DA to insist Eskom invoke penalty clauses over Hitachi’s Medupi, Kusile delays

ABB wins US$50m contract in Mozambique

Building of PE wind farm begins

Eskom looking at fine coal for power generation

Opposition parties irate at Eskom’s BHP Billiton deal

Anglo eyes SA power plant project

Eskom seeks ‘coal pact’ to avert extra tariff hikes

‘Eskom supports coal miners’

Eskom to replace six Koeberg steam generators

Chinese firm plans $3.5bn Zim power plant

Articles in category: Utilities

1. First Solar gearing up for SA’s next renewables bid window Explore Engineering News (May 8 2013) Sustainable Procurement , Utilities Thin-film photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer and solar project developer First Solar, of the US, is preparing a number of projects for submission during the third bid window under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Regional director Johan Cilliers, who joined the group at the end of last year, having worked previously for General Electric, Siemens and Eskom, tells Engineering News Online that it currently has a pipeline of potential Southern Africa projects collectively representing 1 000 MW of capacity. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Australia   California   Asia

2. Eskom’s power grid on the brink Explore iol.co.za (May 6 2013) Utilities Johannesburg - South Africa's national grid came within a hair's breadth of overloading last week, suggesting the region's top economy is going to battle to keep the lights on with the approach of the southern hemisphere winter. State-run power utility Eskom said on Monday that demand last Thursday peaked at 32,081 MW and was met by a supply of only 32,103 MW - a gap of just 0.06 percent. This means that an unexpected problem at a power station or a surge in demand on that day would have tripped the national grid. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Reuters   South Africa   Johannesburg

3. Medupi on ‘tight schedule’ to deliver power by December Explore BDlive (Apr 11 2013) Utilities THE construction of the Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo is on a "tight schedule" to deliver its first power by the end of the year, Eskom said on Thursday.  "As Eskom, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that we deliver by its target," CEO Brian Dames told reporters after a site inspection.  "Most of the construction, as you’ve seen today (Thursday), is on track", he said.  The Medupi timelines were reviewed in November last year, and it was found that the target date of first power by late this year could be achieved with "significant effort ... (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Eskom   ANC

4. DoE to approach small power producers for REIPPPP before year-end Explore Engineering News (Apr 9 2013) Demand Management , Sustainable Procurement , Utilities The Department of Energy (DoE) will, before the end of this year, advertise for small power producers, with projects under 5 MW, to participate in its small-generator programme under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), DoE deputy director-general of energy for programmes and projects Dr Wolsey Barnard said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Power & Electricity World Africa conference, in Sandton, on behalf of Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, he noted that the small-generator programme was designed to stimulate participation of small and emerging project developers. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   South Africa   Eskom

5. Debunking Myths About Energy Purchasing Explore Energy Manager Today (Feb 15 2013) Risk Management , Utilities An online poll conducted during an Energy Manager Today webinar this week found that the majority of webinar participants only looked at their energy procurement strategy once a year. Karl Van Orsdol, national account manager with DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability, said, “You can develop and purchase a supply portfolio to meet your load needs, but you must be cognizant of the attendant risks. Electricity is the most volatile commodity in world.” Some  of the factors to consider when purchasing a facility’s energy are............................ (Read Full Article)

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6. Respected experts add their voices to oppose Eskom’s ridiculous hikes Explore iol.co.za (Jan 21 2013) Sourcing , Utilities Just maybe the National Energy Regulator of SA hearings will awaken Eskom from its long sojourn in lala land as respected voices have now weighed in with intelligent submissions on Eskom’s outrageous demands for multiple tariff increases. We are told that a significant component of the demands is to accommodate depreciation on Eskom’s assets as essentially revalued by the ANC, a body not known for its accountancy skills. But we must maintain the principle that power stations cannot be ordinarily depreciated...........  (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Africa   BHP Billiton   Eskom

7. Eskom ends objections to Glencore-Xstrata Explore iol.co.za (Jan 18 2013) Utilities , Metals & Minerals South African power utility Eskom said on Friday it has withdrawn its objections to the takeover of miner Xstrata by commodities trader Glencore , removing a potential hurdle to the $33 billion deal. Eskom said it had agreed with Glencore on a framework for their discussions on coal supply and address the utility's concerns about getting sufficient product at the right price. Eskom initially asked South Africa's competition regulator to impose conditions on the Glencore to ensure its coal supplies were not at risk. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Reuters   Africa   South Africa

