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State Companies News

SAA to add 64% new destinations as it rebuilds

By: Bloomberg 4th July 2024 South African Airways (SAA) plans to add 64% new destination from its hub in Johannesburg by the end of April as it rebuilds its business to focus on regional and international routes after a deal with an investor collapsed. The company is aiming to add nine destinations to its existing 14 and... →

A rare South African export success is threatened by crumbling ports

By: Bloomberg 4th July 2024 At a packhouse at Blydevallei Boerdery, near South Africa’s eastern border with Mozambique, workers pluck unripe grapefruit off a conveyor belt. It’s the best chance of getting them to export markets thousands of miles away before they spoil. The citrus farm is just one of many fruit producers in... →

Energy Regulator rescinds decision on new tariff-setting rules as Eskom prepares to apply for big hike

By: Terence Creamer 3rd July 2024 The Energy Regulator has rescinded its approval, made in December, of the so-called Electricity Price Determination Methodology Rules (EPDMR), which were proposed for implementation in the 2025/26 financial year as a replacement to the prevailing multiyear price determination methodology (MYPDM)... →

South Africa seeks to renegotiate coal pact tied to $2.6bn

By: Bloomberg 3rd July 2024 South Africa is seeking to alter the terms of a landmark agreement under which it promised to cut its reliance on coal in exchange for access to financing. The government of President Cyril Ramaphosa is pushing to renegotiate a deal with Climate Investment Funds (CIF), a group tied to the World... →

A truck transporting coal, with a power station in the background

NTCSA starts trading

By: Darren Parker 1st July 2024 The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has officially begun trading, establishing the NTCSA as a duly constituted separate, distinct and wholly owned subsidiary of State-owned utility Eskom. This marks a significant step in the Department of Public Enterprises’ (DPE’s) roadmap for... →

Eskom to hit CO2 targets despite coal plant extension, CEO says

By: Reuters 28th June 2024 South Africa's state power company Eskom will meet its target to reduce carbon emissions by 71-million metric tons a year by the end of the decade, its new CEO said on Friday, despite scrapping plans to retire six coal-fired power stations by then. But CEO Dan Marokane said Eskom's immediate... →

The future of Operation Vulindlela

By: Creamer Media Reporter 28th June 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the issues tackled during Phase 1 of Operation Vulindlela and the successes achieved thus far; the likelihood of Operation Vulindlela continuing as programme of action under the new government of national unity; and what could be on the agenda... →

The future of Operation Vulindlela

First phase of 1 GW SunCentral solar farm breaks ground

By: Darren Parker 27th June 2024 Independent power producer SolarAfrica Energy has officially broken ground on its first utility-scale solar farm in the Northern Cape. Known as SunCentral, Phase 1 of this project will total about 342 MW in generation capacity, with Phases 2 and 3 to raise the capacity to 1 GW, making it one of... →

Starsight Energy group CEO Paul van Zijl; Proconics CEO Melvin Jones; Eskom senior adviser IPPs Motlatsi Makhari; SolarAfrica Energy CEO David McDonald; Emthanjeni local municipality Mayor Lulamile Nkumbi; and Eskom senior adviser IPPs Moreetsi Balepile

Eskom reports arrest of copper cable thief at Matla

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th June 2024 State-owned power utility Eskom has apprehended a suspected copper cable thief at the Matla power station after security officers discovered the individual during routine search duties. The incident, which took place on June 23, was reported to the Kriel police station, with the suspect now... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Matla power station

Cape Town gets another R3.5bn for its record infrastructure spending target to 2027

By: Darren Parker 25th June 2024 The City of Cape Town has secured a further R3.5-billion in financing towards its plans to spend a record amount on infrastructure investment over the three years to 2027. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis conducted the signing ceremony with Nedbank on June 24, after the council greenlighted the financing... →

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis among local government and Nedbank officials during the signing ceremony

South Africa risks losing billions pledged for climate finance

By: Bloomberg 25th June 2024 South Africa is risking a $9.3-billion climate finance pact by delaying the closing of a number of coal-fired power plants, a panel appointed by the country’s environment minister said. In an agreement known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership, South Africa won the bulk of the pledges from... →

Eskom issues tender for 26 large transformers to panel of five selected suppliers

