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Eskom planned maintenance outages aimed at improving performance

Location: News

Eskom planned maintenance outages aimed at improving performance

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the current intensity of load shedding is due to planned maintenance outages to fix generating units.

These maintenance outages are aimed at reducing the incidence of units tripping on their own and improve performance.

He was speaking on Saturday during a media briefing to present an update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan.

“The current intensity of load shedding as we are seeing it now is primarily on the back of us ramping up on planned outages.

“It could be expedient for us to continue to run these generating units and undermine philosophy maintenance, the fact that they’ve been able to carry us through the winter period. Of course the attraction is that continue to run them and of course you’ll…reduce the intensity of load shedding.

“But we have taken a view that when the generating unit needs to be taken out, we are going to take them out. Of course we’ll do a computation of what that means in relation to the intensity of load shedding and where we are, we’ve felt that because this is short term planned maintenance…we don’t foresee this to be long outages and that’s why we chose to take them out.

“Planned maintenance, we are ramping it up so that when these units come back, they come back healthy and they are able to give us a significant amount of hours and also performing at their designed capacity. As a result of that action, we are beginning to see that the units tripping on their own is coming down and of course that is going to help us to address the available capacity and we should be able to meet the peak focus especially during this period when demand is tapering,” he said.

He added that Eskom will “continue to ramp up almost at this scale or even a bit higher”.

“This is controlled intensity of load shedding to allow us the opportunity to really get these machines to be fixed and as a result of this intervention, you can see it also in the unplanned capacity loss factor…it’s beginning to come down.

“I did say that our intention is to keep it at sub 15000MW. You can see that from the 1st to the 31st again, we are at lower than 15000MW. When we went into the baseline period of May, this was upwards of 17000MW, when we did the winter outlook the worst case scenario was saying that the rate at which these units could be failing on their own could take out potentially about 18000MW,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Sat, 09/02/2023 - 10:33

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Independent Power Producers programme reaping rewards

Location: News

Independent Power Producers programme reaping rewards

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is having a positive socio-economic impact on the industry and the economy.

This is according to the Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was speaking during a media briefing on the Energy Action Plan on Saturday.

Thus far, some 134 IPPs have been selected as preferred bidders, 11 904MW have been procured with 6180MW already operational and investment of R334.5 billion has been attracted for energy infrastructure.

Ramokgopa said that through the programme, “about R85 billion…has been placed in the hands of black business”.

“This is significant if we talk about the deracialisation of the South African economy. We are able to use our transition towards cleaner forms of energy to ensure that they provide significant meaning on this agenda of the deracialisation of the South African economy and we are having new participants, new entrants in the form of black players so that the democratic dividend is equitably distributed to all South Africans.

“[The programme] has been able to produce over 72 153 job years. It is a computation that we are using for us to be able to account for the number of employment opportunities that have been created in the South African economy as a result of the interventions of the Renewable Energy Programme. This speaks to the areas of during construction and also during operations.

“The Rand value of about R3.2 billion is what has been accumulated to the South African economy and this has got to significant impact in relation to socio-economic development and the areas of enterprise development so that we are able to expand the floor of opportunities to local communities, we are able to provide new skills that helps them to participate in this energy transition,” he said.

Ramokgopa revealed that some R69 billion actual spend has been spent on local content.

“There’s been a significant industrialisation on the back of the localisation of the components that are necessary to help us to decarbonise and transition. Our view is that on the back of this transition, on the back of this crisis, we must be able to expand the industrial base of the country.

“And on the back of this decarbonisation, on the back of this resolution of this crisis, we are also able to address the challenge of unemployment, we are able to address the challenge of structural unemployment in the form of the skills that are required to support the kind of economy that we are constructing and this economy will be underpinned by renewable energy sources,” he said.

On the environmental side, the Minister said REIPPPP projects have been able to offset some 97Mton of Carbon Dioxide with 114.7 million kilolitres of water saved.

“This is meaningful. There’s a multiplicity of matrices that underpin the renewable agenda. It’s not just only on the complexion of the generation mix, on the reduction of the emission levels but it also plays an important role on the deracialisation of the work that we are doing,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Sat, 09/02/2023 - 11:12

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Committee Receives Briefing from Department on Restructuring of Eskom and its First Quarter Performance

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises received briefings from the Department of Public Enterprises on its first quarter performance report for the 2023/24 financial year, and on progress regarding Eskom restructuring yesterday.

Briefing the committee, the Acting Director-General of the department, Ms Jacky Molisane, informed the committee that the department has drafted the National State-owned Companies Bill, which is currently undergoing consultations. She said a draft business case for the proposed holding company has been prepared for consultation.

The committee heard that following broad consultation on the Eskom Debt Relief Bill, it was passed by National Assembly and sent to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for concurrence in May 2023, where it was passed on 21 June 2023. The Bill was sent to the President for assent and it was assented into law on 5 July 2023 (Act 7 of 2023). The committee also heard that the National Treasury is finalising the strategic conditions of compliance for Eskom to enable the conversion of the loan into equity.

Regarding the three Eskom companies that were separated and operationalised, Ms Molisane said that the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) was established, it was registered and incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom. Ms Molisane told the committee that application of approval for the revised transmission licence was submitted to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in September 2022.

On 27 July 2023, the NERSA approved the licence of the NTCSA to operate the transmission system (excluding the Trading and the Import/Export applications) within the national boundaries of the Republic of South Africa. NERSA stated that trading and the import/export applications will require further consideration before being submitted to NERSA's electricity subcommittee.

The committee was concerned about the department's delayed processing of the SOC Bill. The committee also questioned the need for Eskom to be unbundled into three companies, including one for distribution, without considering municipalities for distribution. The committee stressed that the municipalities should have full control of the distribution of electricity in communities within their jurisdiction. 

The committee indicated that Eskom supplies electricity to the entire country, converting debt to equity. It said Eskom is not generating revenue, which has a direct impact on Eskom's liquidity, hence the government must intervene all the time.

On Transnet, the committee was of the view that Transnet has made progress in creating space for the private sector to participate, but questioned why the private sector would invest in an unprofitable business and what this says about job security for Transnet employees.

On the issue of the closure of the department, which was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa when he delivered the 2023 State of the Nation Address, Ms Molisane said they are awaiting promulgation by the President. The department will start the process of closure after that.

