Eskom COO sees some light at the end of the tunnel, despite utility's debt burden

Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer says he sees some light at the end of the Eskom tunnel as long as the utility gets financial assistance from government. He told delegates attending the Southern Africa... 

Plans to speed up electrification in Africa

Africa needs to connect around 73-million people to electricity every year to reach the goal of affordable and sustainable energy for every single African by 2030, says the African Union (AU)... 

Sense of excitement as power plan includes scope for wind scale-up

With the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) due to be finalised and a generous share of the energy mix being set aside for wind power, the winds of change are blowing across the industry in South... 

Southern African wind energy association launched

A regional association that will focus on unlocking wind energy opportunities across Southern Africa has been launched at the annual Windaba wind energy conference in Cape Town.   Known as Wind... 

Saudi Arabia aims to be global logistics hub

Saudi Arabia is moving ahead with certain megaprojects to diversify its economy and to position itself as a global logistics hub. The Governor of Saudi Arabia’s General Customs Authority Ahmed... 

Concerns raised about modern slavery in supply chains

Lawyers and activists have warned about the rising modern global slave trade, saying that up to 25 million modern slavery victims are exploited in global supply chains. They are enslaved across the... 

Sars intent on slashing invoicing fraud and improving services

The South African Revenue Services (Sars) is on a modernisation drive that aims to strip out invoicing fraud and streamline services, Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has told the annual World... 

Drones set to reshape transport sector

The emergence of cargo drones is set to radically improve the cargo and transportation sector, as they are able to offer autonomous quality service 24 hours a day, the yearly World Congress of the... 

Mining companies edge towards renewable-energy options

Mining companies are starting to heed the transition towards a low-carbon future by investing in wind energy, solar and gas. This was relayed at the annual African wind energy summit, the Windaba,... 

Minerals Council calls for rational debates on a just transition

The Minerals Council South Africa has called for "rational and sombre" debates about a just transition from coal-fired power to more wind and solar energy and has outlined the difficult situation... 

Mining companies edge towards renewable energy options

Mining companies are starting to heed the transition towards a low-carbon future by investing in wind energy, solar and gas. This was relayed at the annual African wind energy summit, the Windaba,... 

Minerals Council calls for rational debates on a just transition

The Minerals Council South Africa has called for "rational and sombre" debates about a just transition from coal-fired power to more wind and solar energy and has outlined the difficult situation... 

Don’t 'declare war among technologies', says Mantashe amid imminent tabling of the IRP

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Tuesday said the latest version of government’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) would be tabled before Cabinet next week and would make space... 

Concerns raised about modern slavery in supply chains

Lawyers and activists have warned about the rising modern global slave trade, saying that up to 25 million modern slavery victims are exploited in global supply chains. They are enslaved across the... 

Gordhan urges Eskom to be more vigilant on procurement costs

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has called on Eskom to be vigilant in checking costs and contracts in a bid to reduce unnecessarily high prices and stop corruption in every step of its... 

More people refusing to pay their electricity bills

Eskom is facing an uphill battle in Soweto, in Gauteng, as well as in other municipalities, where people are increasingly refusing to pay for electricity, with a sharp drop in payments since last... 

Eskom offers detailed account of financial woes to lawmakers

Eskom’s debt is reaching R450-billion, with no signs of letting up as borrowing increases, revenue remains flat and municipalities renege on their commitments even further, Parliament has heard.... 

PetroSA may run out of domestic supplies by the end of next year

South Africa’s national oil company PetroSA is facing an ongoing crisis, with concerns that its Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery may run out of domestic supplies by the end of next year.... 

Gordhan urges Eskom to be vigilant in checking procurement costs

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has called on Eskom to be vigilant in checking costs and contracts in a bid to reduce unnecessarily high prices and stop corruption in every step of its... 

Parliament briefed on Eskom's continuing financial challenges

Eskom’s debt is reaching R450-billion, with no signs of letting up as borrowing increases, revenue remains flat and municipalities renege on their commitments even further, Parliament has heard.... 

