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Policy & Enforcement News

Eskom ordered to rectify pollution issues at three power plants

By: Bloomberg 13th November 2020 Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s state power utility, was ordered to comply with pollution limits at three of its coal-fired plants this year while two more are being investigated, the government’s environment department said in its first disclosure about most of the orders. The violations listed... →

Eskom Political Task Team remains concerned about debt owed to the utility

By: Yvonne Silaule 9th November 2020 The Eskom Political Task Team has agreed that all avenues should be explored to deal with the utility's debt challenge, including dealing with the underlying causes; for example inefficiencies, cost overruns, misappropriation of funds, cash losses due to unpaid debt by municipalities and other... →

Greenpeace urges African countries to lead climate developments on the continent

By: Sane Dhlamini 9th November 2020 Not for profit environmental organisation Greenpeace has called on African countries to lead the development of new climate databases and models rather than depend on other countries as future average temperatures on the continent are projected to increase at a rate faster than the global average... →

Pandemic prompts local focus on energy efficiency

By: Cameron Mackay 6th November 2020 Owing to Covid-19, the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) has witnessed an increase in the number of new applications from companies for the Section 12L Energy Efficiency tax incentive. “With companies aiming to be competitive under the pandemic and remain in business,... →

BARRY BREDENKAMP The economic benefits of energy efficiency are indisputable and will assist companies that are re-starting their operations

Eskom moves to appoint advisers to structure 'green' transaction

By: Terence Creamer 22nd October 2020 South Africa’s coal-heavy power utility is moving to appoint financial advisers to assist it in structuring a potential transaction that could unlock discounted ‘green’ funding for the debt-laden State-owned entity in return for it meeting agreed decarbonisation targets. Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter... →

Pipe theft causes crude oil to flow into Durban's Umbilo river

By: News24Wire 21st October 2020 The theft of a pipe has caused a crude oil spill in the Bellair area, in Durban, affecting the Umbilo river. The river flows into the Durban Harbour. →

S Africa must put into effect revenue collection – Haroon Bhorat

By: Sane Dhlamini 16th October 2020 University of Cape Town Professor Haroon Bhorat said on Friday that for South Africa to manage its deficit going forward, apart from hoping that growth gets kickstarted in the remaining part of the year, it has to move quickly in effecting revenue collection. Bhorat, who is also a member of... →

Habitat destruction has decimated Côte d’Ivoire’s forest elephant population

By: Rebecca Campbell 16th October 2020 A new study by researchers at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny d’Abidjan-Cocody in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has reported a large-scale and disastrous decline in the country’s forest elephant population. The study was published in the open-access journal “PLOS ONE”. It is probable that, in... →

Carbon tax guide launched to provide support to taxpayers

By: Donna Slater 9th October 2020 Legal, regulatory and business information and analytics provider LexisNexis Legal & Professional has published its Concise Guide to Carbon Tax guide to assist carbon taxpayers in the process of filing their submissions. The guide has been made available as an electronic book from October 5 and... →

EU wants rules on hydrogen trade with Ukraine, Morocco - Bloc's energy chief

By: Reuters 5th October 2020 The European Union will seek to establish rules to trade hydrogen with countries including Morocco and Ukraine, as part of its plans to use the low-carbon fuel to cut emissions from industry and transport, EU energy commissioner said on Monday. "To trade renewable and low-carbon hydrogen reliably... →

Skills demand in wind sector met

By: Cameron Mackay 2nd October 2020 As more wind energy farms are constructed and contribute to employment, demand for the training and retraining of people to work on wind turbines will increase, which has consequently resulted in wind turbines safety training provider AID Renewables’ investing in improving its training processes... →

Renewables in Africa – power is only half the story

2nd October 2020 Energy companies should combine the provision of power with positive economic impacts for the communities where they build their projects, says renewable power generation company Lekela Power CEO Chris Antonopoulos. Lekela’s portfolio includes more than 1 300 MW of wind power projects in Egypt,... →

