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Wednesday, 6 November 2024: Eskom wishes to clarify that no power failure has been detected on our network that would impact the Palmiet Station, as per the recent statement by Johannesburg Water. Following a thorough internal investigation, our technical teams have confirmed that all power infrastructure serving the area is operational and functioning within normal...
Generation capacity sufficient despite Kriel Power Station incident
State power utility Eskom has moved to assure the public that it has enough generation capacity to continue staving off load shedding.
This after a fire erupted at Kriel Power Station’s Unit Six, triggered by an oil spill on the hot surfaces of the turbine.
“Eskom assures South Africans that this incident will not impact the current generation capacity or lead to load shedding. The ongoing, incremental results of the Generation Recovery Plan have continually added more of a buffer to the system to manage incidents such as this. The system has sufficient reserves.
“The station's fire and emergency team responded swiftly to extinguish and contain the fire. Eskom can confirm no personnel were injured, and all other units at the power station remain fully operational,” the power utility said of the Mpumalanga based station.
An investigation is underway to “assess the extent of the damage, as well as the time required for repairs and restoration” and Eskom is expected to announce the results of the investigation when finalised.
“Kriel Power Station Unit 6 contributes 475MW to the power grid. With this unit temporarily offline, total unplanned outages stand at 8 483MW – still 4 517MW below the base case for summer 2024.
“The current available generation capacity is 30 809MW, while [Monday’s] peak demand is forecast at 26 364MW. There are currently adequate reserves for evening peak, with an additional 720MW anticipated to return to service later [on Monday].
“Eskom remains committed to maintaining a reliable power supply and will continue to provide the public with significant updates,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 11/04/2024 - 12:14
Monday, 04 November 2024: On Sunday, 3 November 2024, at approximately 17:04, Unit 6 at Kriel Power Station correctly tripped following the loss of hydraulic oil to the turbine valves. A preliminary investigation revealed that an oil pipe had broken, causing an oil spill on the hot surfaces of the turbine, which triggered a fire....
Eskom saves R13.7 billion on diesel
Due to load shedding being suspended for over seven months, Eskom’s diesel savings have reached R13.7 billion year-on-year.
In a statement on Friday, Eskom said load shedding has remained suspended for over seven months (219 consecutive days) since 26 March 2024.
“Investments in the Generation Recovery Plan have been instrumental in maintaining a stable power supply across South Africa, driving efficiencies, and achieving R13.7 billion in year-on-year diesel savings.
“On Monday, 28 October 2024, Eskom achieved a significant milestone in operational efficiency, moving closer to its goal of a 70% Energy Availability Factor (EAF) by end March 2025.
“This achievement is marked by a reduction in unplanned outages, which are measured by the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) and Other Capacity Loss Factors (OCLF), to 7 299MW. The last time Eskom reached a comparable UCLF milestone was four years ago,” the power utility said.
This achievement follows Eskom’s recent milestone of delivering the longest stretch of uninterrupted power supply in five years, reaching Day 206 of loadshedding suspension on Saturday, 19 October 2024.
“The reduction in unplanned outages means that more generation capacity is available to meet the country’s electricity demand. Additionally, it provides Eskom with the necessary capacity to conduct more planned maintenance activities, which are crucial for further improving the reliability and stability of the generation fleet,” Eskom said.
Eskom’s EAF increased to an average of 65 % over the past week and 63.1% year-to-date, with top-performing stations — including Grootvlei, Camden, Medupi, Lethabo, and peaking facilities — achieving over 70% EAF.
Five other power stations recorded EAFs above 60%.
“By Monday evening, an additional 4 030MW is expected to return online, with six units on cold reserve this weekend to manage supply and demand balance,” Eskom said.
In August, Eskom shared its Summer Outlook for the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a load shedding-free summer due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged.
Illegal connections
While load shedding remains suspended, Eskom continues to face network overloading issues in certain local areas due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, unauthorised network operations, theft of network equipment, and purchasing electricity from unlicensed vendors.
“To prevent public safety hazards and the risk of network overloading which can lead to load reduction measures and extended unplanned power outages, Eskom strongly urges customers to avoid illegal connections, as this can negatively impact the entire local community. It is also essential for customers to ensure they purchase electricity only from authorised vendors,” the power utility said.
