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Energy Services News
Disused coal mines have potential to heat homes with lower-carbon energy
By: Donna Slater 3rd August 2021 The UK Coal Authority posits that water from flooded coal mines has the potential to be used in the heating of UK homes and industry as a source of lower-carbon energy. In a December 2020 report, the authority states that mines are warmed by natural geothermal processes and, where the mines are... →
Other procurement plans not affected by RMIPPPP deadline delay to end Sept – DMRE 
By: Terence Creamer 2nd August 2021 The deadline for projects selected as preferred bids under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) to reach commercial close has been extended to September 30, from an initial deadline of the end of July. However, the Department of Mineral Resources and... →
Minister Gwede Mantashe announced the initial end-July commercial-close deadline on March 18
Ramaphosa sees big green economy opportunity in ‘bold’ climate commitment
By: Terence Creamer 30th July 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is time for South Africa to “grasp the nettle” and embark on a “transformative path” towards a climate-resilient society both to fulfil its moral obligations in the face of an intensifying crisis, but also to seize the economic and job opportunities that are... →
Rio Tinto inks power deal to supply its ilmenite operation in Madagascar
By: Donna Slater 26th July 2021 Diversified miner Rio Tinto has signed a power purchase agreement for a new renewable energy plant to power the operations of its QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) ilmenite mine in Fort Dauphin, southern Madagascar. The renewable energy plant, to be built, owned and operated by independent power... →
Carbon emissions to reach record levels in 2023 as stimulus spending fails to match net-zero ambition
By: Terence Creamer 20th July 2021 The financial resources allocated by governments globally to clean-energy measures in response to the Covid-19 crisis currently represents only 2% of the $16-trillion in total fiscal support set aside for economic stimulus, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) new Sustainable Recovery... →
Schneider Electric, AVEVA partner to help customers improve their sustainability
By: Donna Slater 19th July 2021 Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric and industrial software developer AVEVA report that their combined technology offerings are supporting the sustainability initiatives of mining companies. The partner companies aim to decarbonise the mining, minerals and metals value... →
DMRE continues to monitor safety, security of energy and mining sectors
By: Simone Liedtke 15th July 2021 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) continues to monitor the safety and security of the energy and mining sectors amid ongoing acts of looting, destruction in violence across South Africa, but particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede... →
WPIC encourages use of platinum-using PEMs for overcoming energy storage problems
By: Donna Slater 14th July 2021 The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) reports that, as renewable energy solutions are increasingly rolled out around the globe, technologies that can smooth their power deliverance are also increasingly being needed to ensure power generated by renewables can be used efficiently. The WPIC... →
Mantashe 'grapples' with difference between a permit and licence as 100-MW reform drafting nears completion 
By: Terence Creamer 7th July 2021 Mineral Resource and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says that a revised amendment to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, reflecting an increase in the licence-exemption cap from 1 MW to 100 MW, will be finalised within the coming week and will be shared with The Presidency “so that we... →
Mining vital to economy, can help guide country's path – President
By: Martin Creamer 5th July 2021 Mining is vital to the South African economy and the opportunities that exist in mining can help guide the country’s path to a more inclusive and equitable economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Monday. Writing in his From the Desk of the President column, Ramaphosa placed mineral and... →
Mintek chairperson passes away
By: Simone Liedtke 2nd July 2021 Stake-owned Mintek board chairperson Dr Vanguard Mkhosana has passed away. Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo on July 2 confirmed Mkhosana’s death, offering condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mkhosana. →
Manufacturer invests in autonomy research
By: Halima Frost 2nd July 2021 As part of a continuous effort to optimise payload and improve customers’ profit margins, while decreasing emissions and impact on the environment, South African earthmoving equipment provider Bell Equipment has invested heavily in research and development in its drive toward realising full... →
Anglo operations to be powered by renewables
2nd July 2021 Diversified major Anglo American has secured renewable energy to meet its power requirements for its operations in South America. With its newest agreement signed in April, to provide renewable energy to its Quellaveco copper mine in Moquegua, Peru, production is expected to begin in 2022. →
