean-burning, sustainable and portable fuel, with further applications in water heating, space heating and cooking, says industry association and body the Liquefied Petroleum Gas... →

NIRVAN BRIJLAL The economic and environmental benefits of LPG emphasises its role as a key player in the local energy mix

LNG project should benefit SADC

28th August 2020 Untapped expertise in Southern Africa should benefit from the opportunities provided by the exploitation of the large liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserves discovered off the coast of northern Mozambique, says engineering, procurement and construction company Lesedi Nuclear Services project... →

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... →

GAS RISING LPG imports are expected to increase, as current suppliers will not be able to cope with the expected increase in industrial and domestic end-user demand

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

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

Editorial Insight

Urgent solution needed

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Dean Thompson

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DUSTBIN OF HISTORY

South Africa simply cannot afford a repeat of 2021 this year. Further delays in dealing with the country’s big problems of load-shedding, economic and social crime, vaccine hesitancy and, most worryingly, a growth rate that is too low to make a dent into chronic unemployment will set the scene for the type of deadly instability that gripped the country in July last year. Decisive policymaking and diligent implementation are the only ways to confine 2021 to the dustbin of history.

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