Eskom wants government to intervene to shore up domestic coal supply

Electricity utility Eskom is lobbying hard for a fundamental overhaul of South Africa’s current coal-mining policy and legislative environment, which it argues is placing future power supply security at risk. The State-owned utility would like...

Real Economy Report

We report on the argument that South Africa's energy regulator doesn't have legal and policy tools necessary to adjudicate Eskom's unpopular tariff request; nickel junior African Nickel eyes high profits at a ‘moderate' global nickel price; and,...

Daily podcast – January 25, 2010

The proposed price increases could be "materially damaging" to the mining and mineral processing sectors; and Gold Fields calls for the implementation of a broadbased tax rather than the proposed power price hike of 35% a year.

Big electricity hikes will be ‘materially damaging’ to SA mines

In the absence of the finalisation of the country’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), power utility Eskom’s proposed tariff increases could have material implications for the structure of South Africa’s electricity supply industry (ESI), as...

Daily podcast - July 3, 2009

In today's podcast, South Africa needs a clear coal strategy to meet its future electricity needs; and Zimbabwe appeals to Chinese firms to invest in its mines.

SA needs clear energy strategy to ensure future coal requirements

South Africa currently produces about 250-million tons of coal a year. In the next ten years, it is estimated that about 48-million tons a year of this capacity will be lost as mines reach the end of their productive lives and close. Considering...

Clear energy strategy needed to ensure future coal requirements, project planning

South Africa currently produces about 250million tons of coal a year (mt/y). In the next ten years it is estimated that about 48mt/y of this capacity will be lost as mines reach the end of their productive lives, and close.

Daily podcast – June 26, 2009

In today's podcast: the interim increase in electricity tariffs would add an additional R2-billion in costs to the South African mining industry; and about four Indonesian investors are interested in taking over a coal project owned by BHP Billiton.

POWER STRUGGLE

Dick Kruger, techno-economic adviser to South Africa's Chamber of Mines, at recent public hearings into Eskom's application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa for an "interim" 34% increase for the 2009/10 financial year. Kruger...

SA mining sector wants longer-term power tariff plan

South Africa’s Chamber of Mines said on Monday that the country’s energy regulator should allow power utility Eskom a “sufficient” interim tariff to enable it to operate in a sustainable manner until the second multiyear price...

SA mining sector wants longer-term power pricing plan

South Africa’s Chamber of Mines said on Monday that the country’s energy regulator should allow power utility Eskom a “sufficient” interim tariff to enable it to operate in a sustainable manner until the second multiyear price...

Looming diesel shortage could mean trouble

Global diesel demand has more than doubled since 1994, raising the fuel’s price dramatically. The increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including a significant industry boom in South Africa, India and China, a recent proliferation...