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In a move its principals said would create Africa’s largest renewable energy (RE) company, Amsterdam-headquartered Lekela Power BV on 20 March announced the completion of its acquisition by the Infinity Power Holding BV joint venture of Cairo-based Infinity Power and United Arab Emirates state-owned Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company).

National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on 10 March approved an 18.65% increase in Eskom’s electricity tariffs for standard customers from 1 April and an 18.49% increase for municipalities from 1 July.

Plans by Eskom to build a 3GW CCGT plant at Richards Bay may yet go ahead, following reports that regulator Nersa had reversed its previous opposition to the scheme. A Nersa spokesman told African Energy the energy regulator had yet to make a final decision on the matter.

President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa strengthened his grip on power by appointing political allies and retaining loyalists in a 6 March cabinet reshuffle. The changes included the appointment of 48-year-old Kgosientsho ‘Sputla’ Ramokgopa to take charge of a new Ministry of Electricity. Sputla has hit the ground running by launching the Resource Mobilisation Fund.

Aarhus, Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems said on 14 March it had received an order for 373MW worth of wind turbines from independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket for installation in South Africa.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s rejection of all three of Karpowership South Africa’s environmental impact assessment applications has thrown the Turkish company’s – and other departments of government’s – emergency gas-to-power plans into disarray once more.

The extent that South Africa’s power crisis threatens meltdown in the political system, as well as in the failing electricity supply industry (ESI), has been reflected in open warfare between the government and state utility Eskom’s group chief executive officer (GCEO) André de Ruyter – whose contract has been terminated even before his expected end-March departure.

Outgoing Eskom chief executive André de Ruyter has argued for increased support to exploit the potential for rooftop PV, other C&I power and solar home systems to help South Africa overcome its chronic electricity supply deficit. De Ruyter said up to 10GW of rooftop solar could be added by 2030 – but that depends on investors getting more incentives in a sector where government has previously been of limited support.

Coal miner Seriti Resources has concluded a power purchase agreement (PPA) with its subsidiary Seriti Green, paving the way for construction to start on a 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga province.

South Africa’s political and electricity supply industry (ESI) crisis has entered a new phase, after embattled President Cyril Ramaphosa was compelled to declare a National State of Disaster, as pressure intensifies on ruling African National Congress (ANC) bureaucrats to end the long-enduring energy catastrophe, which has shaved percentage points off growth.

State power utility Eskom says it will require at least 12 months to design and construct temporary flues for Kusile coal power plant’s units I, II and III while waiting to do the main repairs to the broken common chimney shared by the three units.

Only a few days after its launch, solar company Ener-G-Africa has begun exports from its newly established solar panel manufacturing plant in Cape Town. The first order of 1,000 panels is being supplied to Malawi.

Vivo Energy and Engen are to combine their two African downstream businesses, creating a giant with 3,900 service stations and 2bn ltrs of storage capacity.

Scatec and Norfund have agreed to sell their stakes in the Upington projects to Stanlib Asset Management. Upington comprises Sirius Project One, Dyason’s Klip I and Dyason’s Klip II. The projects were awarded in the fourth round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP4).

Construction of a set of three wind farms that comprise the Koruson 1 projects – Coleskop, Phezukomoya and San Kraal – has started after the last of the projects reached financial close. The three projects were awarded preferred bidder status in October 2021, under the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme fifth window (REIPPP5).