8. Eskom: increasing tariffs the only way Explore iol.co.za (Jan 15 2013) Public Sector , Utilities Economic models show it is better and fairer for tariffs - not taxes - to pay for electricity, the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) heard on Tuesday. If electricity was sold at the “right price”, it would be used more efficiently, so less would have to be invested in new generating capacity, Eskom CEO Brian Dames and chief financial officer Paul O'Flaherty said in a joint presentation at public hearings called by Nersa. The energy regulator is currently holding public hearings on Eskom's proposed revenue application multi-year price determination 2013/14, otherwise known as MYPD3. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Eskom

9. Merafe-Xstrata JV to shut furnaces Explore iol.co.za (Dec 12 2012) Utilities A joint-venture between South African ferrochrome producer Merafe Resources and London-listed Xstrata will shut five of 20 furnaces between January and March next year to help power utility Eskom manage a tight electricity supply. Merafe said in a statement on Wednesday the shutdown will result in a production loss of 100,000 tonnes but added the arrangement “will be mutually beneficial to Eskom and the venture and will not result in job losses at these furnaces.” - Reuters (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Reuters   Eskom

10. ‘Eskom supports coal miners’ Explore iol.co.za (Dec 10 2012) Resources , Utilities , Metals & Minerals A strategy is in place to enable emerging coal miners to play a bigger role in the supply of coal to Eskom, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Monday. “Eskom is in the process of developing the strategy, which would enable emerging miners to play a greater role in the supply of coal for power generation in South Africa... and take transformation in the industry to a new level,” Gigaba said in a statement. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   Eskom

11. ABB wins Limpopo solar power orders worth $225m Explore Engineering News (Dec 4 2012) Utilities Power and automation technology group ABB has won orders worth about $225-million to supply two turnkey photovoltaic (PV) power plants that will be built in Limpopo. Core Energy and Erika Energy, two special purpose entities whose main shareholders include Sun Edison, placed the orders for the plants, which would be located at the new Witkop and Soutpan solar parks, near Polokwane. The plants will have a generating capacity of 33 MW and 31 MW, respectively, and the power generated will be fed into the high-voltage transmission grid through a new high-voltage substation. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Eskom

12. Eskom coal suppliers still awaiting water-use licence Explore Engineering News (Dec 4 2012) Resources , Utilities , Metals & Minerals Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said that 21 mines currently supplying coal to State-owned power utility Eskom were operating without a water-use licence. In response to a Parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Gareth Morgan, Gigaba said that the coal mines were waiting for approvals by the Department of Water Affairs for water-use licence applications submitted. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   Eskom   Democratic Alliance

13. Eskom seeks ‘coal pact’ to avert extra tariff hikes Explore BDlive (Nov 27 2012) Resources , Utilities , Metals & Minerals ESKOM CEO Brian Dames is calling for a "country pact" with the coal industry to limit future increases to the inflation rate, warning that without it South Africa faced even higher electricity tariff increases than the 16% it has asked for over the next five years.  The 16% application has elicited howls of protest from business — including miners — as it will add significantly to their costs and undermine South African industry’s competitiveness. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   India   South Africa   Parliament

14. Resignations at state-owned companies raise concerns Explore BDlive (Nov 25 2012) Utilities , People on the move The latest in a series of high-profile resignations at state-owned companies in recent months is Paul O'Flaherty, chief financial officer of Eskom. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   World Bank   BHP Billiton

15. Shanduka to start on wind power plant Explore fin24.com (Nov 22 2012) Sustainable Procurement , Public Sector , Utilities Cyril Ramaphosa's company Shanduka and its consortium partners will shortly begin construction of a 73.8MW wind power project near Victoria West in the Karoo.  The project‚ Noblesfontein Wind Power Project‚ reached financial close earlier this month‚ Shanduka said on Thursday.  The project is one of those identified by the Department of Energy as part of the first round of its Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Johannesburg   Eskom