The Deputy Minister of the department, Mr Obed Bapela, who led the department during presentations, said: “The DG and the team are engaging officials in that the department is coming to an end, the matter of officials. The process is under way to discuss a way forward, which also includes organised labour.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Read moreCommittee Receives Briefing from Department on Restructuring of Eskom and its First Quarter Performance

Blended finance fund to assist farmers abate energy challenges

Location: News

Blended finance fund to assist farmers alleviate energy challenges

The ongoing load shedding in South Africa has become a serious constraint on growth and profitability for various sectors, including agriculture. 

In addressing the negative impact on the productivity and profitability of farm operations brought about by the load shedding crisis, the Land Bank and Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), have launched a blended finance fund, which is geared towards financing alternative energy solutions with a focus on energy intensive agricultural activities which include irrigation, intensive agricultural production systems and on-farm cold chain related activities.

The Agro Energy Fund aims to support all South African citizens, producers in the agricultural sector, including smallholder, medium scale, large scale and mega commercial producers.

The launch of the Agro Energy Fund follows the successful launch of the Blended Finance Scheme (BFS) in October 2022 through the partnership between Land Bank and DALRRD, where the bank, in collaboration with the department launched the R2 billion BFS.

Speaking at the launch held in Pretoria on Tuesday, DALRRD Minister Thoko Didiza emphasised that the purpose of the Agro Energy Fund is to incentivise farmers to invest in alternative energy sources, and will run parallel to other existing financial instruments that are designed to support farmers with production, farmer infrastructure and market, amongst others. 

Didiza explained that the applications for the fund will be directed to the Land Bank and will be subjected to approval guidelines of the bank.

“The funding will be deployed through a blended finance structure which is a combination of a loan and grant. DALRRD will contribute a grant portion to a total value of R500 million which will be matched with a loan portion to a total value of R710 million from Land Bank. 

“This will effectively create a R1.21 billion fund size. The fund will be available in the market until the allocated funds are completely drawn down,” Didiza explained. 

The Minister added that the priority will be on supporting dairy farming, piggeries, poultry, all irrigated commodities and on-farm processing. 

“In deploying funding to producers, the Bank will also rollout its Green Finance product offering with a focus on financing solar panels, biogas and biomass plants which will result in the installation and commissioning of energy efficiency projects across the country which will partially offset electricity usage from the grid. 

“The fund will enable the bank to contribute to building resilience against energy shocks in the sector which have negatively impacted productivity and profitability in farm operations. The food security and rural development remain key priorities in the agricultural sector,” the Minister said. 

Land Bank Board Chairperson, Thabi Nkosi, expressed the bank’s appreciation to be in partnership with the department for the implementation of the Agro Energy Fund, and also commended the department’s allocation of the R500 million grant.

“The fund aims to support all South African producers - from smallholder farmers to large commercial producers - in a manner that ensures a balanced allocation of funds across various farming cohorts, according to need,” Nkosi said.

Nkosi explained that the smallholder producers will be eligible for up to 70% total finance amount, with the grant portion capped at R500 000 per applicant, while medium scale producers will be eligible for up to 50% of the total financed amount, with the grant portion capped at R1 million per applicant.

“Large producers will be eligible for a grant of up to 30% of the total financed amount, with the grant portion capped at R1.5 million per applicant. On this basis, the fund is expected to support over 500 farmers across the country,” Nkosi said.

While acknowledging that the fund may not reach all of South Africa’s farmers, Nkosi said, this initiative, with specific focus on renewable energy solutions, will catalyse the agricultural sector’s adoption of more sustainable farming practice.

The applications to the Agro-Energy Fund are now open, and the details about the fund, product offering, and how clients can contact and apply for funding support from the Land Bank can be found on www.landbank.co.za or www.dalrrd.gov.za – SAnews.gov.za 
 

GabiK
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:06

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President Ramaphosa meets with SOE chairpersons and CEOs

Location: News

President Ramaphosa meets with SOE chairpersons and CEOs

Implementing reforms will serve to enhance the ability of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) not only to adapt to industry developments but also to serve South Africans into the future.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who met with chairpersons and chief executives of SOEs on Tuesday.

“It is quite clear that the success of our economic recovery relies on the effective functioning of state-owned entities. We are implementing reforms to ensure that SOEs are able to adapt to new economic conditions, including rapid developments in technology, their respective operating environments and changing global trends, and to serve the country well into the future,” President Ramaphosa said.

In a statement, the Presidency said the meeting sought to “discuss the implementation of measures to stabilise their financial and operational performance and harness their economic potential”.

“Government has, since 2018, embarked on a process of reform to address the legacy of state capture in SOEs, including through the appointment of capable leadership, the recovery of stolen assets and the pursuit of those responsible for perpetrating acts of corruption.

“In addition, as part of Operation Vulindlela, fundamental reforms are being implemented in the energy, logistics and water sectors to address structural challenges and reposition SOEs for the future.

“President Ramaphosa called on the management and boards of SOEs to accelerate this reform agenda and fulfil their developmental mandate. He emphasised the importance of SOEs, as strategic national assets, in driving inclusive growth, investing in infrastructure, and creating jobs. President Ramaphosa will continue to prioritise the turnaround of South Africa’s SOEs in order to drive economic growth and transformation,” the statement read.

Also at the meeting, the Presidential State Owned Enterprises Council tabled a report while the National Treasury presented an update on its review of the procurement system of SOEs.

“Since its establishment, the Council has undertaken in-depth analyses at 21 SOEs to inform its recommendations. It has proposed changes to the governance framework and shareholder ownership model to enhance oversight, separate the ownership, policy and regulatory functions of the state, and leverage the combined balance sheet of SOEs.

“In addition, the National Treasury provided an update on its review of the procurement system to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture while enabling SOEs to operate in an efficient and competitive manner. Legislative and regulatory reforms are underway to strike an effective balance between preventing corruption and abuse and allowing innovation, agility and responsiveness in procurement,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 09:38

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Economic reforms to create growth, jobs

Location: News

Economic reforms to create growth, jobs

Through economic reforms implemented through Operation Vulindlela, President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is steadily laying the foundation for a revival of economic growth.