Cape Town construction industry calls for changes to city’s tender processes

The construction industry in Cape Town, already under immense economic strain, is facing the continuing disintegration of the city’s tendering and procurement processes, says the Western Cape... 

Cape Town wastewater treatment plant pays off

The largest privately owned modular wastewater treatment plant, together with a borehole water treatment plant at Cape Town’s Mutual Park, is working well and is able to provide treated water to... 

Desalination could be an option for KZN, but not in near future

Desalination may be considered as an option to supply additional water for the growing population in and around Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, in the long term, but Umgeni Water is continuing with plans... 

Water expert outlines how desalination costs are being driven lower

The costs of desalination are dropping in several countries, with the ultimate goal to supply water from desalination plants at a cost of $0.40 a kilolitre. Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA)... 

Secretary for Defence outlines risks posed by financial constraints

Financial constraints and limited resources pose a "critical problem" to the running of the South African Navy and the South African National Defence Force as a whole, says South Africa’s Secretary... 

Power Shift

Hit by budget cuts over the past few years, the South African Navy is bucking the regional trend and falling behind other navies in Africa, says the Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral... 

Mboweni warns extra R59bn allocated to Eskom comes at 'huge' cost to fiscus

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has allocated an additional R26-billion to debt-ridden Eskom for 2019/20 and R33-billion for 2020/21 in a bid to help the utility meet its financial obligations.... 

Brazilians score following African Utility Week

Brazilian companies are expected to generate business of $5.3-million over the next year as a result of the recent African Utility Week and PowerGEN Africa conference and exhibition. The Brazilian... 

Pioneering microgrid systems hold big rural electrification potential

A sharper focus on renewable energy has led to increased opportunities for microgrids in rural areas, industrial and commercial parks and residential developments in African countries. “Technology... 

Fiscal crisis, price volatility among SA’s top energy risks for 2019

The South African National Energy Association (Sanea) has outlined its nine top energy risks for 2019, with price volatility and uncertainty, and South Africa’s fiscal crisis, among the top risks... 

Bureaucracy, lags in approval stymieing construction industry – say developers

Bureaucratic delays in getting property developments under way have badly damaged the development and construction industry, prompting a crisis, industry experts have outlined at the Western Cape... 

Nordic countries strengthen partnerships with sub-Saharan Africa

The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are strengthening their partnerships with sub-Saharan African countries to increase green electrification and water security. The four... 

Individuals, projects honoured at African Power, Energy & Water Industry Awards

A dynamic South African leader in renewable energy, a former influential government minister in Ethiopia, the Ghana Grid Company and a range of renewable energy projects were among the winners at... 

PPPs could help ailing municipal water sector

A series of public–private partnerships with municipalities could help ailing local water and sanitation departments (WSDs), many of which face challenges ranging from deteriorating infrastructure... 

Eaton buys controlling stake in Turkish company

Power management company Eaton has acquired a controlling interest in Ulusoy Elektrik, a manufacturer of medium-voltage electrical equipment based in Ankara, Turkey. The acquisition will help Eaton... 

Programme moving towards its goal of increasing electricity access on the continent

Power Africa, which was launched by former US President Barack Obama six years ago, is working towards its target of providing energy access to an additional 60-million new homes and businesses and... 

Moz power utility begins long process of recovery following cyclones

Mozambique’s energy sector is trying to get back on track following the devastation wreaked on its power system by Cyclone Idai in March and cyclone Kenneth in April.   Electricity Company of... 

Coca-Cola outlines its work on replenishing water in Africa

Multinational beverage company Coca-Cola has outlined its efforts to replenish the water it uses through partnerships and projects across communities in Africa. “The company has made significant... 

Expert describes delay to fresh renewables auctions as ‘criminal’

Energy expert Anton Eberhard has called for renewable energy to play a far greater role in South Africa, adding that solar and wind energy had saved the country from what could have been a far... 

Hadebe says Eskom is aware of shifting attitude to financing of coal

With a crackdown on carbon emissions, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find investors that support fossil fuels, says Eskom CEO Phakamani Hadebe. “The truth is, how will we fund fossil...