Study under way into producing green direct reduced iron at mothballed Saldanha Works

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is moving ahead with a study into the production of green hydrogen directly reduced iron (gHDRI) at its mothballed Saldanha Steel Works, in the... 

Win-win solution

As outlined previously in this column, it makes sense to place exports at the heart of South Africa’s upcoming Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy, despite misplaced concern that this... 

Transnet’s recovery plan premised on securing govt capital injection

Absent an equity injection or debt relief from government, Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu says the State-owned entity will not be able to deliver on what he described as a “credible” recovery... 

$1bn World Bank loan to support South Africa's energy reforms and decarbonisation

The World Bank has approved a $1-billion Development Policy Loan (DPL) to support market reports under way in the country, as well as South Africa's low-carbon transition.   

‘Height of folly’ to develop overreliance on aged coal plants for future supply

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says attention should shift to adding new and cleaner generation to the loadshedding-prone electricity system, acknowledging that it would be the “height... 

Pace of energy transition will define South Africa’s economic prospects – Olver

Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) executive director Dr Crispian Olver says South Africa’s energy transition and the pace at which it progresses will determine the country’s long-term economic... 

Standard Bank to finance 4 GW of renewables projects in next 12 months

Standard Bank reports that it has financed 400 MW of distributed generation since government’s recent decision to allow utility scale projects of any size to proceed without a licence even when... 

TSAM, Air Products and Sasol team up to showcase potential of locally produced hydrogen as transport fuel

In a milestone for South Africa’s nascent green hydrogen economy, three large corporates have teamed up to showcase the potential of using domestically produced hydrogen as a zero-emission... 

Export component of SA’s green hydrogen strategy will seek to lock in price subsidies

The initial export component of South Africa’s yet-to-be-approved Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy is not premised on the trade of scarce renewable electrons – converted into molecules or... 

Still no solution

For decades now, the issue of the debt owed by municipalities to Eskom has not only remained an intractable problem but one that has grown in both scale and in its potential to create financial... 

Cabinet approves Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy

Cabinet has approved the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy (GHCS) for implementation, with the goal of positioning South Africa as a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen.... 

UK pledges R20m to identify bankable African critical minerals processing prospects

The UK will make R20-million in funding available to help identify the most bankable opportunities for African countries to attract investment into the processing of critical minerals. Boston... 

Ramaphosa says loadshedding corner has been turned as another Kusile unit restarts

African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa claims that South Africa “has turned a definite corner as far as loadshedding is concerned”, adding that the levels and frequency of loadshedding... 

Three coastal provinces move to partner on green hydrogen ahead of finalisation of country strategy

The Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces have agreed to team up in a bid to position South Africa as a global hub for the production of green hydrogen and derivative products, as well as to... 

Small set of common ESG standards should govern access to capital for critical minerals investment – BHP

BHP CEO Mike Henry has called for a “small set of common standards” covering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) to underpin the access to capital required to unlock investment in the... 

Roadmap to ‘fundamentally reform’ freight logistics sector by end of this month

Government has committed to finalise a Freight Logistics Roadmap, outlining a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics system, by the end of October. The commitment was made... 

IDC reports surge in disbursements to R17.8bn despite economic headwinds

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has reported a 147% surge in disbursements to R17.8-billion for 2022/23, up from only R7.2-billion in the prior year – a performance that is within... 

Why export?

When the topic of green hydrogen arises in South Africa, two concerns are commonly raised, and these will remain significant issues to address should South Africa eventually begin to develop the... 

Study under way into producing green direct reduced iron at mothballed Saldanha Works

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is moving ahead with a study into the production of green hydrogen directly reduced iron (gHDRI) at its mothballed Saldanha Steel Works, in the... 

Kusile Unit 3 supplying 720 MW to grid, Eskom confirms

Eskom has confirmed that Unit 3 at the Kusile coal-fired power station is currently providing 720 MW into the electricity grid using a temporary flue that bypasses the flue-gas desulphurisation... 