In his weekly newsletter, the President noted the release of a progress report, which highlights a number of key milestones that have been reached during the past quarter.

“Since Operation Vulindlela was established, we have built significant momentum in economic reforms to create growth and jobs.
 
“Through these reforms we are steadily laying the foundation for a revival of economic growth. By restructuring our network, industries like energy, telecommunications, ports and rail, we are opening the space for investment and a renewal of our nation’s infrastructure,” the President said. 

The President highlighted that the first of the reform milestones was the digital migration process which government implemented by switching off analogue transmission for all frequencies above 694 MHz on 31 July 2023. 

“This marks a significant step in migration from analogue to digital signal. This means that radio frequencies that were being used for television broadcasting can now be used for mobile telecommunications, which will make network communications more accessible and increase the speed and reduce the cost of data. The implementation of this reform will bring new investment in the telecommunications sector,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa told citizens that work is underway to implement necessary reforms in the  logistics sector to address the challenges that have held back the growth of South African exports.

He highlighted that the lack of investment and the increased cost of doing business have added to the many challenges that need to be addressed.
 
Another key milestone was reached with the selection of an international terminal operator to partner with Transnet at the Durban Pier 2 container terminal. This terminal handles close to half of South Africa’s port traffic.
 
“This partnership will increase investment for upgrading equipment and expanding terminal capacity. A key aspect of this partnership is that port infrastructure will remain state-owned and all jobs will be protected,” he said. 

The President further highlighted that two critical pieces of legislation were tabled in Parliament this month, that will advance economic reform.
 
The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill will support the restructuring of Eskom into three separate companies owned and controlled by Eskom Holdings, including an independent grid operator. 

“Through this bill we will introduce competition in electricity generation, enabling a number of independent generators, alongside Eskom, to produce electricity to meet our country’s demand. This reform will fundamentally transform, modernise and improve South Africa’s energy sector to ensure energy security into the future.
 
“Meanwhile, the reforms we have implemented through the Energy Action Plan have unlocked new investment in renewable energy sources, both to end load shedding and to use our unique wind and solar resources to power economic growth,” he said. 
 
One of key reforms that government has prioritised is in the water sector. Government has introduced the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Bill to establish a dedicated national water agency to design, plan and finance water resource infrastructure.
 
This agency will enable significantly greater investment in bulk water infrastructure to guarantee water security in the years and decades to come, while creating jobs and unlocking new agricultural potential.
 
“We are implementing a range of other reforms to unlock economic growth, from creating an enabling regulatory environment for hemp and cannabis production to eradicating the backlog of title deeds for subsidised housing,” he said. 
 
Despite difficult global conditions, the President said investors continue to see value in the South African economy and the benefit of the reform agenda government is pursuing.
 
He added that he is pleased that the BRICS Business Forum held last week was attended by 1 500 investors and business people from all five member countries. 

The President said the Summit was able to showcase the potential of South Africa and the African continent as the next frontiers of productivity and growth.
 
“Many of the participants remarked on the enormous potential of our economic reform agenda to drive growth in the green economy, the digital economy and other key sectors.
 
“In all of the work that we do, our ultimate goal is the same: to build an inclusive, fast-growing and dynamic economy and thereby create a better life for all South Africans,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za 

DikelediM
Tue, 08/29/2023 - 09:57

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Rebuttal issued to Daily Investor article on agreements signed by Minister of Electricity

Location: News

The Presidency: Republic of South Africa
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The article published on 27 August 2023 by Daily Investor titled “Ramokgopa accused of misleading South Africa” is in itself misleading.

The Ministry of Electricity has noted numerous inaccuracies in the article that qualify the article as misleading.

It states that Minister Ramokgopa signed a joint memorandum of understanding with eight Chinese companies during the 15th BRICS Summit to ensure that all public health facilities, schools, and police stations in South Africa have alternative sources of energy.

This is factually incorrect as the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with eight Chinese companies focuses on enhancing South Africa's energy security through infrastructure and technology development, human capital development, and research amongst other objectives.

The substance of the agreement that Daily Investor is reporting about, instead, relates to the Exchange of Letters and resultant Technical Assistance Programme, under which the emergency equipment will be donated by the Chinese Government to South Africa.  

This agreement, unlike what the Daily Investor incorrectly reported, was signed during the People's Republic of China's Head of State Visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings on 22 August 2023, not in Johannesburg.

Under the programme the first shipment of equipment will include 450 petrol generators, which will be deployed to critical facilities, including hospitals and clinics.

The Minister has been consistent in stating that the facilities will be identified by Provinces.

Furthermore, the details and potential benefits of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with the eight Chinese companies were not in any way scanty, as purported by Hilton Trollip in the article, instead the substance and details of the agreement were openly presented during an open signing ceremony attended by media.

Mr Trollip's misleading inaccuracies, as expressed in the article, could have been countered with facts, had the Daily Investor given the Ministry a right to reply before publishing a one sided article.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.

Read moreRebuttal issued to Daily Investor article on agreements signed by Minister of Electricity

One Switch, Transfer your EcoFlow Power Stations?from Portable to Home Backup Solutions

Location: MyPR

Say goodbye to the hassle of relocating your power stations during load shedding. EcoFlow, a global leading sustainable energy solutions company, is excited to introduce the enhancement that expands the abilities of its DELTA Series and RIVER Series to power your home with just a single plug. These cutting-edge power stations are now compatible with …

Read moreOne Switch, Transfer your EcoFlow Power Stations?from Portable to Home Backup Solutions

One Switch, Transfer your EcoFlow Power Stations from Portable to Home Backup Solutions

Location: News
EcoFlow

Say goodbye to the hassle of relocating your power stations during load shedding. EcoFlow (https://www.EcoFlow.com/za), a global leading sustainable energy solutions company, is excited to introduce the enhancement that expands the abilities of its DELTA Series (https://apo-opa.info/44uAEib) and RIVER Series (https://apo-opa.info/3PhnlNH) to power your home with just a single plug. These cutting-edge power stations are now compatible with the major transfer switches on the market, enabling seamless integration with home circuits for comprehensive power coverage.

