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Fitch Ratings affirms Eskom’s long-term issuer default rating at ‘B’

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st June 2023 Eskom has responded positively to Fitch Ratings’ decision to affirm the utility’s long-term local currency issuer default rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook. The ratings agency on May 30 announced its decision, basing it primarily on Eskom’s link to national government as a State-owned... →

Stage 6 to continue until Friday

By: News24Wire 1st June 2023 Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Thursday until 05:00 on Friday, Eskom said in a statement. This will be followed by varying stages of load shedding over the weekend. →

Climate commission calls for revised IRP to upscale renewables allocation to 60 GW by 2030

By: Terence Creamer 1st June 2023 The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that the next edition of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is currently under review, caters for the building of between 50 GW and 60 GW of variable renewable energy by 2030, supported by co-located storage of between 3 GW and 5... →

PCC says the transmission grid should be moved to the centre of electricity planning

Mining industry has critical role in closing energy supply gap – Mantashe

By: Darren Parker 31st May 2023 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is convinced that mining companies can supplement State-owned Eskom’s supply of electricity, and that this would be critical for narrowing the electricity supply and demand gap, thereby improving South Africa’s mining industry global ranking,... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Renewables alone will not solve energy crisis – Numsa

By: Darren Parker 25th May 2023 The belief that renewable energy is the sole answer to South Africa’s energy crisis is irrational, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) general secretary Irvin Jim has said. “You can’t run a factory by wind or sun. What happens when there is no wind and the sun is behind a... →

NUMSA general secretary Irvin Jim

South Africa weighs extending lives of larger coal power plants

By: Bloomberg 24th May 2023 South Africa is considering extending the lives of some of its biggest coal-fired power plants as the government seeks to bolster the country’s long-term energy security amid a deepening crisis. Kendal and Lethabo, two plants that represent about fifth of the State-owned power utility’s current... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Kendal power station

Gordhan promises new-look Eskom by March as he outlines SOE Holdco progress

By: Terence Creamer 23rd May 2023 Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says the restructuring under way at South Africa’s troubled State-owned electricity producer will result in a new-look entity that “will no longer be the old Eskom as we know it” by the end of March next year. Delivering his Budget Vote to lawmakers,... →

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

Eskom to implement Stage 5 loadshedding from 16:00

By: Creamer Media Reporter 23rd May 2023 Power utility Eskom has announced that it will implement Stage 5 loadshedding in the evenings until further notice. Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 and Stage 4 loadshedding from 05:00 to 16:00 every day. →

The Tutuka power station

BLSA reiterates call for govt to stick to Necom's Energy Action Plan

By: Schalk Burger 22nd May 2023 It is critical that government consolidates around the National Electricity Crisis Committee (Necom) plan and delivers on the implementation timelines as they stand now. "Given that there is 3 GW less generation available than during the past winter, it seems certain that South Africa is heading... →

Despite low risk of blackout, Eskom’s restoration protocols should be paired with larger country plan

By: Terence Creamer 19th May 2023 Amid rising public anxiety over the prospect of a blackout, a former senior Eskom executive has added his voice to those highlighting the low probability of such an eventuality. However, he also argues that, given current fears over a grid collapse, the State-owned utility’s well-developed... →

Babcock Ntuthuko Engineering CEO Thava Govender

Government pursuing every megawatt of generation it can find, says Ramakgopa

By: Rebecca Campbell 19th May 2023 It was “inevitable” that South Africa would have to use powerships to help deal with the country’s power supply crisis, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told delegates in his closing keynote address at the Enlit Africa conference in Cape Town in Thursday afternoon. Loadshedding –... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Stage 8 loadshedding a strong possibility

By: Creamer Media Reporter 19th May 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses Eskom's latest State of the System update, with warnings that the country is likely to dip into Stage 8 loadshedding this winter; the actions Eskom could take to try to navigate the high-demand winter months; and whether there is a risk of a total... →

Stage 8 loadshedding a strong possibility

Stage 5 loadshedding to be implemented from 16:00

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th May 2023 Power utility Eskom will implement Stage 5 loadshedding from 16:00 this afternoon until 05:00 on Friday. Thereafter, various stages of loadshedding will be implemented over the weekend. Breakdowns have decreased to 16 369 MW of generating capacity, while the generating capacity out of service for... →