Early Kusile restart uncertain as Creecy adjudicates emissions appeal

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed that Minister Barbara Creecy is still adjudicating an appeal of the National Air Quality Officer’s (NAQO’s) decision... 

Grid investment ‘fully funded’ for next three years, but scale-up requires alternative models

Eskom has indicated that it has sufficient funding for the coming three years for the grid infrastructure investments that will be pursued in line with its Transmission Development Plan, but says... 

Gordhan criticises Eskom’s ‘elongated’ restructuring timelines, wants grid company trading from next month

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has criticised Eskom’s “elongated” restructuring timeframes and has called for greater urgency and drive from the utility in completing the remaining... 

Noxious trade-offs

The decision by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy to uphold a decision of the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) to permit the Kusile power station to postpone its... 

Pace of energy transition will define South Africa’s economic prospects – Olver

Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) executive director Dr Crispian Olver says South Africa’s energy transition and the pace at which it progresses will determine the country’s long-term economic... 

Fuel cell electric vehicle demonstration seen as catalyst for nascent green hydrogen economy

In a milestone for South Africa’s nascent green hydrogen economy, three large corporates have teamed up to showcase the potential of using domestically produced hydrogen as a zero-emission... 

As Kusile unit returns early, South Africa misses renewables procurement deadline

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has welcomed the earlier-than-expected return of Kusile Unit 3 coal-fired generation, but has also acknowledged that government simultaneously failed to... 

JET pledges rise to $11.9bn as South Africa moves to finalise implementation plan

The South African government has received additional pledges, worth nearly $3.5-billion, in support of its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP), increasing the overall envelope of... 

Export component of South Africa’s green hydrogen strategy will seek to lock in price subsidies

The initial export component of South Africa’s yet-to-be-approved Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy is not premised on the trade of scarce renewable electrons – converted into molecules or... 

Renewables-hosting capacity of existing Western Cape grid could be doubled with 10% curtailment

An assessment by two leading European transmission system operators (TSOs) of an Eskom-generated grid analysis shows that the capacity of the existing Western Cape grid to host variable renewable... 

SIU’s Mothibi says contents of private Eskom investigation ‘cannot be ignored’

Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi says the fact that former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter did not receive board authorisation to commission a private intelligence investigation into... 

Localisation policy locking SA into ‘wrong path’ – report

A new Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) report argues that the South African government’s policy of localisation is locking the country “into the wrong path” of rising protection and... 

Solutions vs problems

There are many differences between Australia and South Africa, and these should not be dismissed or diminished. However, there are also several similarities, particularly when it comes to natural... 

Small set of common ESG standards should govern access to capital for critical minerals investment - BHP

BHP CEO Mike Henry has called for a “small set of common standards” covering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) to underpin the access to capital required to unlock investment in the... 

Eskom aiming not to breach Stage 4 loadshedding this summer

Eskom is aiming to limit loadshedding to Stage 4 during the summer months to the end of March by restricting unplanned breakdowns to 14 500 MW during what is also its high-maintenance season, when... 

Roadmap to ‘fundamentally reform’ freight logistics sector by end of October

Government has committed to finalise a Freight Logistics Roadmap, outlining a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics system, by the end of October. The commitment was made... 

IDC reports surge in disbursements to R17.8bn despite economic headwinds

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has reported a 147% surge in disbursements to R17.8-billion for 2022/23, up from only R7.2-billion in the prior year – a performance that is within... 

Creecy upholds decision allowing Kusile to bypass pollution system, with tighter conditions

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has upheld the decision of the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) to permit the temporary operation of the Kusile coal power station... 

Early Kusile restart uncertain as Creecy adjudicates emissions appeal

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed that Minister Barbara Creecy is still adjudicating an appeal of the National Air Quality Officer’s (NAQO’s) decision... 

Kenhardt hybrid plant to prove competitiveness of dispatchable renewables – Scatec CEO

The global head of renewable-energy group Scatec is “extremely enthusiastic” about the market opportunities in South Africa, where he says variable wind and solar generation offer the cheapest and...