Support streams in for campaign to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th September 2020 The Campaign for Nature has welcomed additional support, pledged by world leaders, for its science-based target to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. Campaign for Nature works with scientists, indigenous people and a growing coalition of conservation organisations around the world to call on... →

IS programme gaining momentum

By: Tracy Hancock 25th September 2020 The Industrial Symbiosis (IS) programme of the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA), a division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, will play a significant role in helping the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) meet South Africa’s... →

RECYCLING REWARDS Esilthuli Plastic Recycling is growing its production of recycled plastic products, creating jobs through its involvement in the Industrial Symbiosis programme

Industry body submits plastic-waste guidelines to govt

By: Tracy Hancock 25th September 2020 South African plastics industry representative Plastics SA along with industry body Packaging SA and producer responsibility organisations (PROs) of various packaging waste streams submitted guidelines to government last month following the publication of draft Extended Producer Responsibility... →

PLASTIC STATS In 2018, 46.3% of all plastics placed on the market was collected for recycling in South Africa, with 352 000 t of plastics recycled

South Africa partners with Unido to raise awareness about protecting the ozone layer

By: Yvonne Silaule 17th September 2020 South Africa has partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to hold roadshows to raise the awareness about the need to protect the Earth's ozone layer. Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu says that, as a Party to the Montreal... →

Circular economy to be promoted through new waste strategy − Creecy

By: Donna Slater 14th September 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy says South Africa has aligned policy and strategy with the circular economy concept. This follows shortly after Cabinet's approval of the National Waste Management Strategy 2020 (NWMS). →

Government approaches climate change action from all angles

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th September 2020 Cabinet last week approved three key actions that will contribute to an environment that is healthy for all South Africans and able to contribute effectively to sustainable economic development and job creation, says the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF). These actions... →

Female and male leopards hunt at different times of the day, research has discovered

By: Rebecca Campbell 11th September 2020 Research conducted in Tanzania has established that, unexpectedly, female and male leopards are active at different times of the day. The work was conducted by Natural History Museum of Denmark researcher Rasmus W Havøller in the dense rainforest-covered Udzungwa Mountains. As the area is... →

Zimbabwe bans mining in wildlife parks

By: Reuters 9th September 2020 Zimbabwe's government has banned mining in game reserves following concerns from conservationists who accused two Chinese companies of exploring for coal in the biggest national park, Hwange. Hwange, in western Zimbabwe, is home to the country's biggest elephant herd - more than 40,000, large... →

EDS Systems launches GHG emissions monitoring, reporting tool

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd September 2020 Technology company EDS Systems has launched a carbon tax analytics solution called EcoGauge. This locally designed tool assists organisations with the monitoring and management of their carbon emissions, to ultimately help reduce the administrative burden of compliance measurement and... →

State is falling short of expectations – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 31st August 2020 As South Africa prepares to observe Public Service Month in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa admits that there are fundamental problems government is working to fix. He pointed out that the experience for many South Africans is a State that is falling short of expectations. He said government... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Department invites comment on guidelines for GHG verification

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st August 2020 The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) has invited public comment on the Technical Guidelines for Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by September 24. The purpose of the verification guideline is to support the implementation of the mandatory... →

Govt extends enviro assessment practitioners registration deadline to 2022

By: Marleny Arnoldi 27th August 2020 The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has confirmed that environmental assessment practitioners have until February 7, 2022, to register with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa. This extension of 24 months, from the prior deadline of February 8... →

Mauritius starts to scuttle Japanese oil-spill vessel

By: Reuters 21st August 2020 Mauritius said on Thursday it had started to scuttle the Japanese-owned bulk carrier that ran aground off its shores and spilled oil over pristine waters and fragile coral reefs. The MV Wakashio hit a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on July 25 and began spilling oil on Aug. 6, prompting... →

Photo by Reuters
A part of the MV Wakashio

Noncarbon future epitomises ideal energy mix

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 In about 2060, the ideal energy mix would be one with only non-carbon sources, such as wind, solar, pumped hydro and hydrogen, says global energy advisory UL. →

