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Pipelines & Storage News

Project launched to fast-track energy, water transition

By: Halima Frost 13th May 2022 The South African Industry Adaption (SAIA) project was launched last month to accelerate South African industry’s energy and water transition to a decarbonised, green and inclusive economy, as well as a vibrant job market. SAIA is a collaboration between the governments of South Africa and... →

As drone deployment continues to expand, miners unearth whole-of-mine uses

By: Donna Slater 6th May 2022 The use of drones and ground-based robotics is evolving to such an extent locally that various companies are using them in all aspects of their operations, which is resulting in “bun fights” about which department gets to use the devices and payloads, says Dwyka Mining Services MD Jamie van... →

Cold boxes being precooled in preparation for gas

By: Darren Parker 3rd May 2022 JSE-listed Renergen reported on May 3 that it was making “strong” progress in terms of the commissioning of Phase 1 of the Virginia gas project, which comprises exploration and production rights of 187 000 ha of gas fields across Welkom, Virginia and Theunissen, in the Free State. Cold boxes –... →

Mozambique $8bn gas pipeline’s board unfazed by Sasol exit

By: Bloomberg 14th April 2022 Sasol's decision to reverse plans to use a proposed pipeline that would stretch from fields in northern Mozambique to its South African operations isn’t seen impacting the project’s prospects. The fuel producer, South Africa’s second-biggest listed company by sales, said in 2020 it would... →

Sasol drops plan to invest in pipeline in favour of LNG imports

By: Bloomberg 13th April 2022 Sasol will no longer consider gas supply from a planned pipeline stretching from fields in northern Mozambique to its South African operations because it doesn’t want to get stuck with the infrastructure as the world shifts away from fossil fuels, CEO Fleetwood Grobler said. The company, South... →

Transnet prepares to resume locomotive procurement to close gap left by halted 10-64 programme

By: Terence Creamer 11th April 2022 Transnet CEO Portia Derby has confirmed that the State freight logistics group is preparing to procure a significant number of locomotives again, after having halted purchases under the “irregular and unlawful” R50-billion ’10-64’ programme. Derby tells Engineering News that, while a settlement... →

Transnet CEO Portia Derby

Unidentified person dies following attempted fuel theft

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th April 2022 Transnet Pipelines has reported an attempted fuel theft incident, which has resulted in the death of one person. The State-owned entity reports that it activated its emergency response plan in the early hours of April 6, when the National Operating Centre (NOC) detected a loss in pressure on the... →

ST Energies invests in Matola supply chain to ease energy constraints in South Africa

By: Donna Slater 1st April 2022 Energy firm ST Energies has invested into a supply and storage contract with the Matola region, in Mozambique, to embed diverse energy supply chains in South Africa, supporting existing regional supply chains to help South Africa mitigate its over-reliance on domestic demand from the Port of... →

Transnet Pipelines says Verkykerskop spill site contained, pledges rehab progress across 151 sites

By: Terence Creamer 31st March 2022 Transnet Pipelines says the containment processes at Verkykerskop, where there was a major theft-related diesel spill on the multiproduct pipeline in early March, are nearing completion and that rehabilitation efforts have started. Verkykerskop is about 50 km from Harrismith, in the Free State,... →

Photo by Transnet Pipelines
Containment efforts under way after diesel flowed into the Meul river

Nersa and DFFE insist Transnet remains compliant after serious theft-induced fuel spills

By: Terence Creamer 15th March 2022 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment (DFFE) both insist that Transnet Pipelines remains compliant with its licence conditions and with environmental legislation in relation to its response to recent theft-induced fuel... →

Photo by Creamer Media
The Transnet Multiproduct Pipeline runs from Durban to Heidelberg

Large gas consumers cautious as Nersa seeks interim solution to avoid price shock

By: Terence Creamer 14th March 2022 The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA) has cautiously welcomed moves by the energy regulator to introduce an interim pricing methodology for piped gas in light of the recent spike in international gas prices and ahead of what could otherwise be a debilitating July hike... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Various industries would be affected by gas price spike including glass manufacturers

Fuel theft on Transnet pipeline causes ‘massive’ diesel spill

By: Darren Parker 9th March 2022 State-owned Transnet Pipelines has reported a “massive” diesel spillage caused by fuel thieves tampering with the network. In the early hours of March 9, a pressure drop on the multiproduct pipeline between Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, and Heidelberg, in Gauteng, was detected by the Transnet... →

Bushveld Energy pushing for localisation of VRFB technology

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th February 2022 South Africa needs to industrialise further and create more jobs and vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) manufacturing presents an ideal technology for full localisation. Energy storage solutions provider Bushveld Energy is seeking to build a local supply chain for its VRFB technology and is... →

An image of Bushveld Minerals’ Vametco vanadium plant

Bushveld Minerals’ Vametco vanadium mine and plant, in the North West province, will have 3.5 MW of solar PV generation and 4 MWh of VRFB storage.

