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Eskom letter sends shock waves through private power sector

By: Terence Creamer 21st July 2016 News of Eskom’s letter to Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson – seeking clarity on the approach the utility should take to contracting in future with independent power producers (IPPs) – sent shock waves through the private power community, which is only just starting to find its feet in a... →

SAA must be put under business rescue – DA

By: News24Wire 20th July 2016 The stalemate between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and South African Airways (SAA) chairperson Dudu Myeni is rapidly driving the national carrier to total collapse and this cannot be allowed to happen, said the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday. The DA believes there should be an application... →

$150m Brics bank facility seen helping ease South Africa’s grid bottlenecks

By: Terence Creamer 19th July 2016 State-owned electricity producer Eskom expects to finalise commercial terms with the New Development Bank (NDB), of the Brics grouping, for a $150-million facility in the next quarter, CFO Anoj Singh reports. A term sheet has been signed with the NDB and Singh reports that, once consummated, the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown

Eskom moves to raise exports as it closes in on 80% plant-availability goal

By: Terence Creamer 19th July 2016 State-owned electricity producer Eskom says it is on course to achieve its stated goal of achieving an energy availability factor (EAF) of 80% well ahead of its 2021 target, reporting a steady recovery in the performance of its fleet of coal-fired power stations. As a consequence, the utility... →

Eskom CEO Brian Molefe outlines progress regarding the energy availability factor at its power stations. Camera Work: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva. Recorded: 19.7.2016

SAA banking tender deferred due to debt consolidation

By: News24Wire 19th July 2016 South African Airways' (SAA) controversial appointment of little-known finance company BnP Capital was not only expensive; it also put on hold an approved banking tender to Nedbank. News24 can exclusively reveal that SAA's board approved the awarding of banking services to Nedbank on May 27, for... →

Boeing, Mango in Africa's first jet biofuel flight

By: Anine Kilian 15th July 2016 Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, along with South African Airways (SAA) and its low-cost carrier Mango on Friday celebrated Africa’s first commercial passenger flights using sustainable aviation biofuel. The flights used sustainable jet biofuel produced from research and development company... →

Gordhan requests extension for SAA’s financial statement

By: Creamer Media Reporter 14th July 2016 Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has requested Parliament grant an extension until September 15 to table South African Airways’ (SAA’s) annual financial statement (AFS), the National Treasury said on Thursday. The national airliner’s AFS could not be finalised until a decision had been made on its... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan

New rail loop adds coal export capacity for Waterberg mines

By: Terence Creamer 14th July 2016 The capacity of South Africa’s coal export corridor to transport material mined in the Limpopo province’s Waterberg coalfields has been increased with the completion of a new 1.8 km passing loop at Matlabas, Transnet reports. The loop, which enables 100-wagon trains to cross without disrupting... →

Eskom, local universities sign Phase 2 of the EPPEI funding agreement

By: Samantha Herbst 13th July 2016 Eskom will next week sign Phase 2 of the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute (EPPEI) funding agreement, which will see the State power utility committing R155-million to execute and enhance eight interuniversity programmes in South Africa, integrating research efforts and creating synergy... →

Armscor: No ‘classified’ data leaked in Anonymous hack

By: News24Wire 13th July 2016 State-owned arms supplier Armscor has said a cyber breach on its website has not resulted in classified or sensitive information being leaked. Hacktivists claiming links to the Anonymous group have breached Armscor’s website, dumping hundreds of records linked to the company’s settlement and... →

What SAA paid departing CEOs and CFOs

By: News24Wire 12th July 2016 In the past 11 years, South African Airways (SAA) has paid close to R23-million in separation packages to chief executives and chief financial officers who did not complete their contracts, according to a response to a parliamentary question. Pieter Groenewald from the Freedom Front Plus asked... →

80 MW Noupoort wind farm enters commercial operation

By: Terence Creamer 11th July 2016 The 80 MW Noupoort wind farm, in the Northern Cape, entered commercial operation on July 11, with all 35 turbines at the R1.9-billion facility commissioned and connected to the Eskom grid. Country programme manager Savva Antoniadis reports that Noupoort is also the first wind farm selected during... →

The 80 MW Noupoort wind farm

SA Post Office raises R3.7bn to revitalise ailing State enterprise

By: African News Agency 8th July 2016 The SA Post Office (SAPO) has raised R3.7-billion from local financial institutions to prop up the cash-strapped state enterprise. Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele said R1-billion of the amount was received a few months ago after the organisation went into the... →