Eskom urged the public to help protect the integrity of the power network by reporting any illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
Meter updates
In addition, as the 24 November 2024 deadline approaches, Eskom has reminded customers to update their pre-paid meters to avoid them expiring and losing electricity.
READ | Eskom calls on prepaid customers to update meters before 24 November deadline
The simple, DIY process involves buying credit tokens from authorised vendors. Customers will receive two 20-digit codes to enter into their meters for the update. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 11/03/2024 - 11:40
Friday, 01 November 2024: Loadshedding has remained suspended for over seven months (219 consecutive days) since 26 March 2024. Investments in the Generation Recovery Plan have been instrumental in maintaining a stable power supply across South Africa, driving efficiencies, and achieving R13.7 billion in year-on-year diesel savings. On Monday, 28 October 2024, Eskom achieved a...
SA working to promote inclusive growth, deal with high cost of living
The South African government seeks to attract foreign investment to foster inclusive growth and tackle structural barriers faced by marginalised communities.
This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who was briefing Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly on Thursday.
The Deputy President addressed several topics, including his recent working visit to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
He reflected on the keenness of investors from these two countries to tap into various South African sectors such as finance, energy, transportation and infrastructure development.
“The overall aim of this engagement was to reassure the world and investors that our country is stable and open for business. I must say, in all of these meetings, we were warmly received,” he told Parliament.
In the United Kingdom, the Deputy President said he met with more than 20 institutional investors, who are already investing in South Africa.
“We also engaged with the government of the United Kingdom to strengthen and renew the historically deep and rich bilateral relations between our two countries by exploring new initiatives and opportunities for enhancing trade and investments.”
Following the working visit, government agreed to strengthen existing initiatives while exploring new opportunities to maintain strong trade and investor interest.
“We anticipate that the upshot of our visit will contribute to an increase in the UK investors who have shown a strong interest in doing business in South Africa,” Deputy President Mashatile explained.
In addition, he said the relevant ministerial teams presented opportunities in State-owned entities (SOEs), particularly Eskom and Transnet.
“They dealt with issues of energy, rail and port projects and water infrastructure projects, including the handing of the investment project book that was developed by Infrastructure South Africa.”
However, the Deputy President believed that government alone would not be able to achieve the objectives of growing the economy and creating jobs.
“As a result, we’re taking these steps to engage the private sector, particularly also foreign investors who are interested to come and invest in our country.”
The State is working hard to ensure the regulatory frameworks throughout government are friendly for investors who can come and invest.
“So, we were quite impressed that many of those that we met were very happy. They were saying they will be taking advantage in South Africa so that we can create the necessary jobs that we want to create and empower many of our people, particularly young people,” Mashatile said.
G20 Presidency
The Deputy President is of the view that South Africa should use its G20 Presidency to prioritise its objectives of growing an inclusive economy that creates jobs.
Preparations are underway for South Africa’s G20 Presidency and hosting the G20 Summit in 2025. South Africa is expected to take over Chair of the G20 from December 1 this year from Brazil.
Mashatile said the State is determined to deal with the question of the high cost of living and professionalisation of the public service.
“But we want to use that also to benefit the continent. So, what South Africa will do will ensure that, as we Chair the G20, [this] benefits the entire African continent, and we are looking at programmes of infrastructure.
“When leaders of various countries come here, they come with huge delegations, including business people, and therefore they look for opportunities. But we will make sure that there is sound infrastructure to be able to ensure that people can have meetings throughout the country.”
The Deputy President announced that government has decided that it will concentrate meetings in one place, so the 2025 summit benefits the entire country.
Skill shortages
Mashatile acknowledged that the local labour supply does not meet the demand for management personnel, professionals, engineers, technicians, educators, and information and technology experts, necessitating the temporary importation of high-level skills.
However, various measures are being implemented to improve local skills, including updating job listings, promoting the critical skills list, and enhancing vocational training in digital skills.
Mashatile explained that the National Skills Fund directs resources to in-demand sectors and that the Human Resource Development strategy aims to match supply and demand for skilled workers.
