Algeria's Energy Future was launched at a half-day round-table seminar at Chatham House, London, on Wednesday 6 April.
The report was presented at the seminar by its lead authors, Jon Marks and John Hamilton, and critically assessed by Algerian and international experts. Read more
The African Energy Atlas has established itself as an indispensable resource for energy industry professionals.
The 2011 edition features more than 45 maps and charts drawn with expert care by journalist cartographer David Burles. Read more
Briefings and Reports 2
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting African markets in frank and open terms.
The next AfricaHardball roundtable will be held on 1 December in London, focusing on North Africa Read more
Briefings and Reports 3
A detailed and frank analysis of Libya’s energy sector
Published in July 2010, Libya's Energy Future provides authoritative, independently sourced analysis of Libya’s energy sector policy and history, examines the country’s governance and financial record and assesses the potential for international partners to do business with its institutions and interest groups.
On the page below you will find a selection of articles from the African Energy archive. All items preceded by a padlock symbol require a subscription.
Eskom talks up greener thinking as Nersa cuts renewables subsidies
Having been severely battered by its many critics for failing to handle South Africa’s electricity supply shortfall, Eskom is promising a greener vision for the future. But planned cuts to renewables subsidies and persistent delays to private power projects point to a worrying gap between theory and practice
IPSA has resumed operations at its cogeneration plant at Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. The 18MW combined heat and power plant is now supplying electricity to the national grid under a medium-term power purchase agreement with Eskom dated 26 August 2010.
Heavyweight information systems architects IBM and Oracle’s new business unit Oracle Utilities are hoping to convince Eskom of the importance of increased monitoring of power use
The South African utility is still assessing the cost of repair work to the 600MW Duvha power station, near Emalahleni in Mpumalanga province, where a fire in February stopped all generation.
The government is pushing its plan to build a world-scale solar power plant, to use concentrated solar power technology at a site in Northern Cape (AE 196/10). Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters – who came to government following a career as an African National Congress activist and latterly provincial premier in Northern Cape (AE 163/24) – was widely quoted as reaffirming plans for the site at Upington to eventually host sufficient solar panels to generate 5GW.
Fresh support from the South African government has strengthened the borrowing leverage of power parastatal Eskom, as it seeks to maintain its building programme, writes Kevin Godier
Renewable energy project developer juwi has opened an office in Stellenbosch, close to Cape Town, to co-ordinate its South African activities. Issue 204, 4 March 2011. more
South Africa seeks diversity in electricity supply, but many renewables projects still struggle
The authorities say they are taking vital steps to diversify the power sector and attract private investment, but companies, investors and financiers complain that things are still moving too slowly
The government’s decision to abandon controversial plans to create regional electricity distributors shows the state centralising key business decisions, rather than letting the market shape the direction of the supply industry Issue 200, 17 December 2010.more
Groundhog day for electricity sector reform in South Africa
As this is African Energy’s 200th issue, the editorial team is minded to reflect on past stories and their links to current news
ABB has won an order worth $43m from Eskom to supply medium-voltage switchgear as well as protection and supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) equipment for a thermal power plant being built in Mpumalanga (AE 196/11).
The role of export credit agencies (ECAs) – not least in maintaining the flow of project funds to South Africa’s Eskom, which has been working hard to raise some of the money it needs to build new power plants to supply fast-rising demand – was flagged up by Rand Merchant Bank infrastructure finance transactor Hugh Hawarden. Issue 200, 17 December 2010.more
SacOil is currently one of only three oil and gas companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, alongside petrochemicals giant Sasol and Nigeria’s Oando; it is the only pure exploration play. Issue 205, 18 March 2011.more
Sasol's Canadian shale buy
South Africa’s Sasol has signed an agreement with Talisman Energy to acquire a 50% stake in the Cypress A shale gas asset in the Montney Basin of British Columbia
BP has announced the completion of a R140m ($20m) expansion of its Pretoria fuel storage facility to ensure security of supply in inland South Africa. The company held a ceremony to open a new rail loading and offloading gantry described as one of the largest in Africa. Issue 205, 18 March 2011.more
Shale gas controversy
Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters sought to counter the criticism of shale gas exploration in the Karoo region during a 24 February media briefing in parliament – despite the issue of a Government Notice on 1 February by the Department of Mineral Resources declaring a moratorium on any new technical co-operation agreement, exploration or reconnaissance permits in the Karoo. T
London-based Kentz Corporation has won a $35m contract from National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) for work at the Natref Crude Refinery in Sasolburg.
The government is pushing its plan to build a world-scale solar power plant, to use concentrated solar power technology at a site in Northern Cape (AE 196/10). Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters – who came to government following a career as an African National Congress activist and latterly provincial premier in Northern Cape (AE 163/24) – was widely quoted as reaffirming plans for the site at Upington to eventually host sufficient solar panels to generate 5GW.
Fresh support from the South African government has strengthened the borrowing leverage of power parastatal Eskom, as it seeks to maintain its building programme, writes Kevin Godier
The government’s decision to abandon controversial plans to create regional electricity distributors shows the state centralising key business decisions, rather than letting the market shape the direction of the supply industry Issue 200, 17 December 2010.more
Groundhog day for electricity sector reform in South Africa
As this is African Energy’s 200th issue, the editorial team is minded to reflect on past stories and their links to current news
Private equity fund Evolution One has invested R51.8m ($7.6m) in major South African waste management company EnviroServ Waste Management (EnviroServ). Issue 197, 5 November 2010.more
Eskom taps European credits
Eskom Holdings has concluded German and French export credit agency (ECA)-covered financings worth over E170m ($228m) to fund elements of its 4,800MW Medupi power station and 1,352MW Ingula pump storage schemes. Issue 194, 24 September 2010.more
Eskom signs first carbon credits deal
Eskom has signed an emission credits purchase agreement with France’s BNP Paribas. This agreement, Eskom’s first, is the result of an open enquiry for bids to develop a clean development mechanism (CDM) for Eskom’s compact fluorescent light programme. Issue 194, 24 September 2010.more
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