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Wednesday, September 17, 2008.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon O'Donnell.

Making headlines today:

State power utility Eskom will unveil the first cogeneration projects by the end of this month. They will form part of the Pilot National Cogeneration Project. But it is unclear whether these projects will meet the initial 900-MW target.

PNCP project leader Akash Prakash stressed that the initiative is the forerunner to the larger medium-term power purchase programme. Bids for this progamme have to be submitted by year-end.

Engineering News Online reported previously that the utility had received more than 15 cogeneration bids submitted ahead of the PNCP's May 31 deadline. Together with the MTPPP, it was hopeful of facilitating the introduction of about 3 000 MW of cogenerated power between now and 2012.

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Rainbow Millennium Power Company director Hugo Stewart said on Tuesday that there was huge potential for using circulating fluidised bed technology to generate energy from waste coal.

The company is working in partnership with other companies to establish a 270-MW CFB plant in Richards Bay. This could be increased by a further 270 MW.

CFB is a clean-coal technology that is well known overseas. There are about 1 000 CFB plants worldwide, with about 70 GW of electricity being generated.

Not only can the CFB plant use waste coal to produce electricity, it can also be used to beneficiate ash for use as a cement by-product, landfill material and for agricultural lining uses.

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Anglo Platinum's Amandelbult mine, near Rustenburg, remained shut on Tuesday. This is following a transport derailment fatality on Monday in which one worker died.

Spokesperson Simon Tebele said that a full investigation was under way. It will hold a meeting and presentation with the Department of Minerals and Energy on Thursday. The mine will remain closed until then.

Angloplat has also arranged an entire day workshop on Thursday. Management and union representatives will address employees on the issue of safety in mines.

Also making headlines:

South Africa sets 400-million rand aside for its hydrogen-economy push
Eskom says that the decision processes for its nuclear project are in progress
Africa's sugar industry is said to hold massive energy potential
Kinross Gold says it owns 90,7% of Aurelian Resources
A US precious metals adviser says that gold is an ‘innocent bystander' in the Wall Street 'hurricane'
And, the NUM is to stage a march against Angloplat's social and labour plans

In political news:

Morgan Tsvangirai wants trials held for Zimbabwe violence
The Australian mining boom is linked to increased HIV infections
Israel's Kadima are to vote on a new leader
And, South Africa's labour minister says that the skills shortage not behind poor BEE performance

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories, visit engineeringnews.co.za, miningweekly.com and polity.org.za