Uptick after project completion expected

By: Halima Frost 4th February 2022 Energy solutions provider Energy Partners anticipates an increase in interest in its offerings in the Eastern Cape, subsequent to the development and commissioning of a boiler house at a chicken processing plant in Uitenhage, in the Eastern Cape. The project, which entailed the installation of a... →

IN THE PROCESS The refurbishment of a boiler at a processing plant in the Eastern Cape has boosted Energy Partner's visibility in the area

Company adds more mobile boilers to portfolio

By: Halima Frost 4th February 2022 Local boiler and burner supplier Combustion Technology is adding two new boiler rental units to its rental offering, bringing its total available capacity to five mobile containerised boiler units. The fabrication of the boiler steam plants, which is being undertaken at the Combustion Technology... →

A high top 6 meter container with a boiler inside supplied with all ancillaries rented out by Combustion Technology

BRING-A-BOILER The containerised boilers on offer from Combustion Technology are easily transported owing to being secured in container vessels

Renergen inks LNG supply deal with Italtile subsidiary

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd February 2022 Natural gas and helium producer Renergen has concluded a liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with Italtile subsidiary Ceramic Industries. Supply will start in the first quarter of this year, from Phase 1 operations at Renergen’s Virginia gas plant, in the Free State. →

Mantashe to engage traditional leaders on upstream petroleum industry developments

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st February 2022 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe will hold a series of engagements with traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape province during February and March to discuss the latest developments in the upstream petroleum industry. The aim of these engagements is to provide clarity and find... →

Industrial gas consumers ‘staring down barrel of gun’ as big July hike looms

By: Terence Creamer 17th January 2022 A court application to have the energy regulator’s 2021 approval of Sasol Gas’s maximum gas prices set aside as irrational is but the latest clash in what has been a long-running saga over the way domestic gas prices are set in a market bereft of competition. This time, however, the stakes for... →

IGUA-SA executive officer Jaco Human

Nersa concerned about, calls for efforts to prevent pipeline tampering

By: Schalk Burger 5th November 2021 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on November 5 said it was concerned about the persistent tampering with State-owned Transnet's pipelines to steal fuel. It has also called on municipalities and landowners to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to prevent encroachment on... →

South Africa tests market appetite for creation of gas import hub at Coega

By: Terence Creamer 5th November 2021 A request for information (RFI) has been issued to assess the implementation options and market appetite for the creation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import hub at the Port of Ngqura, in the Eastern Cape. The RFI is designed as an information gathering exercise to inform a future procurement... →

RFI envisages an FSRU, similar to the one pictured, for the Port of Ngqura, in the Eastern Cape

Transnet shuts down fuel pipeline after fire, three dead

By: Reuters 31st October 2021 South Africa's State-owned logistics firm Transnet said on Sunday its petroleum pipeline in Durban has been shut down after a fire that broke out nearby in a botched fuel theft attempt in which three people died. Further investigations were ongoing, Transnet said. →

Energy storage key to embedded electricity solutions

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 22nd October 2021 Amid the discussions around embedded electricity solutions, battery equipment supplier REVOV states that it is important to include energy storage and its solutions in these discussions. Energy storage in renewable-energy and embedded-electricity solutions addresses the time domain – electricity... →

POWERED UP REVOV states that it is important to include energy storage and its solutions in embedded electricity solution discussions

Biogas engines supplied to ethanol producer

15th October 2021 Multinational gas and diesel power plant specialist Clarke Energy has secured the sale of two of gas engine manufacturer Innio Jenbacher’s biogas engines to ethanol distiller PressCane Limited, based in Chikhwawa, Malawi. The ethanol production site generates biofuel in the form of ethanol, which... →

Production site acquisition finalised

1st October 2021 Multinational industrial gas company Air Liquide’s acquisition of integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol’s 16 Air Separation Units (ASUs) in Secunda, Mpumalanga has now been finalised. The plan to acquire the ASUs was first announced on July 29 last year, subject to approvals. Engineering... →