Standard Bank keen to participate in South Africa’s gas-to-power programme

By: Terence Creamer 8th July 2016 Leading South African financial institution Standard Bank has confirmed that it is keen to participate in the funding of South Africa’s gas-to-power (GTP) programme and that it is eagerly awaiting the release of the project information memorandum, outlining government’s preferred procurement... →

Standard Bank head of power Rentia van Tonder

SAA contractor BnP Capital had its FSB licence revoked – Outa

By: News24Wire 8th July 2016 Civil rights body Outa presented proof on Friday that BnP Capital, which has a contract with South African Airways (SAA), had its Financial Services Board (FSB) licence revoked. "We have learnt that the FSB licence of BnP Capital has been suspended," said Outa director of legal affairs Advocate... →

AfDB signs loan facilities with Eskom worth R20bn

By: Terence Creamer 7th July 2016 State-owned power utility Eskom reported on Thursday that it had concluded three loan facilities with the African Development Bank (AfDB) collectively valued at around R20-billion. The signed facilities will be used to fund the utility’s general capital requirements, including new-build projects,... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Eskom CFO Anoj Singh

Nersa grants Eskom extension on new tariff submission

By: Terence Creamer 7th July 2016 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved Eskom’s application for an extension, until April 1, 2017, to submit a new multi-year price determination (MYPD) application. The State-owned utility had originally been given three months, from March 1, to make a fresh... →

Eskom showing signs of operational stabilisation

6th July 2016 Creamer Media’s Samantha Herbst speaks to Engineering News editor Terence Creamer about Eskom’s latest integrated results presentation. →

Eskom showing signs of operational stabilisation

Eskom insists R1 600/t is the ‘total cost’ of Anglo coal to Tutuka

By: Terence Creamer 6th July 2016 State-owned electricity utility Eskom moved to clarify its statement that Anglo American’s New Denmark colliery had supplied coal to the Tutuka power station between April 2015 and May 2016 at R1 600/t – a level that group executive for generation Matshela Koko described as “unacceptable”. In a... →

Eskom executive for generation Matshela Koko

Eskom group executive for generation Matshela Koko on its coal sourcing strategy and the 'unacceptable' cost of coal to Tutuka. Camera Work: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva

Eskom says it owns assets at some South African coal mines

By: Bloomberg 6th July 2016 South Africa’s power utility plans to transfer assets at coal mines it helped to pay for onto its own balance sheet, which will involve a “painful process” of discussions with companies including Anglo American and Exxaro Resources, an executive said. Lawyers for Eskom, South Africa’s biggest... →

Molefe in forceful defence of Gupta-linked coal deal

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2016 Eskom CEO Brian Molefe went on the offensive on Tuesday against critics of the State-owned utility’s recent coal contract with the Gupta-family-linked Tegeta Exploration and Resources, likening the role of the banks and the media in the “hullabaloo” to that of a “kangaroo court”. Speaking at the... →

Eskom CEO Brian Molefe defends Tegeta coal deal, while slamming banks and media. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 5.6.2016

South Africa’s ‘messy’ political state hampers economic growth, coalition government increasingly likely

By: Natasha Odendaal 5th July 2016 South Africa’s “messy” political landscape is not aiding the country’s economic growth ambitions, Centre for Politics and Research executive director Prince Mashele said on Tuesday. “We are in a mess politically,” he told delegates at a Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS) discussion, pointing out... →

Eskom reports strong profit recovery despite another fall in yearly sales

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2016 Despite another, albeit modest, fall in electricity sales, State-owned electricity producer Eskom reported a strong recovery in its financial performance for 2016, with net profit rising to R4.6-billion from R200-million in 2015. At the interim stage, however, net profit stood at R11.3-billion,... →

Tambo-Springs container terminal briefing moves ahead as Transnet offers zoning assurances

By: Terence Creamer 4th July 2016 A briefing session will be held this week for potential bidders for a proposed inland Tambo Springs container terminal, earmarked for development as a public-private partnership (PPP) in eastern Gauteng. State-owned freight logistics group Transnet issued a request for proposals (RFP) in June,... →

DoT CFO joins PRASA as acting group CEO

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st July 2016 The Department of Transport (DoT) has welcomed the appointment of Collins Letsoalo as acting group CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), effective immediately. Letsoalo was moving from his position as CFO at the DoT, assuming the role until PRASA’s board resolved several... →

