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Transmission & Distribution News

NCOP votes to pass Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th May 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the significance of the National Council of Provinces' (NCOP's) vote to pass the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill; if the Bill is likely to face any opposition; and what further actions can be expected once the Bill becomes law. →

Today’s well-supplied market for critical minerals ‘may not be a good guide for future’

By: Terence Creamer 17th May 2024 A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report describes the sharp decline in critical mineral prices over the past year as a double-edged sword, cautioning that, while it has been a boon for clean energy deployment and affordability, it is a bane for critical mineral investment and... →

Investment in certain minerals, notably copper and lithium, is falling short of what was required for transition to net-zero energy system

Opinion: Time to open the floodgates on infrastructure development

16th May 2024 In this article, Stellenbosch University PhD student and Centre for Sustainability Transitions junior researcher Alboricah Rathupetsane writes about the impact of extreme weather events on South Africa's infrastructure and the need for increased investment in infrastructure development, as well... →

Alboricah Rathupetsane

Organisers expect record attendance at event

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 With ballooning foot traffic, demonstrated by an increase in attendance of 81% from 2022 to 2023, the organisers of this year’s Enlit Africa anticipate a “bumper event that will be attended by global dignitaries and industry leaders”. The Enlit Africa 2024 will be held at the Cape Town... →

A man standing on a podium at last years Enlit Africa Event

TAKING TO THE FUTURE This years Enlit Africa theme – Less Talk, More Action – aims to encourage attendees and speakers to move away from talk in favour of action and implementatio

Cooling company to highlight new concepts

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 After two successful webinars that unpacked the use of air-cooled condensers (ACC) for recoverable energy in power generation, thermal solutions specialist Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) aims to address future clients and investors at this year’s Enlit Africa 2024, which will be held at the Cape... →

An air-cooled condensers designed and manufactured by IWC

COOL AS A CUCUMBER According to thermal solutions specialist Industrial Water Coolin air-cooled condensers are the most efficient, green option for cooling

Deadline for latest battery procurement also extended as IPPs adjust to Eskom’s new grid access rules

By: Terence Creamer 9th May 2024 The deadline for South Africa’s recently launched third battery energy storage bidding round, or bid window three (BW3), has been extended by three months to October 31, following a recent deadline extension for the concurrent second battery bidding round from April 30 to June 6. Independent... →

NamPower grid-strengthening and battery storage project secures $138.5m World Bank backing

By: Terence Creamer 7th May 2024 The World Bank has approved a $138.5-million finance package to support the integration of renewable energy into Namibia’s electricity system by strengthening its transmission grid and integrating a second utility scale battery storage system into the country’s network. The initiative, which is... →

Eskom takes City Power to court over R1bn debt

By: Sashnee Moodley 6th May 2024 State power utility Eskom has said it has "no choice" but to approach the Johannesburg High Court to force City Power to pay just over R1-billion in unpaid debt. Eskom noted that City Power began to default on payments in October 2023 and that it did not receive any payment for March, this year. →

Ramokgopa insists loadshedding not being ‘stage managed’ ahead of May 29 poll

By: Terence Creamer 6th May 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa denies that the prevailing reprieve from loadshedding has been “stage managed” to improve the prospects of the governing African National Congress ahead of the May 29 poll, attributing it instead to “orchestrated” engineering efforts undertaken by Eskom... →

Minister insists the recent period of no loadshedding is down to the improved performance of coal stations such as Matla (pictured)

Photo by Creamer Media
Minister insists the recent period of no loadshedding is down to the improved performance of coal stations such as Matla (pictured)

Climate commission model points to the growth potential of green industrialisation

By: Terence Creamer 6th May 2024 The initial direct cost of placing South Africa on an energy transition pathway over the coming five years in line with its decarbonisation targets is calculated at a hefty R1.5-trillion in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP). Less visible, however, are the socioeconomic costs... →

The lights are on in South Africa and many people are suspicious

By: Bloomberg 3rd May 2024 South Africa is enjoying a rare streak of uninterrupted electricity right before elections, drawing more suspicion than praise in a nation that’s become accustomed to the daily power cuts that have dragged on for years. The country is currently in its fourth successive week of no outages — the... →

City Power seeks funding, manufacturing partners for informal settlement ‘energy box’

By: Terence Creamer 30th April 2024 Johannesburg’s City Power is seeking manufacturing and venture capital partners to further develop and pilot a rugged ‘energy box’ concept in one of the city’s 312 informal settlements as a possible greener and safer alternative to the illegal connections that currently predominate. Chief... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Joburg has 312 informal settlements where illegal connections pose an electrocution risk