Meanwhile, he said collaboration among industry, government, education, and non-profits is crucial for effective skills development and local employment growth. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 10/31/2024 - 15:21
Thursday, 31 October 2024: Eskom is pleased to announce that three suspects have been arrested by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria in connection with the theft of drums of cable belonging to Eskom. The arrests follow an armed robbery incident that occurred at the Wolmaransstad Customer Network Centre (CNC) in...
As global temperature records continue to be broken, cities need to move fast to protect residents from heat stress. Planting trees seems the simplest solution
Slow compliance with servicing Eskom debt a risk to debt write-offs
National Treasury has warned that municipalities' slow compliance with conditions of the debt relief programme on arrears to Eskom risk delaying debt write-offs.
According to the National Treasury’s document on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), success depends on municipalities maintaining a quarterly revenue collection rate of 85 %, which is below the National Treasury collection norm for local government of 95 %.
“Around 70 of the municipalities that had applied for debt relief have been approved. Between March and August 2024, compliance with relief conditions by municipalities improved from 55% to 76 %, aided by the National Treasury, Provincial Treasuries, and the Municipal Finance Improvement Programme,” Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said.
The Minister was delivering the MTBPS in Parliament on Wednesday.
National government is supporting municipalities with debt relief for arrears to Eskom to be written off in equal annual tranches over a three-year period provided they comply with the set conditions.
This programme, operating on rolling 12-month cycles, aims to mitigate fiscal risks by improving compliance with financial management and revenue collection. By combining debt relief and revenue enhancement, it aims to change the nonpayment culture for municipal services and support Eskom’s balance sheet.
“Rand West City is the first municipality to benefit from a one-third debt write-off. This follows its substantial achievement of the debt-relief conditions for the first 12-month cycle. More municipalities stand to benefit from this write-off of debt if they comply with the conditions of the programme. We implore provincial and national departments owing municipalities to pay their dues.
“This will enable municipalities to pay waterboards and Eskom, so that utilities can deliver these services to citizens,” the Minister said.
Despite these efforts, the financial situation of the top 14 Eskom defaulters remains critical, requiring alternative solutions.
The National Treasury, with stakeholder departments and Eskom, is exploring additional strategies in this regard.
Municipalities have been encouraged to offer relief to indebted customers who pay current bills and transition to smart prepaid metering.
Eskom’s financial condition
According to the National Treasury, Eskom remains highly dependent on government support through the debt-relief arrangement.
“The utility has begun to strengthen its performance, with no power cuts since the end of March 2024 and improved profitability. Its most recent financial plan also targets profitability from 2026/27 onwards. However, escalating municipal debt arrears continue to negatively affect its financial performance.
“The debt-relief arrangement granted to Eskom is intended to strengthen its balance sheet, enabling it to restructure and undertake the investment and maintenance needed to support stable electricity supply aligned with national needs,” National Treasury said.
Given Eskom’s failure to dispose of the Eskom Finance Company by 31 March 2024, the National Treasury reduced the debt-relief allocation from R78 billion to R76 billion in 2023/24.
This allocation was fully disbursed and converted to equity following Eskom’s compliance with all the attached conditions. Eskom’s allocation for 2024/25 will be reduced by R2 billion to R64 billion should it fail to dispose of the Eskom Finance Company by 31 March 2025.
“In April 2024, the Eskom Debt Relief Act (2023) was amended to ensure that the loan granted under the debt-relief arrangement is correctly classified and that market-related interest is charged.
“Additionally, in June 2024 the National Treasury disbursed an R8 billion interest-bearing loan as part of the debt-relief allocation for 2024/25.
“As of 27 September 2024, Eskom had paid R91 million in interest to the National Treasury for the debt-relief loans. The National Treasury is now working with Eskom to finalise government’s takeover of R70 billion of Eskom’s loan portfolio by 2025/26,” National Treasury said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 10/30/2024 - 14:15
Government to launch next phase of Operation Vulindlela
Government is expected to launch the next phase of Operation Vulindlela, which is aimed at accelerating the implementation of structural reforms.
This is according to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) released by National Treasury on Wednesday.