Easy Operation, Seamless Integration

"This compatibility empowers users to effortlessly connect EcoFlow portable power stations (https://apo-opa.info/3qGeZWt) to their homes, suitable with a variety of transfer switches on the market." said Joy Wu, Head of LAMEA&APAC at EcoFlow. "In the face of relentless load shedding, this innovation provides an energy-efficient and time-saving solution. Users no longer need to shuffle power stations or appliances around to maintain essential functions. With a single switch, power will course through your home circuit."

This home backup power solution encompasses an EcoFlow power station and a transfer switch. Installation only takes about 20 minutes by a professional electrician. Once connected to the home main panel of electrical circuits via a transfer switch, your EcoFlow power station becomes a reliable source of power for your entire home. From the living room to the kitchen, bathroom, or bedrooms, the solution operates seamlessly, eliminating the need for complex wiring or redundant operations.

Accessible and Reliable Home Power Solution

One of the most compelling advantages of EcoFlow's portable power solutions with transfer switch compatibility is their affordability. "The additional cost for a transfer switch in the market is approximately R500-1000," noted Joy. "Compared to traditional home power solutions, the EcoFlow combo provides an economical entry point for families seeking dependable backup power."

The solution caters to both the DELTA Series and RIVER Series portable power stations, offering up to 10.8kWh of capacity to power an entire home - from critical appliances to lighting and communication devices. The built-in BMS (Battery Management System) provides multiple protections against overload, overvoltage, overheating, etc., freeing you from the worries of unstable grid power.

In addition to their cost-effectiveness, these power stations present a safe and eco-conscious alternative to noisy and poisonous emission-heavy fuel generators, making them suitable for household use.

Limitless Application, Anytime and Anywhere

An added benefit is the portability of EcoFlow's portable power stations. Designed for plug-and-play convenience, users can effortlessly unplug their power stations and carry them anywhere, providing adaptable energy solutions for outdoor activities, travel, and emergency situations.

"This innovation marks a significant step forward in the field of home power solutions, simplifying households' ability to maintain uninterrupted power supply during outages," addressed Joy. For a limited time, the combo of a portable power station and a free transfer switch is now available on EcoFlow's official website (https://apo-opa.info/3QYiPVt).

* Note: this compatibility is applicable to both the EcoFlow DELTA series and the RIVER series; however, the actual performance may differ based on the capacity and rated power of the respective power stations. This solution is not advisable for the RIVER 2 model.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EcoFlow.

Links to additional content:
DELTA Series: https://apo-opa.info/44uAEib
RIVER Series: https://apo-opa.info/3PhnlNH
EcoFlow portable power stations: https://apo-opa.info/3qGeZWt
EcoFlow's official website: https://apo-opa.info/3QYiPVt 

Media Contact:
Orange Lin
EcoFlow Communications Manager in South Africa
orange.lin@ecoflow.com

About EcoFlow:
EcoFlow is a leading eco-friendly energy solutions company with the vision to power a new world.  Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow aims to become a reliable and trusted energy companion for individuals and families across the world, providing accessible and renewable power solutions at home, outdoors, and in mobile spaces. Today, with operational headquarters located in the USA, Germany, and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered more than 2.5 million users in over 100 markets worldwide.

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Read moreOne Switch, Transfer your EcoFlow Power Stations from Portable to Home Backup Solutions

Agreements to aid energy solutions

Location: News

Agreements to aid energy solutions

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has emphasised that the agreements signed in the past week with Chinese state owned entities and the donation by the People's Republic of China are to address this country’s emergency energy solutions.

South Africa concluded a significant amount of agreements with Chinese state owned entities (SOEs) with the signing of two overarching memoranda that were witnessed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Xi Jinping.

South Africa hosted the 15th BRICS Summit last week and the country also hosted President Xi on his fourth State Visit to South Africa ahead of the Summit.

Addressing the media on the Energy Action Plan on Sunday, Ramokgopa explained that the two agreements include amongst others, addressing issues of green energy solutions, exploitations of renewable energy sources and the use of modern technology. 

“The two agreements – the first one addresses issues around green energy solutions- the partnership agreement we will be entering in relation to the exploitation of renewable energy sources in our country; the use of modern technology and the degree to which we are able to connect renewable energy onto the grid. 

“The rationale for entering with the Chinese in this regard is because they are a dominant player on the renewable energy space. They have 688 gigawatts of installed capacity of renewables, a combination of PV and wind. They have done one of the biggest expansions of transmission and they have also worked on the kind of transmission modernisation required to be able to accommodate the intermittency of renewable sources,” the Minister said. 

In regards to the donation by the People's Republic of China, the Minister said this is aimed at addressing South Africa’s emergency energy solutions, which is targeted at key public facilities such as police stations, health institutions and correctional centres.

Minister Ramokgopa emphasised that provincial departments will play a role in identifying the key public areas. 

“The second one, was an exchange of letters in relation to a donation that we are receiving from the People’s Republic of China that is meant to help us in addressing the emergency energy solution in the country. 

“I did indicate that it’s likely going to be targeted in key public facilities such as hospitals, clinics, correctional services, and police stations. In this regard, we will be working with the nine provincial governments for them to be able to identify sites that are suitable for this. 

“We already have a technical capacity that is supporting us in relation to the appropriateness of the technology solutions that are given to us and those that have been agreed upfront,” he said. 

Ramokgopa further announced that the first shipment of the technology solutions by China is en route and an announcement will be made when it arrives in the country, having left Chinese shores on 14 August. 

“We will announce at the right time when the first shipment lands and give an indication of the first public facilities that will benefit from this generous donation.”

Turning to the performance of the system for the past week, the Minister said that the available capacity has come down.

 
“I did indicate that we are beginning to normalise being above 28 000 megawatts on average. We have kept close to that most of the week and the average is about 27 561 megawatts,” he said. 

“We did indicate that we were going to slow down planned outages and once we get out of a very difficult winter we are going to ramp up because we need to protect these machines, generation and units to ensure their sustainability and reliability going into the future.

“We still remain above 15 000 megawatts in relation to unplanned capacity lost factor. I made a point that we want to bring it down,” the Minister said.

Load shedding

On load shedding, Ramokgopa said government was confident the system was stabilising and the country will continue to have lower stages of load shedding as the system recovers.

“On the issue of performance, we are more that satisfied. We have shown where we moved from a historic low of 48% of energy availability factor. We have been averaging 60% energy availability factor.

