The World Bank has agreed to extend $1bn to South Africa to help the government’s energy security goals and the transition to a low carbon economy. The development policy loan is expected to help with restructuring of the power sector through the unbundling of state-owned power utility Eskom, as well as encouraging private investment in renewable energy.
De Beers has provided more details of its plans to develop a solar PV plant at its Venetia diamond mine. Venetia contributes about 40% of South Africa’s annual diamond production and is transitioning to underground mining, which is expected to extend the life of the mine to the mid-2040s.
Abagold is developing a battery energy storage system alongside a solar PV plant installed in 2022 at its aquaculture farms in Western Cape. The abalone producer also hopes to revive a plan for a wave energy project shelved in 2020.
South Africa's state utility Eskom has provided an update on the expected restart date of the Koeberg nuclear power station's unit 1. Its return to service is an integral part of Eskom’s operational recovery plan, which seeks to improve generation performance by raising the energy availability factor to an average of 65% by next March. In another key development that should soon boost power supply, Eskom has launched the Cross Border Standard Offer Programme (CBSOP).
Mpho Makwana will leave Eskom at the end of October, having served for only slightly over a year as chair of the state utility’s board of directors, with further divisions among decision-makers apparent in the protracted search for a new group chief executive officer (GCEO).
The government plans to unveil an implementation plan for the $8.5bn Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) at the COP28 climate summit, which is due to take place in Dubai in November/December.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has requested invitations for the supply and installation of a solar photovoltaic plant to serve its regional office in Centurion, Gauteng.
South Africa-headquartered SolarAfrica Energy has commissioned a 1.1MWp, grid-tied rooftop solar PV commercial and industrial (C&I) installation at the Actom factory in Knights, Germiston.
Bill Kilgore Investments and a consortium of international investors led by Inspired Evolution’s managed Evolution II and III Funds, Paris-based Stoa and Dutch development bank FMO have injected $160m into Cape Town-based independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket.
Norwegian independent power producer Scatec has commissioned a solar PV and battery hybrid project in South Africa, plus two similar schemes in Cameroon via its subsidiary Release.
Ivanhoe Mines has opted for commercial and industrial (C&I) supply from an independent power producer (IPP) for its Platreef project in Limpopo province, becoming the latest large South African offtaker to respond in this way to the woeful performance of utility Eskom.
German development bank KfW has offered a €200m ($214m) loan to Eskom to help the state utility improve transmission grids in the Northern and Western Cape, as western nations look to step up their support for South Africa’s creaking electricity system.
A report that two recently acquired vessels being converted into FSRUs are destined for South Africa further bolsters the idea that the long-stalled deployment of Karpower’s floating gas-fired capacity has gained momentum, despite continued opposition from campaigners
Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Northam Platinum is weighing up plans to add more solar PV capacity at its Booysendal, Eland and Zondereinde mines, while also procuring more diesel generators, as it seeks to reduce reliance on the national grid.
Vedanta Zinc International has signed a power purchase agreement with independent power producer Enernet Global (Enernet) to develop a solar PV plant to supply its Black Mountain mines in Aggeneys, Northern Cape, South Africa.