By: Terence Creamer 24th June 2024 Eskom reports that it has appointed five transformer companies to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale transformers that will be installed over the coming four years as part of its Transmission Development Plan (TDP). The suppliers were not... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Transmission MD Segomoco Scheppers

Transnet to take disciplinary action against some TNPA employees

By: Sabrina Jardim 24th June 2024 State-owned Transnet announced at the weekend that law firm Bowmans had concluded its investigation into allegations of impropriety at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). Transnet also appointed Bowmans to assist with implementing the recommendations of a forensic report by Fundudzi... →

CoJ, City Power say High Court did not consider all evidence in Eskom case

By: Darren Parker 21st June 2024 In response to a recent Johannesburg High Court order favouring State-owned utility Eskom in a payment dispute with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and City Power, the CoJ and City Power say the court did not fully consider critical aspects of the evidence. “While we accept and respect the... →

Eskom to apply for MES exemptions for four coal stations that will operate beyond 2030

By: Terence Creamer 21st June 2024 Having secured permission to operate five aged power stations under existing minimum emission standards (MES) plant limits until their closure in 2030, Eskom has confirmed that it will be applying for exemption from the MES timeframes and limits for four stations that will remain operational... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Kendal among the stations for which an exemption from the MES timeframes and limits will be sought

Streamlined PPP framework could unlock infrastructure investment

By: Darren Parker 21st June 2024 In February, the National Treasury asked for public comments to be submitted in respect of the newly drafted amendments to the National Treasury Regulations (NTR) 16, and key elements of municipal public-private partnerships (PPPs) legislation, to bring it in line with recommendations based on a... →

Eskom wins South African appeal to keep five polluting power plants open

By: Bloomberg 20th June 2024 South Africa’s State power utility and biggest source of air pollution won an appeal to keep five of its oldest plants open even though they are set to flout incoming emission caps. The plants - which account for almost a quarter of Eskom Holdings’ almost 45 GW of coal-fired generation capacity -... →

Grindrod selected as preferred bidder for Port of Richards Bay container facility

By: Terence Creamer 20th June 2024 South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed Grindrod South Africa as the preferred bidder to develop and operate a container handling facility at the Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal. The appointment is in line with TNPA’s strategy to increase the yearly container... →

Port of Richards Bay

Transnet appoints Letsoalo as new group COO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 20th June 2024 State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has announced the appointment of Lekau ‘Solly’ Letsoalo as group COO, with effect from July 1. Letsoalo returns to the group where he worked previously as COO of Transnet Port Terminals. →

Lekau ‘Solly’ Letsoalo

TNPA moves to integrate desalination, renewables at Port Elizabeth and Ngqura ports

By: Terence Creamer 18th June 2024 South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued requests for proposal (RFPs) for the construction of two solar-powered seawater desalination plants and a hybrid renewables-battery facility to service its Nelson Mandela Bay ports, in the Eastern Cape. TNPA is seeking bidders... →

TNPA's head office at the Port of Ngqura

Eskom targets JETP funds and partnerships for 2 GW clean-energy pipeline

By: Terence Creamer 14th June 2024 Having recently confirmed a decoupling of its just energy transition strategy from the decommissioning of its coal-fired power stations, Eskom is aiming to finalise business cases for a pipeline of renewable energy and battery storage projects, some of which could be deployed in close proximity... →

Plans for piloting independent transmission projects model

14th June 2024 Amid all the political upheaval, work is continuing with plans to pilot a model for introducing independent transmission projects. Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the prospects. →

Plans for piloting independent transmission projects model

Hardin Ratshisusu appointed acting commissioner of the National Consumer Commission

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th June 2024 Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has designated Hardin Ratshisusu as acting deputy commissioner and acting commissioner of the National Consumer Commission effective May 1. He also serves as a deputy commissioner at the Competition Commission, a position he has held since 2016. →

Volkswagen says carmakers seek to revive key South African rail line

By: Bloomberg 13th June 2024 Volkswagen and other automakers operating in South Africa are in talks with the state logistics company to revive a dilapidated rail line between the country’s commercial hub and a car export terminal 700 miles away. The companies, which include Isuzu Motors Ltd., would like to hire a private... →

