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No lack of investor confidence in SA – Minister Ntshavheni

Location: News

No lack of investor confidence in SA - Minister Ntshavheni

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, has reiterated government’s stance that “there are no investors leaving" the country in droves.

This as some media reports stated earlier this month that Shell  is leaving South Africa after operating in the country for over 100 years.

The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the Presidential District Development Model (DDM) Imbizo held at Kuruman in the Northern Cape on Thursday.

“There are no investors that are leaving the country in droves. You are dealing with commercial transactions which companies look at. One company comes out, another one comes in.

“[There was] a story that VW was leaving South Africa. VW just reinvested R4 billion preparing for a new line of auto-manufacturing vehicles that are coming in 2027 to 2029. So, it’s commercial transactions that happen globally. Every business looks at their own opportunities and says what’s in their own interest and it doesn’t mean it’s a reflection on the investor confidence in the country,” she said.

The Minister said investments “continue to flow into this country” – citing the Boegoebaai green hydrogen project as an example.

“I could churn out the numbers that are invested. The President has mentioned Boegoebaai. There are international investors that have partnered with us on Boegoebaai and there are South African companies themselves.

“What’s important is when your own businesses invest in your own country – that’s most significant than anything else because it shows the international community that we have confidence,” she said.

In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted that green hydrogen and electric vehicle manufacturing are receiving particular attention.

“We are going to set up a Special Economic Zone in the Boegoebaai port to drive investment in green energy. There is a great deal of interest from the private sector to participate in the boom that will be generated from green hydrogen energy projects,” the President said at the time.

Load shedding and logistics

Addressing the challenge of load shedding and the issues in freight rail to businesses, Ntshavheni said government is steadily working on those challenges.

“Three months ago, the media was saying load shedding is making sure that investors leave but we have handled load shedding up to where we are [more than a month without load shedding].

“There are notions that we are burning diesel. We are not burning diesel. Eskom has told us that they are switching off some [generating units]. They are putting some in maintenance early because we’ve got excess power.

“We have been dealing with the logistics issue with Transnet in Durban in particular and they are back on speed in terms of the backlog that they faced. So, there is no lack of investor confidence in our country.

“In terms of the World Bank, we are still rated the largest economy in Africa…and we compete with other countries toe to toe in terms of attracting investments,” Ntshavheni concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Fri, 05/10/2024 - 09:37

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Winners of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Announced During Opening Session of Milken Institute Global Conference

Location: Business
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program

Prize program awards Aftrak the $1 million Grand Prize to advance green energy in Africa; OMNIVAT awarded runner-up prize of $250,000; The organisations also launch a new FinTech Award in the next installation of the Prize program; winners will be selected in May 2025.

The Milken Institute (https://apo-opa.co/44yU0nF) and the Motsepe Foundation today announced the winners of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, a $2 million innovation competition to reward entrepreneurs working to expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable off-grid electricity in Africa. The winners were announced at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.

Aftrak (https://apo-opa.co/4bKg4OT), an initiative based out of the UK and Malawi, was awarded the $1 million Grand Prize for its easily assembled solar microgrid and custom-designed tractors, which have tripled agricultural yield, increased farmer incomes, and provided electricity to remote communities. The runner-up award of $250,000 was presented to South Africa-based OMNIVAT (www.OMNIVAT.Tech) for its containerized electricity generation and storage system, which provides clean water, clean energy, and Wi-Fi enriched by virtual reality support for remote communities.

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy is the second in the Milken–Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, a series of multiyear, multimillion-dollar global innovation competitions and awards aimed at advancing technological progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first competition in this program, the Milken–Motsepe Prize in AgriTech, was launched in 2021, and focused on addressing the goals of no poverty and achieving zero hunger. 

Rigorous Judging Process

After launching in November 2022, hundreds of entrepreneurs from 79 countries on six continents registered to compete for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, and 160 of those submitted technological design and business models. In June 2023, an independent panel of expert judges carefully selected 20 semi-finalists to receive $20,000 to develop and test their innovations.