Photo by Eskom
Eskom's loadshedding schedule for May 18 to 21

Makwana hints at possible legal action against De Ruyter

By: Terence Creamer 18th May 2023 Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana has indicated that the current board is preparing a possible legal case against former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter for what he describes as “transgressions” arising from De Ruyter’s publication of a tell-all book about his three-year tenure as head of the... →

Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana

Eskom warns of Stage 8 loadshedding this winter but insists risk of blackout is low

By: Terence Creamer 18th May 2023 Eskom has indicated that Stage 8 loadshedding – representing 16 hours of cuts in a 32-hour cycle – is possible this winter if coal plant breakdowns breach 18 000 MW and demand rises in sync with what is forecast to be a colder winter than was the case in 2022. However, interim CEO Calib Cassim... →

Eskom interim CEO Calib Cassim

South Africa needs oil, gas, nuclear, as well as renewables – Mantashe

By: Rebecca Campbell 17th May 2023 Delivering the keynote address at the Enlit Africa conference in Cape Town on Wednesday, South African Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reported that the current moratorium on the development of the country’s shale gas resources would be lifted. Any subsequent Court challenges... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Gordhan refutes claim that he prompted De Ruyter’s private Eskom investigation

By: Terence Creamer 17th May 2023 Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan tore strips off former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter during his appearance before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday, dismissing descriptions of De Ruyter as a whistle-blower and suggesting that naming politicians... →

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

Mantashe outlines procurement schedules, including for nuclear, as he confirms IRP delay

By: Terence Creamer 16th May 2023 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has pulled back from his statement that the release of the revised Integrated Resource Plan, which he has dubbed IRP 2023, is imminent, revealing during his Budget Vote on Tuesday that the draft will be presented to Cabinet only in the second... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Climate commission recommends grid PPPs to speed up just energy transition

By: Terence Creamer 15th May 2023 The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that alternative investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), be explored to expand and strengthen South Africa’s electricity grid “at speed and scale”, given the centrality of the grid to unlocking the energy... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Grid capacity is a national priority to solve, the PCC argued

Fuel industry does not foresee loadshedding-induced diesel shortages this winter

By: Terence Creamer 15th May 2023 The South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) is not anticipating a domestic diesel supply crunch this winter as a result of a spike in generator-related demand, despite ongoing warnings of possible higher levels of loadshedding and the prospect of Eskom, businesses and even some... →

Sapia executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo

Another Eskom employee in court for fraud, theft and money laundering in Mpumalanga

By: News24Wire 11th May 2023 Another Eskom employee in Mpumalanga has appeared in court on fraud, theft and money laundering charges – this time in Standerton. Zandile Rosemary Ngcobo, 43, was released on R5 000 bail after she appeared in the Standerton Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. →

Lack of action by law enforcement agencies prompted private Eskom investigation – Makgoba

By: Terence Creamer 10th May 2023 Former Eskom interim chairperson Professor Malegapuru Makgoba believes there would have been no reason for former CEO André de Ruyter to pursue a privately funded intelligence investigation of corruption and sabotage at the State-owned utility had the law enforcement agencies done their jobs.... →

Former Eskom interim chairperson Professor Malegapuru Makgoba

Ramokgopa: Running diesel plants may be costly, but loadshedding is far worse

By: News24Wire 10th May 2023 Eskom will likely exceed its diesel budget this financial year, but the cost of load shedding to the economy would be far worse, said Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The minister was responding to questions in Parliament's National Council of Provinces on Tuesday. Ramokgopa said that... →

Short-term solutions to energy challenges lie with private sector, incentives

By: Schalk Burger 9th May 2023 It will take about three years to improve the energy availability factor of State-owned power utility Eskom's coal-fired power stations to an acceptable level of about 65%, as generator units must be taken offline to do deep maintenance. This means Eskom's energy availability will drop further... →

Biggest African bank cites energy needs in fossil fuel defense

By: Bloomberg 9th May 2023 Standard Bank Group, Africa’s biggest lender by assets, defended it’s investment in fossil-fuel projects, saying tthe continent’s energy needs have to be balanced with climate concerns. The Johannesburg-based bank’s exposure to coal mining, oil and gas and power generation from fossil fuels rose... →