Treasury explained that the country’s economic growth prospects are closely tied to Operation Vulindlela and structural reforms to “improve competitiveness and productivity and boost investment”.
“In its first phase, this initiative implemented 35 reform actions in five network industries, including reducing power cuts, improving the performance of the logistics system, lowering data costs, improving water supply and enabling the country to attract critical skills.
“The next phase of reforms will support higher medium-term growth, which is required to significantly expand employment. New initiatives aim to reverse local government decline, tackle spatial inequality and advance digital government to improve large-scale service delivery,” National Treasury said.
Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery.
Government has set its focus on Eskom’s restructuring as a priority and to establish a bustling energy market, with adequate supply for a growing economy.
“The cumulative effects of reforms include improved power station performance and no ‘load shedding’ since 26 March 2024. The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill was signed into law in August of this year.
“This, together with the creation of the National Transmission Company of South Africa, which began operating on 1 July 2024, is establishing rules and procedures for a competitive electricity market.
“The ongoing Energy Action Plan has boosted efforts to restore energy availability and procure new generation. By end-August 2024, project registrations with South Africa’s energy regulator exceeded 8500 megawatts,” the MTBPS stated.
The critical sector of freight rail logistics is also receiving attention.
“Transport reforms that open the freight rail network to private operators will reduce inefficiencies and costs, helping firms offer lower prices and boosting economic growth. To this end, the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill – enabling private-sector use of the rail network – was signed into law in June 2024.
“Transnet freight volumes grew from 149.5 million tonnes at the end of the previous financial year to approximately 151.7 million tonnes by end-March 2024, supported by the implementation of a recovery plan from October 2023 and reversing a years-long decline. Port cargo handled has stabilised relative to 2023 levels,” National Treasury stated.
Treasury emphasised that reforms in the water sector are critical for economic growth and water security.
“The National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Bill, signed on 27 August 2024, creates an independent agency to oversee bulk water resources. The Water Services Amendment Bill, allowing for intervention in failing municipalities, has received public comment and will soon be submitted to Cabinet for approval,” Treasury said.
Reforms in that sector target supply and infrastructure challenges.
“Water sector reforms being prioritised by Operation Vulindlela include independent regulation, strengthening local water services by licensing water service providers, legal proceedings on non-compliance by municipalities and trading services reforms.
“Trading services reforms refer to governance, institutional, management and financial reforms to improve essential services, enabled by a new performance-based grant. The National Treasury is also working closely with the Water Partnerships Office to identify opportunities for private sector participation, such as non-revenue water projects. Non-revenue water refers to the revenue lost from leaking water infrastructure.
Elsewhere, the visa system has been reformed by the Department of Home Affairs to attract skills and boost tourism while the rollout of 5G infrastructure has tapered data costs, expanded connectivity and improved access to network services. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 10/30/2024 - 14:46
Wednesday, 30 October 2024: Eskom has expressed concern over the recent decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to grant trading licenses to multiple applicants, despite Eskom’s objections to allowing more than one licensee to provide electricity in the same area. The trading licences were approved without the necessary trading rules for...
The largest gathering of energy stakeholders on the African continent is gearing up to welcome global and African energy stakeholders for five days of dialogue and deals. African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 – dubbed the premier event for the African energy sector – will take place from November 4-8 in Cape Town, South Africa. The foremost platform to sign deals and further the agenda towards making energy poverty history by 2030, the conference will feature seven stages, including five content stages, two technical hubs and a full day of pre-event workshops.
With over 125 million barrels of proven oil reserves, 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and abundant opportunities in solar, wind and green hydrogen, Africa has the potential to become a global hub for energy. African energy demand is projected to more than double by 2050, with fossil fuels anticipated to account for up to 60% of the continent's energy mix by 2040. As such, this year's conference promises to drive a new wave of investment across the African energy sector, with industry experts and thought-leaders, African governments and national oil companies (NOCs), and energy investors leading discussions on the challenges and opportunities found on the continent.
AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.