Each of the teams underwent a rigorous, independent judging process, which assessed their innovation's potential to deliver 60 kilowatt hours of off-grid electricity in a 24-hour period using only sustainable sources. Five teams were then chosen to advance to the Finalist Round. Each team received an additional $70,000 and showcased their innovations in a live demonstration in partnership with Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

“Meeting the teams and witnessing their work and determination to solve one of the biggest challenges facing Africa was truly inspiring,” said Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation. “We congratulate the Green Energy winners and all the finalists. Your innovations show such promise, and we will be watching with pride as you bring your technologies to market.”

The third Milken-Motsepe Prize, focused on FinTech, launched at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference. The prize will award companies that demonstrate the use of cutting-edge technologies to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets.

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech offers $2 million in prizes, with a $1 million Grand Prize for the winning company. Registration is open until August 6.

The transformative potential of FinTech lies in its capacity to empower individuals to start and grow a business, even in the most remote communities. By lowering transaction costs, streamlining processes, and expanding access to capital and financial services, FinTech can enable aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality. The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is designed to leverage the potential of FinTech solutions to break down barriers to financial inclusion and contribute to the achievement of key SDGs, including alleviating poverty (SDG 1), promoting human well-being (SDGs 3 and 4), achieving gender equality (SDG 5), and fostering viable economic opportunities for young people (SDGs 8 and 9).

Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Impact

“The impact of Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prizes goes well beyond the financial awards,” said Dr. Emily Musil Church, senior director, environmental and social innovation at the Milken Institute. “This is a global community of entrepreneurs who believe in imagining and building a better, more abundant, and sustainable world. Our role is to identify and support these bold entrepreneurs and to help accelerate their success.”

The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is a program of MI Philanthropy (https://apo-opa.co/3JSwhFM), which aims to influence the deployment of philanthropic capital to create a better world. MI Philanthropy's work includes the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), which has, to date, influenced more than $2 billion in medical research funding. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program.

For more information about the winners and the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, visit https://MilkenMotsepePrize.org/.

Notes to Editors:
For further information or to request interviews with the winners, please send requests or queries to the media contact below.

Media Contact: 
Ima Peter 
+27 11 268 6388
ima.peter@razorpr.co.za

About the Milken Institute:  
The Milken Institute is a non-profit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next. For more information, visit https://MilkenInstitute.org. 

About the Motsepe Foundation: 
The Motsepe Foundation was founded in 1999 by Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe. The goal of the Motsepe Foundation is to contribute towards eradicating poverty and to sustainably improve the living conditions and standards of living of poor, unemployed and marginalised people in South Africa, Africa, and the world. In January 2013, Dr. Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge, which was started by Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates. Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his wife committed to give half of their wealth to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during their lifetime and beyond. 

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Reuseable bottles vs beverages packaged in plastic: Which comes out top?

Location: MyPR

One of the most enduring misconceptions about PET, the recyclable and food-grade plastic most often used for beverage bottles, is that it pollutes our environment. As a result, many are pushing consumers to switch to reusable/re-fillable bottles but few are asking the important question: Do reusable bottles trump beverages originally packed and sold in PET …

Read moreReuseable bottles vs beverages packaged in plastic: Which comes out top?

Black business called to be part of rebuilding SA economy

Location: News

Black business called to be part of rebuilding SA economy

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on black business and black industrialists to be part of efforts to rebuild the country’s economy.

President Ramaphosa made the call at the Black Business Council (BBC) gala dinner held at Kempton Park in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.

He warned that without investment there can be no jobs, and without job creation on a large scale “our prospects for achieving full economic transformation are diminished”.

“By strategically investing in the economy we are laying the groundwork for prosperity, connectivity, and opportunity across our nation. Green industrialisation is an area of opportunity for black business,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The President said government is prioritising the production of electric vehicles, green hydrogen production, and the processing of critical minerals essential for the battery value chain. 

In February 2024, the President announced a comprehensive set of incentives designed to spur investment in these critical sectors, which will be rolled out over a ten-year period. 

The incentives will stimulate innovation, attract private capital, and accelerate the adoption of green technologies, ensuring a just and equitable transition towards a sustainable future.

By embracing green industrialisation and promoting a just transition, the President said government is not only safeguarding the country’s environment but also fostering economic resilience and creating new opportunities for the workforce. 

The President said as part of government’s commitment to fostering economic inclusion and levelling the playing field, the Competition Commission will continue to embark on market inquiries across the economy.  

“These inquiries are aimed at addressing high levels of economic concentration and encouraging greater participation by small businesses. By identifying barriers to entry and promoting fair competition, we will create opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to our economy.

