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Minerals Council says new exploration strategy could help mining recover from Covid-19 hit

By: Terence Creamer 6th August 2020 Minerals Council South Africa is calling for the urgent development of a comprehensive and competitive greenfield exploration strategy, arguing that a far higher level of exploration is required to help stimulate higher levels of mining investment and job creation and to support the country’s... →

Eskom, Sasol gear up for energy storage and renewables roll-outs

6th August 2020 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Creamer Media Editor Terence Creamer about Eskom's battery energy storage plans and Sasol's renewables roll-out. →

Eskom, Sasol gear up for energy storage and renewables roll-outs

Just Share labels Investec’s climate-risk disclosure report as new benchmark

By: Terence Creamer 5th August 2020 Shareholder activism organisation Just Share has described the ‘Climate Related Financial Disclosures’ report published by Investec in May as having set a new benchmark for South African banks in climate-risk disclosure. The Just Share analysis has been released ahead of Investec’s August 8... →

Sasol sets sights on large-scale renewables procurement as it pulls trigger on embedded generation projects

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2020 Chemicals and energy group Sasol intends issuing, during its current financial year, a request for proposals (RFP) for wind and solar projects with a combined capacity of between 200 MW and 300 MW having received a strong response to a market-testing request for information (RFI) issued in May.... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sasol's Secunda complex stands in the background with power lines in the foreground

Eskom initiates procurement process for first large-scale battery energy storage system

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2020 Electricity utility Eskom has called for bids for the design and construction of a battery energy storage system (BESS) to be installed at the Skaapvlei substation at Vredendal, in the Western Cape, where the group’s 100 MW Sere wind farm is located. The system should have a minimum power... →

The substation at the Sere wind farm in Vredendal

Nedbank inks partnership to enable homeowners to leverage loans to install solar PV

By: Donna Slater 3rd August 2020 Financial services provider Nedbank has partnered with the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) through its PV GreenCard accreditation in an effort to increase access to and the affordability of installing renewable energy solutions for homeowners. Through the partnership,... →

Bushveld Minerals advances plans to support VRFB development

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd August 2020 Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals has advanced the acquisition of Austrian group Enerox by acquiring a further 65.1% of the investment vehicle’s share capital through Enerox Holdings Limited (EHL). EHL is a newly incorporated investment vehicle formed by a consortium of investors, including Bushveld... →

Renergen spuds first well as expected

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd August 2020 The drill rig at emerging natural gas and helium producer Renergen’s Virginia gas project production hub, in the Free State, is preparing to spud the first well in the programme. The upcoming programme of inclined wells target the gas productive fracture systems at the project. →

Sasol calls for bids for 10 MW solar plants at Mpumalanga, Free State operations

By: Terence Creamer 3rd August 2020 Chemicals and energy group Sasol has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of two embedded solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities of 10 MW apiece at its operations in Secunda, in Mpumalanga, and Sasolburg, in the Free State. The closing date for submissions is Friday, October 2. →

The Secunda complex

Increasing infrastructure investment would boost South Africa’s potential growth, OECD survey asserts

By: Terence Creamer 31st July 2020 Higher levels of infrastructure investment are needed to increase South Africa’s potential growth, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD’s) latest survey of South Africa asserts. Released on July 31, the report warns that the South African economy could contract by as... →

OECD says tourism sector has big jobs potential, but will need support until the middle of 2021

Montego says solar plant investment yielding returns

By: Schalk Burger 31st July 2020 Pet food manufacturer Montego Pet Nutrition's R22-million investment in a dedicated solar energy plant last year is yielding returns. Marketing manager Wilfred Cawood says that, as a result, the company's carbon dioxide emissions have decreased by 300 t to date this year. →

Opinion: Could Eskom be repurposed to become training ground for the energy transition?