“When we went to the winter period, the worst case scenario was Stage 8. We only had 30 hours of Stage 6. You can see the intensity of load shedding is coming down. The issues of outage slips, I have shown to you, they have come down from a high of 3 300 megawatts to 766 megawatts,” the Minister said.  – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Sun, 08/27/2023 - 13:07

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Read moreAgreements to aid energy solutions

Presidency and National Treasury release pace report outlining advances in economic reform through Operation Vulindlela

Location: News

The Presidency: Republic of South Africa
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The Presidency and National Treasury have today, Sunday 27 August 2023, released a progress report for Q2 2023 on the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela.

In October 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela as a joint initiative of The Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of reforms to revive economic growth and create jobs.

The progress report outlines several key milestones that have been reached as part of government's economic reform agenda, including the following:

● Gazetting of the final date for analogue switch-off (ASO), which has enabled analogue transmission to be switched off for all frequencies above 694 Megahertz (MHz) on 31 July 2023 to enable the use of spectrum for mobile telecommunications. This key reform will improve network quality, reduce data costs and expand digital access for all South Africans.

● Selection of an international terminal operator to partner with Transnet at the Durban Pier 2 container terminal. This will crowd in private investment and management expertise to improve the performance of South Africa's largest container terminal, handling 72% of the Port of Durban's throughput and 46% of South Africa's port traffic.

● Establishment of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) to oversee short and long-term interventions to fix South Africa's freight logistics system. The NLCC has eight work streams focused on immediate operational improvements in the logistics system as well as longer-term reforms to improve efficiency and competitiveness, and will report to the President.

● Approval of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill for tabling in Parliament. The establishment of the NWRIA as a dedicated agency to manage and invest in bulk water resource infrastructure is the centrepiece of institutional reforms in the water sector.

● Establishment of the One Stop Shop for energy projects to accelerate private investment in new generation capacity. The One Stop Shop will facilitate regulatory authorisations for energy projects, with the aim of establishing a single, fully electronic application process.

● Progress in procuring new generation capacity to close the gap in electricity supply, with nine projects from Bid Window 5 having reached financial close to date and a further four expected to close by September 2023.

The report provides a detailed update on each of the priority reform areas in Operation Vulindlela, including reforms to the energy, logistics, telecommunications, and water sectors as well as the visa regime.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.

Read morePresidency and National Treasury release pace report outlining advances in economic reform through Operation Vulindlela

Operation Vulindlela reaches several key milestones

Location: News

Operation Vulindlela reaches several key milestones

Operation Vulindlela has made significant progress by reaching several key milestones in the second quarter of 2023.

The Presidency and National Treasury on Sunday released the progress report for quarter two of 2023 on the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela.

According to the report, over 70% of the reforms have have been completed or are on track to be finalised within the next year. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela in October 2020, as a joint initiative of The Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of reforms to revive economic growth and create jobs.

“Operation Vulindlela is now approaching its third anniversary. In that time, progress in the implementation of priority structural reforms has gathered pace. As it stands, over 70% of OV [Operation Vulindlela] reforms have now either been completed or are on track to be finalised within the next year. 

“A minority of reforms – those in the municipal space and the additional reforms that Operation Vulindlela has taken on in the last year – will run beyond the 2023/2024 fiscal year,” stated the report.

The progress report outlines several key milestones that have been reached as part of government’s economic reform agenda. 

The first of these came with the gazetting of the final date for the analogue switch-off (ASO) on 15 June 2023.  

“Gazetting of the final date for analogue switch-off, has enabled analogue transmission to be switched off for all frequencies above 694 Megahertz (MHz) on 31 July 2023 to enable the use of spectrum for mobile telecommunications. This key reform will improve network quality, reduce data costs and expand digital access for all South Africans,” the report said. 

In the transport sector, President Ramaphosa directed the establishment of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) to oversee implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap, which is being developed by government and Transnet.

The roadmap incorporates proposals to resolve the immediate operational challenges while developing interventions to fundamentally restructure the logistics sector to support inclusive economic growth.

“A key milestone was reached with the selection of an international terminal operator to partner with Transnet at the Durban Pier 2 container terminal. This will crowd in private investment and management expertise to improve the performance of South Africa’s largest container terminal, handling 72% of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46% of South Africa’s port traffic,” the report said. 

Another key milestone was reached in the establishment of the NLCC to oversee short and long-term interventions to fix South Africa’s freight logistics system.

 
The NLCC has eight work streams focused on immediate operational improvements in the logistics system as well as longer-term reforms to improve efficiency and competitiveness, and will report to the President.

In the water sector, the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill received approval from Cabinet to proceed to Parliament. 

The Bill, which seeks to establish an agency to manage national bulk water resource infrastructure and attract investment in water resource development, is expected to be tabled in Parliament by August 2023.

“The establishment of the NWRIA as a dedicated agency to manage and invest in bulk water resource infrastructure is the centrepiece of institutional reforms in the water sector,” the report said. 

Another milestone reached is the establishment of the One Stop Shop for energy projects to accelerate private investment in new generation capacity. The One Stop Shop will facilitate regulatory authorisations for energy projects, with the aim of establishing a single, fully electronic application process.

“Progress in procuring new generation capacity to close the gap in electricity supply, with nine projects from Bid Window 5 having reached financial close to date and a further four expected to close by September 2023.” 

The report provides a detailed update on each of the priority reform areas in Operation Vulindlela, including reforms to the energy, logistics, telecommunications, and water sectors as well as the visa regime.

The full Operation Vulindlela 2023_24 Q2 Report can be downloaded at https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/operation-vulindlela . – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Sun, 08/27/2023 - 10:33

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Wonderful blog websites about pool covers that are informative and enjoyable to read

Location: MyPR

Wonderful blog websites about pool covers that are informative and enjoyable to read In the beginning… In the modern, ever-changing world, the possession of a swimming pool is considered a luxury that many people covet. It is absolutely necessary to make an investment in a pool cover in order to guarantee that your pool will …

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Koeberg Unit 1 expected to return in November

Location: News

Koeberg Unit 1 expected to return in November

Eskom’s Unit 1 at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is planned to be commercially available on November 3, since undergoing a planned outage late last year.

