Mines are facing winter blackouts
Business Day LIVE 28 April 2013 ALREADY battered by wildcat strikes and a turf battle between the National Union of Mineworkers and its upstart rival, the Association for Mineworkers and Construction Union, the mining industry faces another uphill battle with electrical shortages. As the winter demand p
Energy: Nuclear warning sparks meltdown
Mail & Guardian 26 April 2013 A major policy clash over the biggest spending plan in SA’s history has erupted between the national planning commission and the energy department. The trillion-rand plan to build a fleet of new nuclear power stations is not only costlier than expected, but may be e
Briefing by the National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA) on their Strategic Plan for 2013/14 – 2015/16
On the 23rd of April 2013 the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) briefed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy (PPCE) on their Strategic Plan for 2013/14 – 2015/16. The presentation from the briefing can be viewed below: NERSA Strategic Plan & Annual Performance_PPC
Metalworkers fund sets up R1bn renewables debt facility
Engineering News 24 April 2013 The Metal Industries Benefit Funds Administrators (Mibfa) has confirmed that it will commit up to R1-billion for the provision of debt finance for projects participating in South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The fund
First Solar Sells 139MW Campo Verde Solar Project
TEMPE, Ariz., April 23, 2013 – First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced it has sold the 139- megawattAC (MW) Campo Verde Solar Project to Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy. Under the terms of the agreement, First Solar will complete construction of the projec
Making Sense of PV Parity: Quantifying Solar's Competitiveness
Renewable Energy World.COM 23 April 2013 The PV industry is the subject of an increasingly confusing discussion about its future. Statements that solar PV is competitive today and will expand exponentially are countered by detractors pointing out grid limitations and studies suggesting cost shifting. What
Nuclear power ‘could trigger price increase’
Business Day LIVE 24 April 2013 FURTHER electricity price hikes could be triggered if the government forges ahead with plans to build at least six nuclear power stations, says National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) CEO Phindile Nzimande. Answering questions before Parliament’s portfolio commi
SA must use ‘limited window’ to become green economy leader, says IDC
Business Day LIVE 23 April 2013 SOUTH Africa had a limited window of opportunity to make itself a world leader in the creation of a green economy, which could generate more than 460,000 jobs, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) senior economist Nico Kelder says. Presenting before Parliament’s econo
Eskom urges big switch-off
Times LIVE 23 April 2013 In a last-ditch effort to avoid load-shedding, Eskom CEO Brian Dames has urged users of electricity to cut their consumption by a 10th this winter. As the state-owned power supplier embarks on maintenance it can no longer delay, it is desperately in need of spare capacity to avoid
Eskom urges households to use electricity sparingly as national grid faces strain
Business Day LIVE 23 April 2013 HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to use electricity sparingly this winter as supply constraints are expected to put the national grid under “considerable” strain‚ says Eskom CEO Brian Dames. Mr Dames was speaking at Eskom’s inaugural quarterly state of the system