16. Consortium to begin work soon on SA wind and solar projects Explore Engineering News (Nov 13 2012) Utilities , Capital Equipment The developers of the 138 MW Jeffreys Bay wind farm, in the Eastern Cape, as well as a 50 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in De Aar and the 50 MW solar PV farm in Droogfontein, both in the Northern Cape, expect to begin construction soon and say all projects should be fully operational by mid-2014. Collectively the projects will produce 635 GWh of electricity yearly, which the developers estimate to be sufficient to supply up to 48 000 households.  All three projects were named as part of the first batch of 28 preferred projects unveiled following the first bid ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   Siemens   Absa

17. Anglo, Eskom seal Kusile deal Explore BDlive (Nov 11 2012) Resources , Utilities Anglo American Thermal Coal and Eskom this week pledged to get the first unit of the six-unit Kusile power station on stream by 2014 and the rest of the units running by the scheduled 2018 date. Eskom’s main contract is with Anglo Coal.   (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   BHP Billiton   Eskom

18. Neotel upbeat on growth as revenue rises 10% Explore BDlive (Nov 7 2012) Utilities , Electronic & High Tech Telecommunications group Neotel has added 30,000 new consumer clients in the six months to September, taking its total subscribers to 130,000, it said on Wednesday. It grew enterprise customers by 18% to 2,400 during the same period.  It attributed this to the demand for its products such as NeoOne, an "innovative, converged data and voice solution" for business, that have been "making a noticeable impact in the market". (Read Full Article)

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19. Power utility axes ‘corrupt’ boss Explore iol.co.za (Nov 2 2012) Procurement Ethics , Utilities Tanzania’s state-run power company had sacked its managing director over allegations of embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office, the utility company said on Wednesday. The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) board said that an audit report confirmed managing director William Mhando had flouted company regulations and was guilty of conflict of interest in awarding a tender to his own private company. “The auditor and controller general has found clear evidence of abuse of company procedures and abuse of office against the managing director,” Tanesco said in a statement. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Reuters

20. Wind energy localisation targets achievable, says senior IDC manager Explore Engineering News (Oct 23 2012) Sustainable Procurement , Utilities The localisation targets for wind energy, which starts at 25% in round one of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP), increasing to 40% by round three were certainly achievable, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) senior account manager Piet Badenhorst said on Tuesday.“If you look at the typical turbine it consists 60% of the total project cost, so on the balance of plant you can already get close to the 40%,” he said at the 2012 Windaba in Cape Town. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa   Siemens   Cape Town

21. DBSA approves R10bn for renewables Explore iol.co.za (Oct 22 2012) Sustainable Procurement , Utilities The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved loan facilities amounting to R9.6 billion earmarked for renewable energy projects to support the establishment of the renewable energy sector(representing 896.5 MW of the 3 725 MW national target) in South Africa. These projects form part of the 28 successful preferred bidders of the first bid window for the Renewable Independent Power Producers Programme launched by the Department of Energy in August 2011. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   South Africa

22. Coal strike threat to power Explore iol.co.za (Oct 13 2012) Utilities , Metals & Minerals R118 million in coal production has already been lost due to strikes by mid-September. Brewing strike action in the coal sector is “deeply concerning”, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has said. “I am deeply concerned about the industrial action that has kicked off in the coal sector,” he said in Johannesburg. Coal is vitally needed for in electricity production. Speaking at Eskom’s report on the state of the electricity supply going into summer, Gigaba urged the mining sector to resolve the industrial action taking place at some coal mines in Mpumalanga. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Johannesburg   Eskom   Jacob Zuma

23. ABB wins US$50m contract in Mozambique Explore iol.co.za (Sep 25 2012) Utilities Power and automation technologies group‚ ABB‚ announced on Tuesday it has been awarded an order worth US$50 million from Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa to refurbish the Songo high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station in Mozambique. The contract entails the replacement of key equipment‚ including high-voltage transformers and direct current (DC) smoothing reactors. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Africa   Mozambique   Eskom

24. Chinese firm plans $3.5bn Zim power plant Explore iol.co.za (Sep 18 2012) Utilities China's Guangdong Bureau of Coal Geology plans to invest $3.5 billion to build a 1,200 megawatt thermal power plant in Zimbabwe, local media reported on Tuesday. The southern African country currently generates about 1,000 MW of electricity, half of its peak demand, and is battling frequent power cuts which have affected industry and mines. A delegation from the Chinese company is currently visiting Zimbabwe to explore opportunities............ (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Reuters   Beijing   China

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