JAMES TRUDEAU It is “very critical” that Eskom increases its energy storage capacities to support a more diversified energy portfolio

Clean coal can still play meaningful role in S Africa

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 Coal is relatively cheap and widely available; therefore, if it is used cleanly and efficiently, it can be a vital part of the economic development of South Africa, says the IEA Clean Coal Centre (IEACCC). →

Photo by Creamer Media
GROWTH POINT About 18 000 jobs were created during the peak of construction at Eskom’s Medupi power plant

CFBC boiler technology viable for S Africa

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 The global success of circulating fluidised bed combustion (CFBC) boiler technology, suggests that this should be the technology of choice for the future in State-owned power utility Eskom’s power stations. →

SMOKE STACKS The emissions of concern in coal-fired technology are carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates (usually fly ash of various sizes)

Eskom fully supports South Africa’s lower-carbon trajectory

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 The Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019) signals an important move to a range of fuel options for power generation in South Africa, which State-owned power utility Eskom supports. →

PHASING IN THE GREEN Eskom proposes to continue adopting a phased and prioritised approach to achieve compliance to the Minimum Emission Standards regarding particulate matter

SIU appears before Scopa to discuss investigations related to Covid-19 pandemic

By: Sane Dhlamini 19th August 2020 Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head of investigations Leonard Lekgetho has told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that his unit is, among other cases, investigating the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s alleged irregular procurement during the coronavirus... →

Mauritius arrests captain of Japanese oil spill ship

By: Reuters 19th August 2020 Mauritius has arrested the captain of a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground off its coast, causing a devastating oil spill in one of the world's most pristine maritime environments, police said on Tuesday. The MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on July 25 and began... →

Nehawu to strike at National Health Laboratories Service

By: Sane Dhlamini 18th August 2020 The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union is preparing for a strike at the National Health Laboratories Service to amicably resolve a salary dispute dating back to August last year. The decision follows an “unsuccessful meeting” convened yesterday with the management of the NHLS... →

Oil spill puts five-decade Mauritian fisher family in a bind

By: Bloomberg 17th August 2020 It may take a decade to restore a delicate ecosystem in Mauritius after a bulk carrier ran aground and spilled oil into the island nation’s pristine waters. Some fishermen fear they may never get their lives back. The vessel that left Mauritius almost helpless after it spilled 1 000 t of fuel oil... →

Japanese shipping company says Mauritius government has requested compensation

By: Reuters 14th August 2020 The Japanese shipping company that owns the bulk carrier that struck a coral reef off of Mauritius and leaked some 1 000 t of oil said the government of Mauritius had requested compensation. Nagashiki Shipping also said in a statement that the cause of the incident was still not known and would... →

Rising demand for lithium-ion-powered forklifts anticipated

By: Cameron Mackay 14th August 2020 “The demand for lithium-ion-powered forklifts is increasing locally, owing to companies wanting to reap the benefits of energy efficiency and cost effectiveness, as well as in preparation for changing legislation regarding emissions,” says forklift distributor for Masslift Africa national sales... →

CLEAN HANDLING The highest demand for lithium-ion-powered forklifts has been from fast-moving consumer goods applications that require clean environments for food

Why so much world trade passes Mauritius’s pristine beaches

By: Bloomberg 12th August 2020 The bulk carrier Wakashio was 11 days into a month-long voyage to Brazil when it hit a reef off Mauritius causing it to spill fuel into the island’s crystal clear waters, endangering baby turtles and unique plants in a nearby nature reserve. Given the vastness of the Indian ocean, why was the... →

Sea life around Mauritius dying as Japanese tanker oil spill spreads

By: Reuters 12th August 2020 Mauritian volunteers fished dead eels from oily waters on Tuesday as they tried to clean up damage to the Indian Ocean island's most pristine beaches after a Japanese bulk carrier leaked an estimated 1 000 t of oil. The ship, MV Wakashio, owned by Nagashiki Shipping and operated by Mitsui OSK... →

Photo by Reuters
The MV Wakashio which struck a coral reef on Mauritius' southeast coast is leaking oil

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