Unit 2 is expected to go on a similar maintenance outage from November 7.  This will ensure that both Koeberg units are not shutdown simultaneously.

In an earlier version of this story, SAnews, the South African Government news agency, incorrectly stated that both units will be returning to service in November. SAnews regrets and apologises for any inconvenience caused in this regard.

The power utility said the maintenance project will make the nuclear power station more efficient and add a further 27MW to the power station’s output.

“The replacement of the steam generators was a first of its kind complex nuclear project to be performed at Koeberg and is the last major plant component out of the three to be replaced on the unit as part of the Long-Term Operation (LTO) project.

“The other two components, namely the replacement of the Refuelling Water Storage Tanks and the Reactor Vessel Closure Heads, have been replaced in previous years on both Units 1 and 2. The replacement of the steam generators is the last of the large components that Eskom deemed necessary to be replaced in support of its application to operate the Koeberg units for another 20 years,” the power utility said.

Eskom explained its decision to apply to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) for an extension to operate the power station for a further 20 years.

The power utility added that the delay in returning the two units to service will not have an effect on its application.

“The conservative design of the station, the investment that Eskom has made in continuously improving the safety standards, the rigorous maintenance as well as the testing programme over its operating lifespan, give merit to Eskom’s decision to apply for the licence to operate the plant for an additional 20 years.

“The Koeberg units have operated safely and reliably for almost 40 years. The amendment of the operating licence will enable Koeberg to continue providing safe, clean, and reliable power to the grid, and playing the essential role of stabilising supply in the Western Cape, which Unit 2 has safely continued to do with an excellent energy availability factor of 94.87%, while Unit 1 was on outage,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Sat, 08/26/2023 - 11:52

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BRICS women business alliance strategic catalysts for economic development

Location: News

BRICS women business alliance strategic catalysts for economic development

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has described the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Africa Trade Conference as a resounding success and economically meaningful for women.

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Women’s Business Alliance Africa Trade Conference was held this week at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban and brought together over 500 women-led Small Medium Enterprises, from 18 countries, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and several other African countries.

The conference saw the signing of several partnership agreements worth billions of rand, which the Premier commended as strategic catalysts for economic development. 

Dube-Ncube said, in the landscape of interconnected economies, multilateral trade and investment play an essential role in forging a path towards inclusive prosperity and a more resilient global economic order.

She said the deals are worth over R48.4 billion and over 120 000 jobs will be created across these projects. 

“This marks a pioneering moment in our shared journey as women,” the Premier said.

Among the strategic partnership agreements that were signed during the conference was the Russia-South Africa Mobility Center on BRICS, with a projected investment value of R47million, which represents a ground-breaking collaboration between the United Immigration Center (Russia) and Africans Do Travel Pty Ltd (South Africa). 

This partnership aims to establish a physical centre in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, with a central goal of facilitating smooth cross-border mobility for education, work, and tourism. 

“This initiative underscores the significant influence of population mobility in advancing global sustainable development and economic stability,” Dube-Ncube said.

In the sphere of infrastructure, the R1.96 billion Innovation and Building Technologies Centre of Excellence is set to be established through Private Public Partnership between Afuraka IBT Consortium, and Russia's Federal Autonomous Institution "RosKapStroy". 

The centre aims to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the construction sector to foster innovation, knowledge exchange, and skill enhancement for MSMEs, facilitating technologies transfer partnerships while promoting sustainable construction practices and eco-friendly technologies. 

The signing of a Memorandum of Agreement also set on a dynamic agriculture and energy venture between China and South Africa. 

The innovative multidimensional project, valued over R45 billion, seeks to seamlessly integrating marigold plantation and processing facility with an advanced 1GW solar production plant and beef production operation. 

The Premier said the project will be established on a vast 3 000-hectare land parcel.

Regarding the medical and digital economy, a strategic joint venture emerged as the Africa-China AI Medics Platform, uniting Meridian Medical Network Corporation, EtaData, and Human Insights (Pty) Ltd. 

The innovative partnership capitalises on expertise from China and South Africa, harnessing artificial intelligence, big data, and traditional medicine knowledge to shape the future of healthcare. 

Dube-Ncube noted this collaboration aims to revolutionise African traditional medicine by creating a bridge to modern healthcare through the Africa-China AI Medics Platform, fostering economic growth, knowledge exchange, and healthcare accessibility. 

“The project will commence with a pilot phase in South Africa, with an initial investment cost of R281.6 million, before expanding to other countries across the African continent,” the Premier explained.

The conference also witnessed the revolutionary IntelliBiz KZN portal geared towards pulsating business intelligence for economic advancement and progress. 

The Premier said the ground-breaking initiative is led by prominent Chinese tech firm and a leading South African enterprise, aimed at shaping the digital economy. 

“This innovative collaboration aims to provide the KwaZulu-Natal Government with valuable insights into a diverse business community across sectors and an estimated investment of over R846 million over three years, creating 61 600 new jobs. 

“Aligned with KwaZulu-Natal Government's growth agenda, this venture seeks to develop a state-of-the-art KZN Smart business cloud platform that will empower enterprises, entrepreneurs, government entities and other stakeholders through corporate and data resources serving as a catalyst of economic development in KwaZulu-Natal,” Dube-Ncube highlighted.

Building upon this foundation, she said, the goal is to foster robust collaboration between the South African government and society, culminating in the establishment of a harmonious business ecological model that facilitates efficient and collaborative development across government and enterprise sectors.

The conference further witnessed multilateral collaboration between Apollo Hospitals Group, the Health Accelerator and Zayna Africa Holdings. 

Dube-Ncube noted that the Health Precinct initiative holds the potential to transform healthcare standards and spur economic growth across India and South Africa. 

With Apollo Hospitals Group's extensive medical expertise, she said the initiative aims to revolutionise healthcare across Africa, beginning in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Focused on health infrastructure development, medical education, combating various disease burdens, public health initiatives, technological innovation, research, telemedicine, medical tourism, and more, this partnership aims to create comprehensive healthcare solutions. 

“By addressing critical aspects of healthcare delivery and accessibility, from education to technology, this project aspires to enhance healthcare across borders and contribute to global advancements in the field,” Dube-Ncube said.