VW vehicles on the assembly line in South Africa

TNPA gets four new tugboats for Durban, East London ports

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2024 State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has taken delivery of the first four tugboats to boost marine fleet availability and shipping efficiencies at the ports of Durban and East London. The arrival of the tugboats brings TNPA a step closer towards the execution of its marine fleet... →

Solar installations slow in South Africa after blackouts ease

By: Bloomberg 12th June 2024 Repairs to South Africa’s coal-fired stations that have helped the State power utility avoid debilitating blackouts for three months straight is giving solar installers an unintended break. Until March, Eskom had inflicted power cuts for as many as 12 hours a day due to unreliable units prone to... →

Event highlights gains, challenges in competition law space

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th June 2024 As South Africa commemorates 25 years of the Competition Act, there has been much progress in the competition law landscape and the learnings and insights gleaned from this can be used to support further gains and shape the future. This was highlighted by speakers during law firm Webber Wentzel’s... →

Judge David Unterhalter

Manufacturing production up 5.3% y/y in April

By: Darren Parker 11th June 2024 South Africa’s manufacturing production increased by 5.3% year-on-year in April, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has reported. Stats SA Industry statistics director Nicolai Carson said on June 11 that, out of the ten manufacturing divisions, nine showed positive growth. →

Stats SA Industry statistics director Nicolai Carson

Eskom seeks executive to lead renewables division

By: Bloomberg 10th June 2024 South Africa’s Eskom Holdings is looking for a manager to lead its clean energy projects even as the utility extends the use of coal plants to mitigate nationwide electricity shortages. The group executive will be “responsible for leading and overseeing the renewable energy initiatives within... →

Transmission lines, solar panels and wind turbines

Reflecting on Marokane's first 100 days as Eskom CEO

By: Chanel de Bruyn 7th June 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer reflects on Dan Marokane's first 100 days in office as Eskom CEO and the direction Eskom is taking under his leadership. →

Reflecting on Marokane's first 100 days as Eskom CEO

Eskom ‘decouples’ renewables roll-out from coal station closure plan

By: Terence Creamer 6th June 2024 Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that a decision has been made to “decouple” the closure of its coal stations from the building, in partnership, of new renewable energy generation capacity linked to its goal of being a net-zero emitter by 2050 and the just energy transition strategy. In an address... →

Solar panels in front of Komati power station cooling towers

Marokane says R285m spent on diesel in May compared with R2.8bn in May 2023

By: Terence Creamer 6th June 2024 Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has rebuffed persistent suggestions that the utility is keeping loadshedding at bay owing to an “excessive” reliance on the diesel-fuelled open cycle gas turbines, reporting that it spent R285-million on diesel during May compared with R2.8-billion in the same month last... →

Photo by Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane

TFR welcomes prison sentences for convicted cable thieves

By: Sabrina Jardim 6th June 2024 State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has welcomed the recent arrest and conviction of four men for theft of essential infrastructure on its rail network. The Thabazimbi Regional Court on May 31 sentenced the four men to 49 years each for various charges related to the theft of essential... →

Liquidity position of many municipalities at risk

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th June 2024 National Treasury has released the ‘Local Government Revenue and Expenditure Report’ for the third quarter of the 2023/24 financial year, which shows an underperformance of actual collections against billed revenue. Treasury warns that this holds a significant risk for the liquidity position of... →

SABS expresses appreciation for voluntary technical committee chairpersons

By: Darren Parker 5th June 2024 The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has acknowledged and recognised the voluntary work of committee chairpersons during an engagement session and workshop to synchronise the approach to chairing committees at the SABS, in Pretoria, on June 5. The event included the welcoming of new... →

Green Connection petitions court to ‘force’ Nersa, DMRE to supply Karpowership information

By: Darren Parker 5th June 2024 Environmental activist nonprofit organisation the Green Connection has taken the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to court in an effort to “force” them to supply key information regarding the Karpowership deals.... →

NNR hosts new round of talks with public over Koeberg’s life extension

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th June 2024 The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has started with another round of hearings on June 3, owing to concerns about the last consultation process having been insufficient. The regulator conceded that the public required more information, but only after civil society organisations such as Southern... →

Koeberg nuclear power station

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