Eskom in surprise termination of Duvha contract talks

By: Terence Creamer 30th June 2016 State-owned electricity utility Eskom reported on Thursday that it had terminated contract negotiations for the rebuild portion of the Duvha Unit 3 boiler recovery project after the “supplier was unable to meet the conditions precedent to enable agreement on the contract”. Eskom did not name the... →

DoE ‘disturbed’ by SFF's disregard for governance processes in Chevron bid

By: Terence Creamer 30th June 2016 Department of Energy (DoE) director-general Thabane Zulu has slammed the announcement by the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) of its intention to bid for Chevron’s South African assets, saying the government is “disturbed at the complete disregard for governance processes by the entity in question”. On... →

GE, Transnet explore use of digital technologies to boost locomotive performance

By: Terence Creamer 30th June 2016 Technology multinational GE reports that it is working with South Africa’s Transnet on ways to integrate its digital solutions into the locomotives it has already supplied, and is in the process of supplying, to the State-owned freight logistics group. The two companies are using GE’s newly... →

Photo by Duane Daws
GE South Africa CEO Thomas Konditi

Transnet pares back its capital investment plan

30th June 2016 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about Transnet’s slowing capital investment and the impact of this on the economy. →

Transnet pares back its capital investment plan

TNPA luring private oil-services investors to Saldanha using ‘flexible’ terminal concessions

By: Terence Creamer 29th June 2016 Freight logistics group Transnet is optimistic of receiving positive responses to a tender for the development of an offshore supply base (OSSB) for the oil and gas industry in Saldanha Bay, reporting that around 120 people attended a tender site briefing this week. A request for proposals (RFP)... →

Artist impression of possible future oil and gas services infrastructure at Port of Saldanha

Operation Phakisa programme director Ricky Bhikraj outlines the approach being taken to PPP projects at the Port of Saldanha. Camera Work: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva.

TFR to begin 14-day coal-line shutdown on July 11

By: Creamer Media Reporter 29th June 2016 State-owned railways utility Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) announced on Wednesday that it would begin a 14-day total shutdown of the coal export line on July 11. The yearly maintenance shutdown would continue until July 24. On average, 230 000 t/day is railed down the corridor, which links the... →

TNPA to add container capacity at Durban harbour as it puts dig-out port on hold

By: Terence Creamer 28th June 2016 Having pulled back from any immediate development of the so-called Durban Dig-Out Port (DDOP), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is moving ahead with two more modest projects to expand the container capacity at the Port of Durban. Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama has indicated that the DDOP is... →

TNPA senior manager for planning and development Selvan Pillay on the berth-deepening and Salisbury Island projects to increase container capacity at the Port of Durban. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 28.6.2016

Transnet Engineering hands over passenger coaches to Botswana Railways

By: Samantha Herbst 27th June 2016 The engineering unit of State-owned freight logistics group Transnet on Monday released the last batch of passenger coaches to Botswana Railways at a handing-over ceremony in Salt River, Cape Town. This followed the initial staggered delivery of 22 coaches to the Botswana utility this year, which... →

Vandalised assets costing PRASA millions, raises concern over risk to new rolling stock

By: Natasha Odendaal 27th June 2016 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on Monday said extensive, ongoing incidences of vandalism against, and theft of, its assets had severely impacted on services, threatened safety and cost the operator some R331-million it could ill afford to lose. The ongoing incidents of... →

Photo by Duane Daws
PRASA acting CEO Nathi Khena

Call for investigation into alleged procurement irregularities at Eskom

By: Sane Dhlamini 27th June 2016 Nonprofit organisation Corruption Watch last week issued an urgent request to the National Treasury to investigate the manner in which State-owned power utility Eskom managed its contracts with existing suppliers and its general adherence to supply chain processes, including its vetting... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Corruption Watch Director, David Lewis

Big ‘focus’ on ensuring rail OEMs meet local-content commitments

By: Terence Creamer 24th June 2016 A senior Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official “promised” on Friday that the department was giving focused attention to ensuring that the local-content targets associated with Transnet’s R50-billion locomotive procurement programme were met. Chief director for industrial procurement Dr... →

Icasa, SABS outline process for issuing of EMI/EMC certificates of compliance

By: Anine Kilian 20th June 2016 Manufacturers and importers of electronic equipment can expect a “transparent, predictable and efficient process” when applying for Electromagnetic Interference/ Compatibility (EMI/EMC) Certificates of Compliance (CoCs), South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) CEO Dr Boni Mehlomakulu said on... →

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