Africa's energy industry is both the backbone of the continent's economy and a catalyst for sustainable growth worldwide. As such, the AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference will feature a series of pre-event interactive workshops, providing an opportunity for companies to share in-depth knowledge and exchange ideas with a targeted group of delegates. The workshops, hosted by companies such as Rystad Energy, NCDMB, CLG, Energeo Alliance and S&P Global Commodity Insights, will cover various topics including energizing Africa amid the global energy transition; legislative and regulatory context for promoting investment in exploration; and facilitating investments and mergers and acquisitions across the continent.
A high-level opening ceremony will kick off at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) on the first day of the event. The opening ceremony will feature addresses from Angola's Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Diamantino Azevedo and South Africa's Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and discussions with the likes of Dr. Omar Farouk, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers' Organization and Chairman and CEO of upstream oil company Kosmos Energy Andy Inglis. The AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 opening will kick off a week of intense dialogue on the future of the African energy industry. The opening will also feature a number of panel discussions focusing on the vital role Africa plays in addressing global energy security, as well as keynote addresses from the heads of some of the largest energy companies in the world.
Representing the entire energy value chain from oil and gas to renewable energy to power and infrastructure, AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 will feature a massive slate of regional ministers with the aim of unpacking the continent's strategies to make energy poverty history by 2030. Ministers from Libya and Algeria are poised to showcase North Africa's ambitious production targets while aiming to plug Europe's energy gap and enhance domestic energy access. Southern Africa's ripe opportunities in energy and mining will be put on display by ministers from Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Namibia while West African ministers from the MSGBC region, Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso will provide updates on ongoing projects. With major producers such as Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo (ROC) inviting investors to support diversification efforts in production and refining, regional ministers from Central Africa will share insight into available opportunities in oil and gas, mining and infrastructure. Meanwhile, as a frontier market, East Africa is incentivizing exploration in both on- and offshore basins while driving infrastructure and field development projects forward and will be represented by energy and mining ministers from Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Africa is accelerating the pace of upstream projects with the aim of boosting production and intra-African petroleum distribution. Across both mature and emerging hydrocarbon markets, investment opportunities continue to emerge, and as such, AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 will feature a strong lineup of VIP speakers from energy supermajors Eni, bp, Chevron and TotalEnergies. The event will also feature representatives from some of the continent's most important energy players including Azule Energy, ReconAfrica, Etu Energias, Africa Oil Corp., Wood Mackenzie and Adarco Energy, among many more. The oil industries of African countries will be represented by NOCs from Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, among others.
With two technical hubs on the exhibition floor of the CTICC, the conference serves as a prime platform for companies to provide presentations on various industry-leading technical themes. The AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 technical track features a dedicated stage for asset owners, engineers and technology innovators to present projects, provide deep insights into cutting-edge solutions, and share best practices to foster knowledge. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the future of energy and learn about ground-breaking projects while discovering new opportunities for collaboration and investment. An exclusive exhibition-only pass grants delegates access to both the innovative exhibition floor and the technical track.
Rounding off AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024's strong program, a series of technical excursions and site visits across Cape Town offer participants the unique opportunity to gain insight into ongoing projects and developments in South Africa. A guided tour of the Hydrogen Project at the University of the Western Cape will focus on industry technology and development. The tour will also take delegates to the South African Renewable Energy Technology Center at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, which stands as the country's inaugural sustainable energy development technology facility. The excursion will feature a tour of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, which stands as a promising landmark in Africa's energy landscape while showcasing advancements in sustainable energy solutions, economic development and innovation. Rounding off the site visits, the tour will also take participants to the Eskom Palmiet Power Station, a hydroelectric pumped storage facility that plays a key role in stabilizing the national power grid.
“AEW 2024 stands at the center of African energy and provides an unparalleled platform to forge partnerships, share knowledge and drive progress in the continent's energy sector. It is our collective responsibility to prioritize energy poverty alleviation and sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all Africans. We look very much forward to kicking off this exciting event and welcoming hundreds of delegates from all over the world to drive Africa's energy needs,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
During the AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference, delegates will be exposed to project updates, industry highlights, investment opportunities and strategies that address the continent's goals for eradicating energy poverty and promoting environmental sustainability. With one week to go, the conference is already stacking up to become the foremost energy event of its kind once again on the African continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Loadshedding remains suspended for 212 days: R12.32 billion saved in diesel year-on-year Friday, 25 October 2024: Eskom has successfully suspended loadshedding for 212 consecutive days since 26 March 2024. This significant achievement is attributed to the ongoing success of its Generation Recovery Plan, which has been instrumental in maintaining a stable power supply across South...