“These initiatives underscore our dedication to promoting economic empowerment, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating a more inclusive and equitable economy,” President Ramaphosa said.

He noted that over the past 30 years, South Africa has undergone deep, fundamental, and irreversible change.

Black business has been a valued partner along this journey and he said he has no doubt it will continue to be so for time to come.

He noted that government’s relationship with the Black Business Council has deepened since the sixth administration took office in 2019. “I think I can say with confidence that it is also stronger,” he added.

President Ramaphosa commended the council for responding to the call he made during his inauguration speech five years ago for all South Africans to join government in setting its sights high on a future of growth and economic opportunity. 

“You have rallied both with us and around us as government, in what has been a turbulent period marked by a global pandemic, civil unrest, natural disaster, crises in energy and logistics, and slow economic growth that has been further exacerbated by all the aforementioned challenges. 

“We also know that as the sixth administration took office, we were also confronted with the task of rebuilding capacity in key state institutions practically from the ground up, following the devastating years of state capture,” the President said. 

What has been immensely encouraging is that the door of engagement has always remained open, he said, adding that engagements have been productive and have always taken place in a positive spirit of partnership.

“As we look to the future with optimism, let us continue to work together on this journey towards a fully transformed economy where no one is left behind,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za 

 

GabiK
Wed, 05/01/2024 - 12:46

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Dingaan Thobela “a champion fighter who captured the hearts of the nation”

Location: News

Dingaan Thobela "a champion fighter who captured the hearts of the nation"

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa has paid tribute to the late South African boxing legend Dingaan Thobela, describing him as one of the world's standout fighters.

“Thobela fought in some of the most memorable bouts, such as the fights against Tony Lopez for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title and against Glenn Catley to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight title.

“Through his success and popularity, Thobela was one of the world's standout fighters in a golden period of South African boxing,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

In a professional career which spanned from 1986 until 2006, Thobela was a multiple world-boxing champion, having won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and WBA lightweight, and World WBC super-middleweight titles.

Also known as the Rose of Soweto, Thobela was a recipient of the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Award.

“Thobela was a champion fighter who captured the hearts and soul of the nation. The Rose of Soweto progressed from a prolific amateur boxer to become a three-time world champion as a professional.

“As we celebrate 30 years of South African democracy, we mourn the loss of an athlete who did so much to elevate South African sport through his success in boxing. We also celebrate a champion boxer who inspired the nation, future boxers and champions from Soweto, Mdantsane, Thohoyandou, and other parts of the country.

"I express my deepest sympathies to the Thobela family and the South African boxing fraternity. I join millions in mourning the passing of the Rose of Soweto," Kodwa said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Tue, 04/30/2024 - 08:57

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South Africa’s Global Reputation Surpasses Expectation, But There Is Room For Improvement

Location: MyPR

In an effort to assess South Africa’s global reputation in various key areas, Brand South Africa conducted extensive research on the perceptions that other countries have on South Africa. A total of 17 countries were surveyed with over 9800 respondents and focused on brand audiences related to tourism, investment, talent, exports and general reputation. On …

Read moreSouth Africa’s Global Reputation Surpasses Expectation, But There Is Room For Improvement

NCOP approves Climate Change Bill

Location: News

NCOP approves Climate Change Bill

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has welcomed the approval of the Climate Change Bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

“Climate change is here, and we have relatively little time to respond. The Bill empowers us to respond at the necessary scale and speed, building on the considerable amount of work we have already done,” the Minister said on Monday.

The objectives of the Climate Change Bill are, among others, to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development.

“The NCOP’s approval of the Climate Change Bill is a landmark in our response to climate change.

"Since 2011, when we outlined South Africa’s response to climate change in our National Climate Change Response White Paper, we have been putting in place the instruments for an integrated response. Now, this Bill will integrate all of these components into a robust legal framework, and mainstream climate action across government,” Creecy said.

The Minister said the Bill will provide the much-needed legal framework to regulate activities that contribute to climate change, ensure an effective response in all spheres of government and by the society at large, ensure a just transition, and maximize the opportunities afforded to the economy by the global shift to a green economy.

The Bill sets out to ensure that the climate actions are facilitated and coordinated across spheres of government.