“In the landscape of interconnected economies, multilateral trade and investment play an essential role in forging a path towards inclusive prosperity and a more resilient global economic order,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Fri, 08/25/2023 - 12:03

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Egypt appreciative of BRICS membership

Location: News

Egypt appreciative of BRICS membership

Egypt, the new kid in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) family has expressed appreciation in becoming a member of the family.

The 15th BRICS Summit held at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa announced six new members of the BRICS bloc this morning.

In his remarks, Egypt Prime Minister Dr HE Mostafa Madbouly told delegates that his country will cooperate with the BRICS requirements.

“We welcome the step to be part of the BRICS family. We look forward to contributing to practical solutions,” Madbouly said on Thursday.

Madbouly said they are also looking forward to contributing positively in the areas such as food prices and developing agriculture.

“We look forward to participating positively and enhancing the role of the [New] Development Bank and supporting energy efficiency initiatives,” Madbouly said.

He said Egypt is also willing to support peaceful resolutions in the continent.

The other new members are Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and are to become full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024.

Egypt submitted in June 2023 a formal application to join the group following the ratification by the Egyptian leader Fattah al-Sisi of the country’s membership in BRICS’s New Development Bank (NDB).

Russia backed Egypt’s membership application to join the BRICS.

South Africa, as Chair of BRICS, hosted the XV BRICS Summit under the theme: BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.

In his remarks this morning, President Cyril Ramaphosa said as the BRICS family they value the interest of other countries in building a partnership with BRICS.

He said the admission of new members to the BRICS family is the first phase of the group’s expansion process.

“We have tasked our Foreign Ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next Summit,” President Ramaphosa said.

South Africa’s participation in BRICS is premised on its national interests in line with the National Development Plan and the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019 – 2024 Priority 7.

During the summit which concludes today, BRICS leaders engaged with business during the BRICS Business Forum and engaged with the NDB, BRICS Business Council and other mechanisms during the Summit.

The BRICS partnership has grown in scope and depth with BRICS members exploring practical cooperation in a spirit of openness and solidarity to find mutual interests and common values. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin
Thu, 08/24/2023 - 18:17

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Mukuru appoints UFC Fighter Themba Gorimbo as Brand Ambassador

Location: News
Mukuru

Mukuru (https://www.Mukuru.com), a leading next-generation financial services provider for Africa's emerging consumers, has appointed Zimbabwe-born MMA fighter Themba Gorimbo as its newest brand ambassador to highlight its commitment to supporting top African talent and making a difference in communities across the continent.

Like many youths in Africa, Gorimbo, now a successful welterweight UFC fighter hailing from a rural area called Muvuti in the Bikita District in Zimbabwe, had a rough start in life with the loss of both his parents at an early age. He made his way to South Africa and, while working as a gardener in Cape Town, he joined a local gym which was the start of setting him on a new trajectory.

“I believe God had a role to play in how my life thankfully changed for the better. You could almost say the tribulations of my past have played a big role in giving me the mental strength to achieve what I have so far,” says Gorimbo.

Gorimbo expresses his gratitude for the newfound chapter in his life, one that intertwines with a reputable organisation such as Mukuru. A business deeply rooted in serving its customers, Mukuru has partnered with Gorimbo on his journey of progress as he continues to positively contribute to the well-being of his community. He says that the partnership between him and Mukuru is nothing short of a blessing, as the company's unwavering support continues to provide him with the platform to fulfill his dreams of giving back to his community as he soldiers towards success.

Gorimbo joins rugby legend Tendai ‘Beast' Mtawarira and the Malawian soccer team, The Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, as ambassadors for the brand.

“The decision to partner with Themba as our brand ambassador for Mukuru was easy given that he is the epitome of what a Mukuru customer represents,” says Cindy Klassen, Head of Marketing at Mukuru. Our customers are resilient, they too have journeyed from their homes, some under tough situations, others in search of greater opportunity, but all with the same belief that they will be paving the way for future generations to be beacons of hope and models of success. Gorimbo often says he will become a champion, but to us and the people of Africa, he is one already.”

Gorimbo installed a borehole in his village from the proceeds he received selling his fight kit after his first UFC victory in Las Vegas earlier this year. “As part of the brand partnership, we wanted to match Gorimbo's magnanimous energy, because as a brand we too invest in the communities that we serve, so we partnered with him and donated another borehole to provide clean water and support his community in Bikita District,” says Klassen.

We look forward to collaborating on various brand campaigns in the coming months and hopefully inspire and support more people across Africa in the same way Gorimbo and our customers inspire us,” concludes Klassen.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mukuru.

About Mukuru:
Mukuru is a leading next generation financial services platform in Southern Africa that offers affordable and reliable financial services to a customer base of over 13 million across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

With over 100 million transactions to date, our core was built providing international money transfers and from this base, we've developed a set of services to address the broader financial needs of our customers. We now operate in over 50 countries and across over 300 remittance corridors.

We are a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do, and for that reason, we serve clients across physical and digital channels, by various payment methods (cash, card, wallet) as well as a range of engagement platforms including WhatsApp, USSD, contact centre, App, website, agents and a branch and booth network.

Mukuru has, for the fourth consecutive year, been listed as one of the top 100 Cross Border Payments businesses in the world in the 2023 FXC Intelligence Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies (https://apo-opa.info/3KW0wwh), one of only six African companies to receive this accolade.

In April 2023, Mukuru officially ranked sixth on the 2023 LinkedIn Top Companies List in South Africa.

Further information can be found at https://www.Mukuru.com.

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Rich countries urged to honour $100-billion climate finance goal

Location: News

Rich countries urged to honour $100-billion climate finance goal

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, has urged developed countries to keep their promises to developing nations by meeting the climate finance commitment of US$100 billion.

This is after rich nations made a pledge in 2009 to the less wealthy countries at a UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, to assist them in adapting to climate change and alleviate rises in temperature by 2020.

Guterres also called on the wealthy nations to double adaptation finance, replenish the Green Climate Fund, and operationalise the loss and damage fund this year. 

“As a matter of justice, Africa must be considered a priority in all these efforts,” he stressed. 

He delivered the remarks at the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue, which was held during the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

Guterres said the climate crisis was spiralling out of control and urged world leaders to step up their efforts to tackle it. 