Emerging miners highlight impact of energy, logistics constraints on economic growth

By: Schalk Burger 8th May 2023 The South African economy is limited to 1.5% potential growth a year because there is no productivity growth. National productivity has declined for five years consecutively, highlighting the economy's structural constraints, including a lack of energy security and logistics capacity, mining... →

Minerals Council South Africa outgoing CEO Roger Baxter

Treasury says technical assessment of coal stations to be completed by July

By: Terence Creamer 8th May 2023 The National Treasury has confirmed that the once-off independent review of Eskom’s 14 coal fired power stations is under way and should be concluded by July. The review was announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during his February Budget when he also unveiled the R254-billion Eskom Debt... →

Rampant corruption at Eskom drags down South Africa

By: Bloomberg 8th May 2023 On a late Thursday afternoon last November, in the midst of rolling blackouts implemented by South Africa’s state-owned electricity company, a contractor at a power station in the eastern Mpumalanga province pulled a plug connected to one of the site’s main generation units. The unit subsequently... →

A coal truck with a power station in the background

Ramokgopa says 'frank' talks held with JETP partners on possible coal decommissioning delay

By: Terence Creamer 5th May 2023 Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that “open and frank” discussions have been held with those countries that have agreed to extended $8.5-billion in concessional funding to support South Africa’s transition from coal to renewables about the possibility of delaying the... →

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Loadshedding will be reduced to Stages 3 and 4 over the weekend

By: Creamer Media Reporter 5th May 2023 Power utility Eskom says that, as a result of lower weekend demand and the return to service of some generating units, Stage 3 and 4 loadshedding will be implemented this weekend. Since yesterday morning, a generating unit each at Hendrina, Lethabo and Tutuka power stations have returned to service. →

Photo by Creamer Media's Terence Creamer
Eskom's Lethabo power station

Treasury engages municipalities on debt owed to Eskom

By: Creamer Media Reporter 5th May 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the longstanding and growing problem of municipalities' outstanding debt to power utility Eskom: the National Treasury's engagement with municipalities on a scheme to potentially write off their debt to Eskom; and the conditions that may be... →

Treasury engages municipalities on debt owed to Eskom

Event to focus on JET

By: Bonginkosi Tiwane 5th May 2023 With this year’s Enlit Africa event themed ‘The Multi-dimensional, multi-sectoral energy transition’, Enlit Africa content head Claire Volkwyn says this was the natural progression following last year’s theme of collaboration. →

A group of men who attended the Utility CEO Forum at the previous Enlit Africa Exhibition

AN ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES Enlit Africa returns to Cape Town from May 16 to 18

Diverse approach needed to solve energy crisis

By: Bonginkosi Tiwane 5th May 2023 As a vast continent, with 54 countries and more than 1 000 languages, Africa’s approach to electrification and industrialisation should be both intricate and collaborative, says Frost & Sullivan Africa partner and CEO Hendrik Malan. →

BLSA defends R18m support for private investigation at Eskom

By: Terence Creamer 4th May 2023 Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has defended the organisation’s decision to respond to a request by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to fund a private investigation into crime and corruption at the State-owned utility and has also confirmed that BLSA provided R18-million... →

Photo by Creamer Media
BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso

Investec first participant in initiative to keep Sandton traffic lights working during loadshedding

By: Darren Parker 3rd May 2023 Financial services company Investec has become the first property owner to participate in an initiative spearheaded by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and the Sandton Central Management District to ensure traffic lights at major intersections in Sandton Central continue to operate during... →

The intersection of Grayston drive and Rivonia road in Sandton

More than 200 financial institutions are now pursuing coal exclusion policies

By: Terence Creamer 3rd May 2023 More than 200 financial institutions globally, including five South African banks, have established coal exclusion policies, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows. These include asset managers and owners with assets under management of more than... →

Coal stockpile in front of cooling towers

More Stage 6 loadshedding as breakdowns approach 19 000 MW

By: News24Wire 3rd May 2023 Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Tuesday until 05:00 on Thursday, Eskom said in a statement. After that, stages will vary between 4 and 6 until late on Friday. →

Photo by Creamer Media
The Tutuka power station

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