“It establishes Provincial Forums on Climate Change and Municipal Forums on Climate Change, which will be integrated into current institutions and planning processes. It provides for the development of provincial and municipal climate change needs and response assessments, and corresponding climate change response implementation plans.

“The Bill places the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) on a formal footing as an independent organ of state to provide advisory on matters of just transition. The PCC will continue to be headed by the President, which sends a strong signal of South Africa’s commitment to addressing the complex challenges of responding to climate change and the urgency with which this needs to be achieved,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said.

It further provides clear frameworks for mitigation, adaptation and a mechanism to support and finance the country’s climate change response.

“On mitigation, the Bill provides for a just transition away from our current carbon-intensive energy system and towards a decarbonized economy and society, while meeting our critical development challenges.

"To achieve this, the Bill formalises our Greenhouse Gas Inventory to strengthen the evidence base for further climate action, and our current reporting processes.

“The Bill also provides for the development of a long-term national greenhouse gas emissions trajectory and its review from time to time, and establishes a clear legal basis for allocating sectoral emissions targets to relevant sectors, and carbon budgets to large emitters,” the department said.

On adaptation, the Bill provides for the establishment of national adaptation objectives, the development of climate scenarios to assess vulnerabilities, and a National Adaptation Strategy and Plan to manage adaptation in a clear and coordinated manner.

“The Bill provides the mechanisms to support and finance the climate change response, providing guidance and a governance framework to promote planning and implementation by national, provincial and local government.

"This will provide much-needed support to expedite our climate change response, thus climate-proofing our society and economy,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Mon, 04/29/2024 - 14:37

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Public urged to report crimes related to elections

Location: News

Public urged to report crimes related to elections

Government has urged members of the public to report any crime related to elections to their nearest police station or Electoral Commission (IEC) offices.

“A protocol has been established between the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, South African Police Service (SAPS) Detectives and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prioritise all election-related crimes,” Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise said on Sunday in Pretoria.

Addressing a media briefing by the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster, the Minister said prosecutors stand ready to prosecute offences such as electoral fraud and corruption, removing or defacing political party and campaign posters, interfering with the duties of the electoral officials as well as forcing anyone to vote.

“Individuals who use social media and electronic platforms to send threatening messages, incite violence, or cause harm to others will be charged. When an individual creates a video or share a post to the public and where the post contains words, speech or conduct that may encourage others to commit public violence, the aforementioned post will make one guilty of the offence of inciting public violence and police will not hesitate to track the person down and hold you accountable,” Modise said.

The Minister appealed to political and community leaders to exercise caution when speaking on public platforms.

“Do not make inflammatory or threatening statements as you will be breaking the law and may also encourage others to carry out criminal activities.

“We urge the public to exercise caution before sharing the information with others. Ensure that you double-check the accuracy of the information and be aware of the unintended consequences of your actions. Members of the public should report any inflammatory statements to law enforcement agencies,” the Minister said at the briefing held in Pretoria.

She warned the public against sharing false, unverified information, rumours, or threats online or in person as that can have serious consequences.

It can incite violence, confuse voters, and undermine the democratic process.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has activated provincial disaster management teams to identify risks and put mitigation measures in place for any disasters that may occur pre, during and post the elections.

“The NDMC is working closely with the South African Weather Service to monitor the situation, early warning messages will be issued when necessary. On the day of the elections, these teams will be deployed for 24 hours to monitor the situation,” the Minister said.

Collection of Identity Documents

To assist voters with the process of application for new Identity Documents and Temporary Identity Certificates and the collection of these documents, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has opened its offices from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays from 06 April to 25 May 2024.

“In addition, Home Affairs will open its offices on voting day. Mobile offices are also scheduled to be opened in remote areas to assist with the application and collection processes. The department will engage with councillors and other community leaders to decide on the dates, times and venues of the operation of mobile offices.

“Citizens can also use the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS), which is available on the DHA website to book appointments to collect their Smart ID Cards and Green barcoded ID books. We encourage clients who have applied for identification documents and have received their SMS notifications, to seize this opportunity by visiting their Home Affairs office to collect these critical documents.”

Modise encourage all eligible voters to go out in their numbers to the different voting stations on 29 May 2024 to cast their votes.

The 2024 General Elections are believed to be the most contested in the history of this country.