On Monday a security vehicle escorting the power utility’s workers into the area was hijacked.
Eskom calls on prepaid customers to update meters before 24 November deadline
Eskom has urged prepaid electricity customers to recode their meters by 24 November 2024 as required by the Standard Transfer Specification Association (STSA).
According to Eskom, after this deadline, meters will no longer accept electricity tokens unless they are updated to key revision number (KRN) 2.
In response to recent reports, including one from City Power, Eskom confirmed that there will be no extension to the 24 November 2024 deadline for the token identifier (TID) update.
The recording process affects approximately 6.9 million prepaid meters in Eskom-supplied areas.
“Failure to recode by the deadline will prevent customers from loading electricity tokens, rendering their meters inoperable,” the State-owned power utility said on Monday.
The entity said it has already prepared 97% of the meters by pre-coding them, making it simple for customers to complete the process themselves.
“This do-it-yourself (DIY) process requires customers to purchase credit tokens from authorised vendors, after which they will receive two sets of 20-digit codes to enter into their meters for the update.”
Meanwhile, Eskom is intensifying its awareness campaign to ensure all customers are informed and encourages those who have not yet recoded their meters to act quickly to avoid service disruptions.
The utility also thanked those who have already completed the process and reassured customers that support teams are available for assistance.
“For more information, updates, and assistance, customers are encouraged to visit Eskom’s website, follow its social media platforms, listen to radio announcements, or participate in local engagement sessions.
“Eskom remains committed to a smooth transition to KRN2 and ensuring uninterrupted service for all customers.”
Customers needing help can call 0860 037 566. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:37
Eskom’s system showing better health
Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has announced that Eskom’s unplanned capability loss factor (UCLF) has significantly improved, indicating that the system is becoming healthier.
“If you look at what the UCLF recorded over the past seven days, you see that we’ve been averaging at about 10 500 megawatts, essentially 10 500 megawatts of capacity that is installed was not available on account of various reasons. [These include] the units failing and units not performing at their optimal capacity. If you had to compare this with the same period last year, it’s an improvement of about 5 000 megawatts.
“That’s significant, and that’s why we have been able to keep the lights on [for a] very considerable period,” Ramokgopa explained on Monday.
WATCH | Minister Ramokgopa briefs media
The Minister was briefing media in Pretoria on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme as part of his regular energy security updates.
“It’s important that we’re able to consistently improve this kind of result. And of course, in numbers, it means that there’s less and less reliance on diesel to power our electricity requirement.”
Starting from 1 April to 17 October 2023, Eskom spent about R18 billion to prevent power cuts, down by R12 billion compared to the same period this year.
“There’s less reliance on diesel. And if you look at the open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) load factor, the percentage of time that we’re relying on these at the same period last year, we were sitting at about 8.95% and this year, we were sitting at about 4.59%,” Ramokgopa said.
The Minister believes that this speaks to the improvement of Eskom’s systems, which he stated will be passed on to the end consumer.
Load shedding
Ramokgopa said it was an “anomaly” to celebrate the fact that there were 208 days of no load shedding.
“That should be the standard… The standard is that there shouldn’t be any load shedding, and the standard should further suggest that we should not rely on expensive fuel sources to keep the lights on.
“This is not an achievement but a step in the right direction. An achievement will be when there’s no load shedding and [we] can use a cheaper form of existing generation for us to keep the lights on. And that’s where the Independent Power Producer programme comes in.”
IPP programme
Shifting his focus to the IPP programme, Ramokgopa said that the programme has procured 15 432 megawatts of renewable energy since its inception in 2011, with 8 231 megawatts currently in the market to be evaluated and 1 897 megawatts under construction.
Ramokgopa said the seventh administration plans to be aggressive in procurement, with interventions to improve the programme’s structure and efficiency.
The renewable energy projects are concentrated in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape, leveraging optimal renewable energy resources.