A photo of seven air separation units and a pylon in the background

BIGGEST OXYGEN PRODUCTION SITE GLOBALLY The initial investment amounts to about R8-billion and comprises 16 air separation units that will now be operated by Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa Air

New drone tech improves inspection capabilities

By: Darren Parker 1st October 2021 Work-at-height company Skyriders has added the Zenith robotic inspection device –a new vertical inspection technology – to its portfolio of services. The winch-operated pan-tilt-zoom camera drone increases the accuracy and efficiency of repeat inspections in vertical downhole applications such as... →

A photo of the fully assembled Zenith robotic inspection device including camera, controller and tripod

DOWN-HOLE DREAM Skyriders first used the Zenith robotic inspection device in June for internal inspections on large petrochemicals tanks

Carbon tax ineffective against major emitters

By: Darren Parker 1st October 2021 South Africa’s “laughably weak and ineffective” carbon tax regime is no disincentive to carbon-intensive businesses, such as integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol, environmental activist organisation Greenpeace Africa climate and energy campaigner Thandile Chinyavanhu tells Engineering... →

A photo of a Sasol plant emitting pollution into the air while crops and flowers grow in the foreground

Photo by Reuters
PINING FOR CHANGE Greenpeace Africa ponders whether a just transition is possible while major emitters continue to be granted large-scale carbon tax allowances

More equipment donated in the fight against Covid-19

1st October 2021 Integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol has donated mobile clinics, vaccine carriers, laptops, specialised World Health Organisation-approved medical refrigerators and freezers, as well as temperature loggers to the provincial health departments in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State to... →

A photo of a healthworker’s hands filling out a form at a table with Covid-19 vaccinations lined up in the foreground

SPREADING THE CURE Sasol is supporting Government’s vaccination rollout strategy by donating essential equipment and resources

Security forces prevent fuel theft, says Transnet

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th September 2021 A suspicious built structure, a tunnel and equipment erected with the intent to siphon petroleum products from a Transnet pipeline were demolished on September 14 after a joint security operation led to the discovery of the building on a vacant piece of land in Phola, in Mpumalanga, Transnet... →

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

Partnership notes first new chemicals success

6th August 2021 The partnership between carbon recycling technology company LanzaTech and multinational chemicals company BASF, who together aim to transform the carbon contained in industrial off-gases into valuable chemicals, has achieved a key first success. The companies announced in May that, with the help... →

An image of a LanzaTech installation capturing off gasses

ON-GASSES A key first success has been achieved by LanzaTech and BASF in using off gasses or emissions for a positive product

Renergen inks multiple conditional helium sales agreements for its Virginia project

By: Simone Liedtke 4th August 2021 Domestic natural gas and helium producer Renergen has inked multiple conditional helium sales agreements from its planned Phase 2 plant at the Free State-based Virginia gas project. Following the company’s maiden sales agreement in April for Phase 2 helium, Renergen has further secured three... →

Afrox working with authorities to ensure deliveries of medical oxygen to hospitals

By: Creamer Media Reporter 15th July 2021 Gas supplier Afrox says it is working with the authorities and that hospital deliveries to areas affected by civil strife remain a priority where police escort is available. As a result of the unrest across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in recent days, and in order to meet demand for medical oxygen,... →

Two suspects arrested for allegedly tampering with Transnet's pipelines infrastructure

By: Schalk Burger 9th July 2021 State-owned freight logistics group Transnet says increased surveillance and security measures put in place along the Transnet Pipelines network has led to a further two suspects being arrested for attempting to tamper with the pipelines. This brings the total arrests for the past three months to... →

State gas companies move to exercise pre-emptive rights over Moz-SA pipeline

By: Terence Creamer 28th June 2021 The State-owned gas companies of South Africa and Mozambique have announced that they have exercised their pre-emptive rights to acquire, for R4.15-billion, the 30% equity stake in the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline (Rompco) hitherto owned by Sasol. The announcement follows on from Sasol’s May... →

Sasol moves to sell big stake in Rompco pipeline to a Reatile-led consortium

By: Terence Creamer 14th May 2021 Energy and chemicals group Sasol confirmed on Friday that it had entered into a R5-billion agreement with a Reatile-led consortium for the sale of a 30% stake in the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Company (Rompco), the joint venture that owns the 865-km gas transmission pipeline from southern... →

Sasol expects to narrow full-year headline loss

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th April 2021 Petrochemicals giant Sasol says it expects to report at least a 20% year-on-year improvement in headline earnings a share for the financial year ending June 30. It had posted a headline loss a share of R11.79 for the year ended June 30, 2020. →

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

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