Decentralised power projects on a positive trajectory, says Nedbank CIB’s Peo
By: Donna Slater 24th June 2021 The South Africa power sector is undergoing a major shift towards decentralised power projects as a “massive energy crisis” grips the country, says Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) infrastructure, energy and telecommunications head Mike Peo. Speaking during an Infrastructure Africa... →
Companies cooperate to put to market lithium industry-focussed power system
By: Donna Slater 21st June 2021 Technology group Wärtsilä and energy management and automation company Schneider Electric have developed an end-to-end power system reference design, aimed specifically at lithium mine operations where there is no access to a grid supply of electricity. The solution contributes to sustainable... →
Kibo Energy seeks to sell coal assets as its focus shifts to renewables
By: Simone Liedtke 17th June 2021 Africa and UK-focused energy company Kibo Energy’s primary focus going forward will be on renewable energy opportunities, part of which will see Kibo jointly develop a portfolio of waste-to-energy projects in South Africa. Kibo, therefore, intends to appoint specialist advisers to assist it in... →
Reinvestment in South Africa needed to ‘plant the seeds’ for a better future, says Exxaro
By: Simone Liedtke 15th June 2021 Reinvestment is needed to “plant the seeds” and create a better future for South Africa, says diversified miner Exxaro Resources projects and technology executive head Johan Meyer. This is especially critical considering that Covid-19 has made it more challenging to secure investments, but also... →
Electrification, digitalisation and automation to increase mines safety and productivity
By: Donna Slater 10th June 2021 South African mines wanting to drive greater operational safety, productivity and sustainability, as well as increase mine life, should tap into electrification, digitalisation and automation, says engineering company ABB South Africa process industries division manager John Manuell. From a... →
Ramaphosa moves to tackle growth-sapping electricity crisis by increasing licence-exemption cap on distributed projects to 100 MW
By: Terence Creamer 10th June 2021 In a surprise move, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that the licence-exemption cap on self- or distributed-generation plants would be raised from 1 MW to 100 MW to help address the country's electricity crisis, which has been weighing down economic growth and confidence for more... →
Busa says GDP growth has been ‘rolled back’ by recent bouts of load-shedding
By: Simone Liedtke 10th June 2021 Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has warned that, despite optimism generated by recent gross domestic product (GDP) numbers, this growth “has been rolled back” by the load-shedding implemented by State-owned power utility Eskom in the past two weeks, which escalated to Stage 4 on June 9.... →
Stage 2 load-shedding to resume from 16:00
By: Simone Liedtke 1st June 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom will again be implementing Stage 2 load-shedding from 16:00 on June 1 to 05:00 on June 2. This is owing to further breakdowns of generating units at the Kriel, Arnot, Majuba and Tutuka power stations over the past 24 hours, as well as delays in returning units to... →
Vanadium continues to support circular economy adoption, says Bushveld Minerals
By: Simone Liedtke 31st May 2021 Vanadium batteries continue to support the world’s adoption of a circular economy by providing a sustainable, safe and low-cost energy option with a lifecycle of more than 20 years. Over its lifespan, vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) technology offers the lowest cost per kiloWatt-hour stored,... →
‘Ambiguous’ draft Electricity Regulation Act amendment will fail to unlock investment
By: Terence Creamer 26th May 2021 A regulatory reform exempting small and medium-sized electricity generation projects from the requirement of a National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) licence is an “obvious and easy way to liberate a huge pipeline of investment that will assist South Africa to have sufficient... →
Professor Anton Eberhard
50 MW reform won't hurt Eskom and would stimulate recovery, leading proponent outlines in submission
By: Terence Creamer 25th May 2021 The organisation whose initial analysis indicated that reforming Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act to exempt embedded generation projects of at least 50 MW in size from the country’s cumbersome licencing process could unlock 5 000 MW of new capacity within five years has made its... →
EIUG rejects ‘arbitrary licensing threshold’ as 10 MW versus 50 MW debate rages
By: Terence Creamer 24th May 2021 Large electricity consumers have again called for proposed amendments to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, which governs the registration and licensing of distributed-generation plants, to be “meaningful” in a context where load-shedding cost the economy up to R160-billion in 2020... →
Pan African lifts full-year guidance on heels of robust operational performance