In addition, the Minister said this move has created 85 800 job opportunities and contributed significantly to local economies, with a focus on socio-economic transformation.
Ramokgopa announced that the project has seen significant market confidence, with international and domestic investments totalling R272 billion.
The focus, he stressed, is on making electricity generation more affordable and competitive, to reduce reliance on expensive fuel sources.
“The focal point of the ministry is to ensure that we can reduce the cost of electricity in the country, make businesses competitive, and ensure that [sustain power] in households.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 10/21/2024 - 14:11
Monday, 21 October 2024: Eskom is urging prepaid electricity customers to recode their meters by 24 November 2024, as required by the Standard Transfer Specification Association (STSA). After this deadline, meters will no longer accept electricity tokens unless they are updated to Key Revision Number (KRN) 2. In response to recent reports, including one from...
Friday, 18 October 2024: The Generation Operational Recovery Plan is on track to deliver yet another milestone, with the longest stretch of uninterrupted power supply in five years. The milestone will be reached on Day 206 of loadshedding suspension that falls on Saturday, 19 October 2024. Today, loadshedding remains suspended for 205 consecutive days since...
Thursday, 17 October 2024: Eskom Group Chief Executive (GCE) Dan Marokane has announced the first four of seven new executive appointments to further address the current business challenges and future-proof the organization through the delivery of strategic initiatives to enable growth and long-term sustainability. Eskom is aligning its executive execution capability and capacity to focus...
After catastrophic floods, Minister Nomakhosazana Meth introduced a mysterious investor to the farm without any due diligence
Special Investigating Unit: cracking down on corruption
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has closed more than 1900 cases during the 2023/24 financial year.
The unit also handed over 26 comprehensive reports to President Cyril Ramaphosa on the outcomes of investigations.
“These reports include, amongst others, the investigations about the National Lotteries Commission, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), the Masters' Office, and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). These reports reflect the SIU’s dedication to transparency and accountability in the fight against corruption.
“The SIU has referred evidence for the institution or defence/opposition of civil proceedings worth R4.8 billion. This includes, amongst others, matters regarding R2 billion from Eskom, R834 million from Transnet, R29.1 million from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and R48.4 million from the City of Cape Town,” the unit said in a statement.
The unit has conducted lifestyle audits at PRASA, the Gauteng Office of the Premier, and the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads, and Transport.
The SIU said it was committed to partnering with other law enforcement agencies to combat corruption.
“The SIU recognises the importance of collaboration in the fight against corruption. In line with the SIU Act, 583 criminal referrals were made to the National Prosecuting Authority, ensuring accountability prosecution of officials, private entities and individuals involved in corrupt activities.
“These referrals reflect the unit’s ongoing efforts to ensure consequences for those who engage in corruption, maladministration and fraud. To ensure accountability for government officials involved in wrongdoing, SIU referred 297 officials to respective state institutions for disciplinary action,” the statement read.
The corruption busting unit is now within the fifth year of its turnaround strategy and has vowed to keep up the fight against criminality.
“[We] remain resolute in our mission to combat corruption, fraud, maladministration and malpractice in the public sector.
“The next five-year strategy will build on the successes of the previous strategy and focus on developing and implementing the National Corruption Prevention Strategy and implementing best practices, including cyber and data analytics, and further business process digitisation programmes,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 10/15/2024 - 13:13
SIU claws back billions for the State
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it has saved the South African government approximately R8 billion during the last financial year through “effective investigations, speedy litigation and recovery processes”.
This, according to the SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, is a testament to its commitment to fighting the scourges of corruption, maladministration and malpractice.
Kganyago said the amount is inclusive of a record recovery of funds in actual cash amounting to R2.28 billion – the highest recovery in the corruption busting unit’s 27-year history.
“In addition to these recoveries, the SIU prevented a further R2.32 billion in potential state losses and secured cash to be recovered from the acknowledgement of debt and admission of liability agreements to the value of R1.6 billion.
“In our pursuit of rectifying irregular administrative decisions, the SIU successfully set aside contracts and administrative action worth over R2.13 billion through the Special Tribunal and the High Court of South Africa. This legal action ensures that public funds are recovered, not squandered, and redirected to serve their intended public purposes.