By: Tobias Bischof-Niemz 31st July 2020 One of the most common remedies proposed for addressing Eskom’s financial and operational problems is that of reducing jobs at the state-owned utility. The argument is premised on the view that Eskom is massively overstaffed and that its headcount should, thus, be reduced to help lower costs and... →

Redavia deploys first solar farm in Kenya at Menengai Farmers

By: African News Agency 30th July 2020 A global market leader of cost-effective, reliable and clean solar power for businesses, Redavia has deployed its first solar farm in Kenya for Menengai Farmers tea farm in Tigoni. In a statement on Wednesday, Redavia said that for the first 20 years of its operations, Menengai Farmers had... →

World Bank approves $300m for promotion of electricity trade in West Africa

By: African News Agency 30th July 2020 An amount of $300-million has been approved by the World Bank Group from the International Development Association (IDA) credits and grants to support reforms that will help promote electricity trade in west Africa. In a statement released on Wednesday, the World Bank said the West Africa... →

First digital solar PV GreenCard training course completed

By: Schalk Burger 30th July 2020 The Solar Training Centre (STC), in partnership with the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC), is offering its PV GreenCard course digitally for installers working in the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector. The PV... →

SAPVIA welcomes energy dept's commitment to dealing with energy security challenge

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th July 2020 Industry body the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has applauded the “determination put forward by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe to mobilise the private sector to address the threats to energy security but cautions that there is no more time... →

African countries urge to allocate 25% of stimulus spending to renewable energy

By: Terence Creamer 24th July 2020 African countries should aim to invest 25% of their Covid-19 stimulus budgets in renewable energy, Sustainable Energy for All CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi said on Wednesday, noting that renewable energy had emerged as the cheapest source of new electricity for most countries on the continent. Speaking... →

Covid-19 crisis highlights need for renewable energy systems, says Standard Bank

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd July 2020 The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the need for Africa to develop flexible energy systems in which renewables and decentralised technologies play a far larger role, says financial services provider Standard Bank Group. The pandemic has led to a global decline in electricity demand as commercial... →

Renewables zones in Emalahleni and Klerksdorp part of just-transition vision – Creecy

By: Terence Creamer 23rd July 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy has made a direct link between government’s proposed designation of Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) in the coal and gold mining towns of Emalahleni and Klerksdorp respectively, and South Africa’s just transition to a... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

Concern raised over R1.5bn cut to electrification budget

By: Terence Creamer 23rd July 2020 Concern continues to be raised over the fact that the biggest cut made to the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy’s 2020/21 budget is for the electrification of poor households, especially in those province with the largest connection backlogs. The cuts, which were signalled in early... →

Engie joins Mining3 to develop renewable hydrogen-based solutions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd July 2020 Global energy company Engie has become the newest member of leading global mining industry research organisation Mining3. Engie says it joins Mining3 in its next phase of hydrogen research to co-create hydrogen solutions to help reach carbon neutrality for the mining sector in the coming... →

IFC exceed 2019 fiscal commitments with $4.6bn invested

By: Donna Slater 22nd July 2020 IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, committed $5.6-billion to private sector development in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa in fiscal year 2020, supporting businesses across the two regions to launch, grow, provide jobs and fight the impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic. IFC is a... →

Creecy moves ahead with plan to declare coal and gold towns as renewables zones

By: Terence Creamer 21st July 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy has called for public comment on government’s intention to add three more Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) to the eight that have already been proclaimed for the purpose. Renewable-energy projects located within the boundaries... →

Run-of-river hydropower partnership extended to Burundi projects

By: Terence Creamer 21st July 2020 Africa-focused independent power producer Tembo Power has announced that its strategic partnership with WK Construction has been extended to the 7.5 MW Dama and 12 MW Siguvyaye run-of-river hydropower projects located in the south-west region of Burundi. WK Construction is already the preferred... →

The Kaptis project site in Kenya

Covid-19 yet another incentive for govt to speed up renewables capacity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th July 2020 Seizing green energy opportunities through increased private sector investments can contribute to South Africa's post-Covid-19 recovery, especially considering that the country faces a possible gross domestic product (GDP) contraction of up to 16% in real terms because of local supply and demand... →