By: Donna Slater 21st May 2021 Aim- and JSE-listed midtier gold producer Pan African Resources has raised its production guidance for the financial year to end on June 30, by 5 000 oz to 195 000 oz. It plans to maintain a similar production level for the 2022 financial year, based on current planning. →
Operation Vulindlela ‘close to resolving’ debate on easing path for distributed power projects
By: Terence Creamer 21st May 2021 Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo reports that Operation Vulindlela is close to resolving an ongoing policy discussion within government on the reforms needed to increase electricity supply “by allowing the private sector to invest more freely in its own generation”. Delivering his Budget... →
Mantashe again swats away calls for 50 MW licence-exemption cap on distributed plants
By: Terence Creamer 18th May 2021 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has again swatted aside calls for a 50 MW licence-exemption threshold for distributed-generation plants, describing such calls, which have been made by organised business and even endorsed by Eskom, as “academic” in light of a departmental... →
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe
Eskom highlights financial limitations as it mulls industrial applications for discounted tariffs
By: Terence Creamer 12th May 2021 State-owned electricity producer Eskom confirms that it has been approached by customers in various industrial sectors with regard to possible applications for discounted Negotiated Pricing Agreements (NPAs), but says its weak financial position prevents widespread implementation. The first NPA... →
‘Right policy changes’ could ignite R150bn in electricity investment by private firms
By: Terence Creamer 10th May 2021 Business Leadership South Africa, which is made up of some of South Africa's largest domestic and multinational companies, estimates that private firms would move to invest billions in new power generation capacity in the near term should the rules governing embedded or distributed plants be... →
Ministerial determination sanctioning private power procurement would spur investment, clear regulatory blockages
By: Terence Creamer 5th May 2021 The chairperson of the South African Independent Power Producer Association (SAIPPA) believes that the quickest and cheapest way to reduce, or eliminate, South Africa’s growth-sapping risk of load-shedding would be for Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to issue a Ministerial... →
Energy specialist encourages mines to consider hybrid energy systems
By: Simone Liedtke 5th May 2021 Electrical energy solutions provider Senergy energy specialist Wilco de Villiers has encouraged miners to consider the value of implementing hybrid energy systems at their operations, as mines cannot function effectively without reliable energy supply. Speaking during this year’s Energy & Mines... →
African miners note benefits of investing in renewables 
By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th May 2021 The mounting pressure by governments and investors on industries globally to reduce emissions, coupled with favourable economics and the need for reliable and cost efficient power, are increasingly nudging mining companies towards considering renewable energy. TSX- and LSE-listed gold miner... →
Appetite for renewables remains strong, despite economic uncertainties
By: Simone Liedtke 4th May 2021 Despite ongoing economic uncertainties globally, investor appetite for renewables remains strong, with optioned renewable capacity increasing by 15% year-on-year in the nine months from January through to October 2020, compared with the same period the previous year. This sets a new record, juwi... →
Raising distributed generator licence-exemption cap to 10 MW ‘does not go far enough’
By: Terence Creamer 3rd May 2021 Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) says a proposed amendment to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, which would raise the licence exemption threshold for private distributed-generation plants from 1 MW to 10 MW, “does not go far enough”. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede... →
Proposed regulation lifting ‘embedded generation’ licence-exemption cap to 10 MW released for comment
By: Terence Creamer 23rd April 2021 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has released, for public comment, an amendment to the Electricity Regulation Act, proposing an increase in the licensing-exemption threshold for embedded power generation plants from 1 MW to 10 MW. The Gazette notice, which was published on... →
Energy expert writes to government calling for overhaul of RMIPPPP ahead of July financial close
By: Terence Creamer 19th April 2021 An energy expert has written to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office to highlight the expensive shortcomings of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), which he says should be replaced by a... →
Kibo advances Benga power project with Mozambique energy utility
By: Simone Liedtke 12th April 2021 Africa-focused Kibo Energy and its local joint venture (JV) partners have agreed on the next steps towards the ultimate finalisation of a power purchase agreement (PPA) at the company’s Benga power plant project (BPPP), in Mozambique, following a discussion with Mozambique energy utility... →
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