“I have put forward a Climate Solidarity Pact in which developed countries provide financial and technical support to help emerging economies – in Africa and beyond – to promote an equitable and just transition to renewable energy.” 

He told delegates that he presented an Acceleration Agenda, which aims to see developed countries committing to reach net zero by 2040 and developing nations as close as possible to 2050.

The Secretary-General also touched on the crisis of cost of living.

He stated that poverty, hunger, and inequalities are growing against the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development’s objectives.  

“Geopolitical divides and conflicts are multiplying with profound global implications, especially the impacts from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

Multipolar world

While nations were eyeing a multipolar world, he said multipolarity was not enough to guarantee a peaceful or global community.

“To be a factor of peace, equity, and justice in international relations, multipolarity must be supported by strong and effective multilateral institutions.”

Guterres is advocating for a strengthened and reformed multilateral architecture based on the UN Charter and international law.

“Today’s global governance structures reflect yesterday’s world. They were largely created in the aftermath of World War II when many African countries were still ruled by colonial powers and were not even at the table. 

“This is particularly true of the Security Council of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions.”

For multilateral institutions to remain universal, he said they must reform to reflect today’s power and economic realities. 

“In the absence of such reform –– fragmentation is inevitable.”

Cooperation 

Guterres said the world cannot afford a divided global economy and financial system, diverging strategies on technology, and conflicting security frameworks.

“The IMF [International Monetary Fund] estimates that such a fracture could cost 7% of global GDP [gross domestic product] – a cost that would be disproportionately borne by low-income countries, mainly in Africa.

“And so I have come to Johannesburg with a simple message, in a fracturing world with overwhelming crises, there is simply no alternative to cooperation.”

He advised leaders to urgently restore trust and reinvigorate multilateralism for the 21st century.

“This requires the courage to compromise in the reforms necessary for the common good.

“It requires full respect for the UN Charter, international law, universal values, and all human rights – social, cultural, economic, civil, and political. And it requires much greater solidarity,” he stressed, admitting that none of this was easy.

“But it is essential. And is essential, especially for Africa.”

He acknowledged that Africa, a historical victim of slavery and colonialism, continues to confront grave injustices.

“On average, African countries pay four times more for borrowing than the United States and eight times more than the wealthiest European countries.” 

Guterres also noted that African states account for just 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but are an epicentre of climate chaos.

“Looking ahead, I see two priorities for action and justice. First, on the economic front. Redesigning today’s outdated, dysfunctional, and unfair global financial architecture is necessary, but I know it won’t happen overnight. Yet we can – and must – take practical action now.”

He has since proposed an effective debt workout mechanism, and other steps necessary to multiply the resources available for developing countries are vital for sustainable development in Africa and its people. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 08/24/2023 - 13:42

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BRICS Heads of State welcome ‘historic’ bloc expansion

Location: News

BRICS Heads of State welcome 'historic' bloc expansion

The Heads of State of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have welcomed the historic expansion of the bloc to include six new developing countries. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will join BRICS as of the start of 2024. 

This is after over 20 countries formally applied to join BRICS and several others have expressed an interest in becoming part of the bloc. 

“As the five BRICS countries, we have reached an agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process, which has been under discussion for quite a while. We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process, and further phases will follow,” President Ramaphosa, who is also Chair of BRICS, announced. 

The BRICS Summit is underway at the Sandton Convention Centre led by bloc leaders of emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

The Heads of State took to the podium on Thursday to talk about the outcomes of the 15th BRICS Summit held in Sandton, Johannesburg, this week and welcomed the new members.  

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pleased that the summit had many positive outcomes. 

“On the 15th anniversary of BRICS, we have taken an important decision to expand it,” he said, adding that India has always supported the expansion of the bloc’s membership. 

India, the Prime Minister said, has always been of the view that the addition of new members will further strengthen the organisation and will bring a new stimulus. 

“This will also strengthen the belief of many countries of the world in a multi-polar world order.” 

He expressed his satisfaction that the team agreed on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedure of the expansion. 

Prime Minister Modi has since conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the leaders and people of the six new nations. 

“I am confident that together with these countries, we will be able to infuse new momentum and energy into our cooperation. 

“India has had very deep and historic relations with all of these countries, with the help of BRICS, new dimensions will be added to our bilateral cooperation.” 

He also had a message to the countries who have also expressed interest and said India will contribute towards building a consensus for them to be a part of BRICS countries. 

“The expansion and modernisation of BRICS is a message that all institutions in the world need to hold themselves according to changing times. 

“This can be an example for reforms and other global institutions that were established in the 20th century,” he stressed.  

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping described the BRICS countries as nations with influence and shoulder important responsibility for world peace and development. 

“During the summit, we’ve reached broad consensus, adopted a declaration and achieved fruitful outcomes.” 

He said the Heads of State have unanimously agreed to invite the other countries as official members. 

“China congratulates these states and highly appreciates the efforts made by our chair South Africa and President Ramaphosa.”

He described the expansion as historic and said it shows the determination of BRICS countries for unity and cooperation with the broader developing countries.

“The expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation.” 

President Xi believes it will also bring new vigour to the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the force for world peace and development. 

“I’m confident that as long as we work with a common purpose there’s a lot that BRICS cooperation can achieve and the future will be bright for BRICS countries.” 

“Let’s work together to write a new chapter of emerging market countries and developing countries working together in unity for development.” 

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also welcomed the new members.

Da Silva noted the BRICS’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will now shoot up to 37% of the world’s GDP in terms of purchasing power and 47% of the global population. 

“BRICS will continue to be open to new members,” he added. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin also welcomed the new members.  

“Let me assure all the colleagues that we will keep up with the work we have launched to expand BRICS influence in the world.” 

He said the BRICS Heads of State will proceed with the smooth work they have done and look at ways to best coordinate the expansion. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 08/24/2023 - 11:57

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FM Solutions Promotes Efficient Operations And Community Empowerment

Location: MyPR

FM Solutions, one of South Africa’s leading facility management companies, highlights the critical role of facilities management in driving efficient operations, cost savings, and safe workplaces. With a strong commitment to empowering the local community through effective supplier development, FM Solutions has emerged as a trusted partner in maintaining and enhancing infrastructure across various industries. …

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