“Overall, 70 political parties are contesting these elections, 11 independent candidates, and the national contestants are 52. In total, there are over 14, 903 candidates vying for 887 seats in the National and Provincial Legislatures. Ensuring the safety and security of all voters and officials are of paramount importance,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Sun, 04/28/2024 - 11:49

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Read morePublic urged to report crimes related to elections

Africa Teems with Clean Energy Prospects, Ahead of IAE Forum

Location: News
Energy Capital & Power

European partners have been vocal about plans to boost clean, smart and secure investments in Africa's energy sector, with the EU's Global Gateway Initiative aiming to mobilize €150 billion across the continent through 2027. Motivations for this range from securing the bloc's own energy supplies, to strengthening energy diplomacy on the continent, to generating high returns on critical infrastructure investments. Given Europe's focus on sustainable energy development, the upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum (https://Invest-Africa-Energy.com) – taking place in Paris on May 14-15 – will showcase opportunities for the European and global private sector to develop and advance natural gas, renewable energy, green hydrogen and decarbonization technologies across the continent, with a view to supporting Africa's role in the global energy transition.

LNG

As Africa looks to develop its gas for domestic and export markets, LNG (https://apo-opa.co/3UD3ivS) represents a critical investment avenue for European partners and investors. Representing a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel that can deliver energy reliably and to scale, LNG has been positioned as the fuel of the future and the key to meeting rising energy demand in Africa and globally. European majors and independents are already at the helm of developing world-class LNG facilities across the continent, from bp's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG in Senegal and Mauritania, to Perenco's Cap Lopez LNG Terminal in Gabon, to Eni's Congo LNG in the Republic of Congo. The continent features myriad opportunities in the exploration, transport, processing and storage of natural gas and associated EPC contract value in establishing integrated gas value chains. 

Renewables

Africa's solar potential is measured at 7,900 GW – more than 1,000 times its current solar generation capacity – while wind potential is measured at 461 GW, which equates to 100 times the current wind generation capacity. The continent is home to considerable technical potential for hydropower – which accounts for approximately 17% of its electricity generation on average – and is set to overtake Europe in installed geothermal capacity by the end of the decade. Given Africa's prolific energy needs, decentralized power solutions (https://apo-opa.co/4aRnFuC) – particularly from renewables – hold the capacity to help electrify rural parts of the continent, while aligning with net-zero targets.

Green Hydrogen

Owing to its substantial and often co-located renewable resources, Africa provides optimal conditions for the development of green hydrogen (https://apo-opa.co/4aRgItB) and green ammonia, estimated to be able to produce a surplus of 20-40 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2050. The continent is home to several major green hydrogen projects – namely, the 15 GW Aman project in Mauritania, 3 GW Tsau Khaeb project in Namibia and 4 GW SCZONE project in Egypt. Germany has emerged as an active player in this domain by investing in and lending technical expertise to hydrogen development in Angola, Mauritania and Namibia, as well as pledging to invest €4 billion in sustainable energy projects in Africa – including renewable power, green hydrogen and critical raw mineral extraction – through 2030. The EU is targeting ten million tons of imported renewable hydrogen per year by 2030, offering development finance and production subsidies to help African countries develop their green hydrogen supplies.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS)

Capturing carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels or as a by-product of industrial manufacturing processes, CCUS technology represents a dynamic investment opportunity within Africa's energy transition. It holds a wide range of applications – from enhanced oil recovery to fuel production to waste-to-energy plants – and aligns with Africa's decarbonization goals, while enabling much-needed energy production. CCUS projects are already underway in South Africa's Mpumalanga Province – where it will capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power stations – and at Egypt's Meleiha Field, part of a broader $25-million, multi-phase CCUS project. CCUS aligns closely with the EU's broader decarbonization goals and represents a strategic area of potential collaboration between European and African service providers by way of sharing best practices, technical expertise and technological innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Snakes alive! Crocworld team relocates a couple of surprise Mamba guests

Location: MyPR

When the snake rescue team from Crocworld Conservation Centre headed out to Amandawe on the KZN South Coast, they thought they would be relocating a harmless Spotted Bush Snake – not Africa’s deadliest snake! Busani Mthiyane, Animal Curator at Crocworld Conservation Centre, said they received a call from a family indicating that a ‘huge, green …