“The SIU continues to safeguard the public purse and ensure that state resources are protected and used for the benefit of all South Africans. We call on all South Africans to be involved in the fight against corruption,” Kganyago said.
In a statement, the unit said the bulk of the recoveries come from investigations into Transnet, Eskom and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
“The Transnet recoveries amounted to R710 104 826.03, R500 000 000 from Eskom, and the NSFAS investigation totalled R191 027 281.50 by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
“In terms of matters, contract and/or administrative decisions and/or actions set aside or deemed invalid, contracts emanating from the Eskom investigation contributed the most, with the contract value of R1 206 984 667.56,” the SIU said.
Successes in the medico-legal investigation also account for some R1.98 billion of prevented losses. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 10/15/2024 - 12:06
Crime involving firearms and extortion has prevented the municipality, Eskom and SASSA from providing essential services
Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – scheduled for November 4-8 – as a gold sponsor. The sponsorship aligns with the corporation's ambitions to strengthen its presence in Africa and follows a strong of deals forged with various African countries in the fields of nuclear power development, knowledge sharing and mining.
Currently, there is a surge in nuclear energy adoption in Africa, with projects targeting 15 GW of operational capacity by 2035, the Nuclear Business Platform estimates. Over 10 African countries are looking to embrace nuclear energy, the majority of which are leaning on global partnerships such as those fostered with Rosatom to accelerate project development. Rosatom's return to AEW: Invest in African Energy reflects its growing intention to support projects in Africa.
AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.
Rosatom signed an agreement with the Republic of Congo – which has ambitions to enhance the adoption of nuclear energy - in July 2024. The deal will see the parties collaborate on the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and hydroelectric power. This aligns with the Republic of Congo's efforts to diversify its energy mix beyond oil, leveraging Rosatom's expertise to improve energy access.
The agreement followed the signing of an MoU with Guinea-Conakry in June 2024 to cooperate on the development of floating nuclear power plants. The corporation currently operates the world's only floating co-generation nuclear power plant – Akademik Lomonosov - and aims to construct an additional 7 facilities worldwide. Suitable for remote regions with undeveloped or unreliable power grids, floating nuclear offers a range of benefits for African countries. As a small nuclear power plant, the facilities provide access to clean and affordable power for hard-to-reach communities, offering an environmentally-friendly energy option with 24/7 operational capacity. The agreement with Guinea-Conakry will see Rosatom construct floating nuclear plants, equipped with RITM-200 reactors. Power will be used to support industrial and domestic consumption.
Rosatom also signed an agreement with Burkina Faso's Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country. Construction will be complete by 2025 with the project expected to double Burkina Faso's power production by 2030. The deal also features a clear roadmap to enhance the country's nuclear power adoption, including the establishment of a regulatory framework for nuclear energy.
In addition to nuclear power development, Rosatom is driving nuclear energy capacity building and training across Africa. The company aims to utilize its expertise in the industry to support human capital development across the continent, with various programs in place to achieve this goal. In South Africa – the continent's only nuclear power producer – Rosatom signed an agreement with the state-owned power utility Eskom for a nuclear action plan for the period 2024-2026. The plan comprises joint education initiatives, joint degree programs and workforce training. South Africa plans to continue utilizing nuclear power to fulfil both its domestic and industrial needs. Recently, the Koeberg station – accounting for 5% of South Africa's power supply – has been approved to run for an additional 20 years. The Rosatom-Eskom plans aims to support this by equipping the workforce with the requisite skills and capacities.
To support nuclear production in Africa, Rosatom is also advancing uranium mining across the continent. The company plans to start mining uranium in Namibia by 2029, with plans in place to complete the prospecting and exploration phase of the Wings Project by 2026. At a total investment of $500 million, the project will produce 5,000 metric tons of uranium per year.
“Rosatom represents a strong partner for Africa's nuclear industry. The company is focused on supporting the construction of nuclear energy facilities while concurrently scaling up capacity building, mining activities and regulatory support. Nuclear has the potential to transform the continent's power landscape and with partners like Rosatom, Africa is well positioned to tap into this growing market,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.