Electrical specialist says load curtailment in Ekurhuleni should be respected, or more outages may ensue

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th April 2024 With the City of Ekurhuleni having entered into a load curtailment agreement with national power utility Eskom, this mandatory energy reduction has been met with some protest by businesses, but electrical control equipment provider CBI-electric:low voltage engineering executive Dr Andrew Dickson... →

NTCSA begins consultations on market code to govern shift towards competitive electricity industry

By: Terence Creamer 19th April 2024 With the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) currently scheduled to be operationalised in July and efforts under way to ensure that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) Amendment Bill is passed by the current Parliament, work is now advancing on the market code for the future... →

Track busways more efficient than traditional systems

19th April 2024 Electrical and digital specialist Legrand avers that its track busway system is an efficient and flexible alternative to traditional power distribution systems that lack flexibility in adapting to changes. Legrand states that a reliable and flexible power distribution system is an essential... →

The above image depicts the Legrand track busways which provide localised power to machines, removing the need to run power cables and extension cords across the floor, preventing potential fire and tripping hazards

Photo by Legrand
HAZARD PREVENTION The plug-in units of the Legrand track busways provide localised power to machines, removing the need to run power cables and extension cords across the floor, preventing potential fire and tripping hazards

Mini-substations, transformers supplied to DRC

19th April 2024 With its experience in Africa and its agility in executing projects rapidly, electrical equipment supplier Trafo Power Solutions is supplying three mini-substations and two transformers to a copper/zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Trafo Power Solutions MD David Claassen states... →

The above image depicts one of the three mini-substations by Trafo Power Solutions which are in an IP54 configuration – ensuring that the units are completely sealed from dust and water that could occur in the copper/zinc mine

NO ENTRY Trafo Power Solutions designed three mini-substations in an IP54 configuration, ensuring that the units are completely sealed from dust and water

Energy grid impedes excess power transmission

By: Lynne Davies 19th April 2024 South Africa’s current electricity transmission grid is generally constrained in the Cape provinces and unable to facilitate the connection of new utility-scale generation including that from solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind, says wind and solar energy facility developer JUWI Renewable Energies.... →

The above image depicts one of the solar plants engineered by JUWI

Photo by JUWI
REACHING LIMITS According to JUWI with the introduction of large-scale solar and wind in the cape provinces, the power flow of the national electricity transmission infrastructure, is being reversed. The network was not designed to achieve this, resulting in the installed capacity reaching its limits

VW Africa laments power outages in ECape; Patel says Electricity Minister is tackling the problem

By: Irma Venter 17th April 2024 Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) last week suffered four power outages at its Kariega plant, says VWA MD and chairperson Martina Biene. This happened while there was no loadshedding scheduled for the Eastern Cape. →

IIoT a potential solution for mitigating illegal connection challenges

By: Sabrina Jardim 15th April 2024 Illegal connections are one of the leading causes of electricity-related injuries and deaths in South Africa, while also posing a risk of fires and electrocutions in communities. It also adds to the costs incurred by power utilities and municipalities and, in turn, impair their ability to provide... →

Eskom mulls private, foreign options on R390-billion grid build

By: Bloomberg 12th April 2024 South Africa’s State-owned power utility Eskom said it’s in talks with government ministries over private and foreign options to fund a R390-billion expansion of its transmission network as more renewable generation comes online. Eskom supplies more than 80% of electricity to the continent’s most... →

Electricity outlook for winter

By: Creamer Media Reporter 12th April 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the halt in loadshedding over recent weeks; what South Africans should expect for the higher-demand winter period; and the longer-term outlook for South Africa's electricity sector. →

Electricity outlook for winter

Ramokgopa says ‘degree of convergence’ reached with NTCSA on unlocking private participation in grid

By: Terence Creamer 9th April 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that a “degree of convergence” has been reached between his Ministry and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) regarding private sector participation in the electricity grid and no further Cabinet approval is required ahead of... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

All conditions met for separation of NTCSA, but April deadline for full operationalisation missed

By: Terence Creamer 4th April 2024 All the suspensive conditions opening the way for the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) to be constituted as a separate, distinct and wholly-owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings have been met, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati have... →

Draft IRP 2023 lacks environmental, health, climate commitments, says Life After Coal