Read moreSnakes alive! Crocworld team relocates a couple of surprise Mamba guests

M&A Activity in South Africa expected to remain muted in 2024 amidst global economic headwinds and regulatory uncertainty

Location: MyPR

Chris Green, Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells SA M&A activity in South Africa declined sharply in 2023 relative to the two preceding years, in line with global trends. The factors driving this included, amongst others, global economic headwinds particularly high inflation and high interest rates, the well-documented geopolitical uncertainty in Europe and the Middle East, ongoing …

Read moreM&A Activity in South Africa expected to remain muted in 2024 amidst global economic headwinds and regulatory uncertainty

Energy Action Plan, Eskom Generation Operational Recovery bearing fruit

Location: News

Energy Action Plan, Eskom Generation Operational Recovery bearing fruit

Eskom’s performance over the past three weeks – which has seen no load shedding being implemented – is a result of concerted and deliberate plans by the power utility and government to deal with load shedding.

This according to Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was briefing the media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan on Monday.

“The kind of progress that we are seeing today is largely as a result of the exceptional work that has been done by the team at Eskom. We are turning the corner and making significant strides to ensure that finally we get to see the back of load shedding. Of course we are not yet out of the woods.

“There’s been significant recovery as a result of the execution of the Generation Operational Recovery Plan…[and] as a result of, first, at the national level, the Energy Action Plan,” he said.

Ramokgopa added that there have been “phenomenal improvements in relation to the unplanned capacity loss factor” during the past week.

“We are beginning to see the kind of improvement that we are desiring. The period of March, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor [UCLF] – the rate at which we are losing these units, the rate at which these units are not efficient – is coming down.

“The baseline of May [2023], we were sitting at about 18 000MW, we are bringing it down. The average of the week from the 8 to 12 April [2024], we were sitting at about 13 900MW. The week after, again at 14 000MW. Today, we are still at about 13 000MW. We want to maintain that…even bring it sub-13 000MW but it’s a function of a steady, orchestrated and deliberate effort on the part of Eskom,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that although the improvements are commendable, focus is still firmly on the work that still needs to be done.

“We are keeping focus on the bouncing ball, the resolution of load shedding. I must emphasise that in the nature of this space, you are likely to have setbacks. We are still working on the reliability of these machines and that’s why you can’t speak with great confidence that load shedding is behind us.

“We are making the kind of progress that, in many instances, far exceeds where we thought we will be, but we are not yet where we want to be,” he said.

Renewable energy

Minister Ramokgopa highlighted that the Energy Action Plan is also beginning to bear fruit which is exemplified in the contribution of renewable energy projects.

“We are seeing exceptional performance of renewables. As a result of the reforms that the state has introduced...the contribution of renewables is on the back of state incentives. It's part of that orchestrated plan. If you go to the Energy Action Plan, outcome number four stated explicitly that part of this Energy Action Plan is to ensure that we accelerate the rollout of roof top solar solutions for both households and industries.

“When we are out of this load shedding situation, we will still encourage people to rollout rooftop solar solutions because we want to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and we want to ensure that households, small and large industries contribute to this green transition we have committed to,” he said.

Prospective view

The Minister said the prospects in the immediate future look bright with several generating units coming back online over the next coming months.

“We are on track to recover Unit 4 of Medupi [Power Station] and that will be coming on stream in September of this year. We are on track to ensure that we return – as part of the extension of the life of our only nuclear power station – Koeberg Unit 2…we are confident that we will return it in September 2024. We are confident of synchronising Kusile [Power Station] Unit 6 in October of this year.

“In the next six months, we are going to get an additional 2580MW just on the Eskom fleet. We will continue to ensure that we sustain these efforts of improved performance,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 04/22/2024 - 11:38

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Sec: A culinary revolution unveiled at Clico Boutique Hotel in Rosebank

Location: MyPR

Rosebank, South Africa: April 15, 2024 – South Africa’s culinary landscape is about to witness a seismic shift with the grand opening of Sec, a groundbreaking restaurant nestled within the sophisticated confines of Clico Boutique Hotel. Conceived by the visionary Chef Dario de Angeli, renowned for his innovative culinary approach, Sec promises to redefine dining …

Read moreSec: A culinary revolution unveiled at Clico Boutique Hotel in Rosebank