Section 12J amendments muddying investment waters, says law firm

By: Donna Slater 17th July 2020 Ongoing amendments to the Section 12J Income Tax Act have left investors at risk as to whether the companies in which they have either invested, or hope to invest, continue to qualify, law firm CMS South Africa partner and tax co-head Andrew Wellsted tells Engineering News. Section 12J was... →

CMS South Africa partner and tax co-head Andrew Wellsted

4IR skills map way forward

By: Mamaili Mamaila 17th July 2020 With continuous improvements in technology, there is a need for concurrent upskilling across all sectors, especially as the reality of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has set in locally. →

Polytech Africa MD Astrid Straussner tells Engineering News about the company’s Mechatronics Academy. Camerawork: Creamer Media’s Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 28.02.2020

Mantashe agrees to creation of engagement forum with renewables stakeholders

By: Terence Creamer 16th July 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe met with renewable-energy stakeholders on Thursday in an effort to build trust, improve communication and reduce obstacles to the roll-out of renewable energy in South Africa. The virtual meeting proceeded despite the fact that the Minister had... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Energy projects in Africa remain challenging, but signs of hope emerging

By: Donna Slater 15th July 2020 Renewable energy projects in Africa will be significantly affected by the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in construction site disruptions, delays and difficulties in getting equipment and components across borders which have different levels of restriction on the movement of people and... →

Ethiopia starts filling Grand Renaissance dam, minister says

By: Reuters 15th July 2020 Ethiopia has started filling the Grand Renaissance dam, a giant hydroelectric project it is building on the Blue Nile, its water minister said on Wednesday, a day after talks with Sudan and Egypt on the issue became deadlocked. "The construction of the dam and the filling of the water go hand in... →

Powerships can help Eskom save R28bn a year, says Karpowership

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th July 2020 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Department of Minerals and Energy have estimated that Stage 2 load-shedding costs the economy R150-million an hour. This is posing a threat to South Africa’s economic recovery from Covid-19 and it is critical to fast-track emergency... →

WPIC says decarbonised future for aviation lies in hydrogen fuel cells

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th July 2020 The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) in a recent statement discusses whether platinum-based fuel cells can propel the aviation industry towards a green post-Covid-19 future. It points out that, in the UK alone, aviation accounts for about 7% of total greenhouse-gas emissions and, prior... →

Renergen bringing LNG fuel alternative to South Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 15th July 2020 The current global recession is accelerating the transformation to cleaner energy sources and the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in transport owing to the need to reduce costs by as much as possible. Within this context, emerging natural gas and helium producer Renergen CEO Stefano Marani... →

Renergen CEO Stefano Marani gives some insight in to how accepting South Africa is of LNG, and whether or not there is an actual demand. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Evaluation of short-term power bids being hamstrung by Covid-19, Eskom confirms

By: Terence Creamer 14th July 2020 Progress on Eskom’s proposed Short-Term Power Purchase Programme, initiated to help limit load-shedding while the State-owned utility implements a so-called reliability maintenance programme across its coal fleet over the coming 18 months, is being seriously retarded by South Africa’s Covid-19... →

Oil and gas sector's growth potential to be fueled by renewable energy

By: Simone Liedtke 13th July 2020 Oil and gas field operations are increasingly being fueled by renewable energy, which NYSE-listed IHS Markit says is a "surprising source". New analysis done by IHS shows that oil and gas companies are starting to use zero-carbon sources to reduce carbon emissions associated with their operations. →

South Africa urged to recycle more of its copper scrap

By: Donna Slater 10th July 2020 Given limited domestic copper production, South Africa should prioritise the recycling of copper scrap to ensure there remains sufficient stock as the economy changes to be more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) executive chairperson... →

Talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam remain deadlocked

By: African News Agency 10th July 2020 Negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have produced no results after seven straight days of talks, reported Daily News Egypt. According to the report, Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and... →

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