By: Schalk Burger 27th March 2024 Coal phase-out campaign the Life After Coal Campaign, in its comments on the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023, said the plan has fundamental flaws and expressed skepticism in the plan's ability to ensure cost-effective electricity supply, energy security and to uphold the Constitutional... →

A coal-fired power plant operated by Eskom

NTCSA unbundling secures lender consent, Ramokgopa confirms

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that Eskom’s eight “lender groups” have given their consent to the establishment of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) as a separate subsidiary under Eskom Holdings. Bondholder consent was one of several key approvals required... →

Company leverages offering, expertise to ‘redefine’ S Africa’s energy industry

By: Simone Liedtke 22nd March 2024 As South Africa’s energy sector continues to grapple with climate change and an increasing demand for electricity, electromechanical equipment manufacturer ACTOM is making significant strides in redefining the industry through its production of transformers, high-voltage equipment, switchgear and... →

MERVYN NAIDOO The company's offerings underscore its commitment to excellence and reliability

IRP 2023 comment deadline fast approaching

By: Creamer Media Reporter 20th March 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the fast-approaching deadline for public comment on the draft Integrated Resource Plan of 2023 and stakeholders' likely reaction. →

IRP 2023 comment deadline fast approaching

Conclusions in opaque IRP 2023 are ‘incorrect and economically damaging’

By: Terence Creamer 19th March 2024 In an excoriating assessment of the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 (IRP 2023), Meridian Economics points to serious problems with the modelling and cost assumptions used by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), which the consultancy says has resulted in “incorrect and... →

Unconstrained IRP would have far more wind and solar PV, analysis shows

Energy Regulator approvals mark another step towards NTCSA’s operationalisation

By: Terence Creamer 18th March 2024 South Africa’s Energy Regulator has taken another set of decisions opening the way for the operationalisation of a separate grid company in South Africa ahead of the far-reaching legislative changes approved by the National Assembly last week. On March 11, the Energy Regulator consented to the... →

South Africa’s next energy challenge: A R390-billion grid upgrade

By: Bloomberg 15th March 2024 South Africa is facing a monumental challenge as it seeks to end years of rolling electricity outages that have hobbled the economy: It needs to build and fund a R390-billion expansion of the national grid so it can connect more power plants. The transmission system is owned, managed and... →

Construction begins on wind farms to supply Secunda oxygen plants

By: Creamer Media Reporter 13th March 2024 Enel Green Power (EGP) South Africa has started construction of three new wind farms in the Eastern Cape, which will provide electricity to Air Liquide and Sasol in Secunda, Mpumalanga, through a wheeling framework agreement with Eskom. With a combined capacity of 330 MW, the Impofu East, Impofu... →

Andrea Ranieri, Alessandra Governanti, Louise Paulsen, Lasad Jaouani and Manuele Battisti at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Impofu Wind Farms

South Africa should get off global regulator's 'grey list' in 2025, says Kganyago

By: Reuters 13th March 2024 South Africa's central bank governor said on Wednesday that he was confident the country would be removed from an international financial crime watchdog's "grey list" next year, given the work that is under way to fix identified issues. The International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) last... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

IPPO confirms May 30 renewables bid deadline as it moves to accommodate grid quotes and curtailment

By: Terence Creamer 13th March 2024 The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that the deadline for submissions under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has been extended by a month to May 30 to accommodate both grid-connection quotes and a curtailment... →

South Africa won’t need Electricity Minister by end of 2024

By: Bloomberg 12th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said an anticipated improvement in electricity supply should see him out of a job by the end of 2024. The country, which has been plagued by crippling power cuts, will get an additional 6 000 megawatts of supply from State sources by the end of the year,... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Curtailment framework in play for current renewables bidding round, Ramokgopa confirms

By: Terence Creamer 11th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) have both confirmed that the curtailment framework outlined by Eskom in January is immediately available to wind IPPs preparing to bid under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of South Africa’s public renewables... →

Substation with wind turbines in the background

GDP figures cap decade of negative GDP per capita growth – BLSA

By: Schalk Burger 11th March 2024 While the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 0.1%, growth was negative in terms of GDP per capita, given that population growth is outpacing it. "We have been trending lower since 2013, and have now crowned a decade of negative per capita growth. South Africans... →

Locomotives used by Transnet Freight Rail

Business, govt meet to discuss electricity, logistics reforms

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th March 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the latest meeting held between senior business leaders and President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet; the feedback provided on efforts to tackle loadshedding; and a report back on the Transnet Recovery Plan and the reforms in the logistics sector. →

Business, govt meet to discuss electricity, logistics reforms

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