South Africa is forging ahead with a plan to create a new state-owned power company by converting three coal-fired plants into gas-burning generators to ease the nation’s energy crisis.
Power utility Eskom has presented its system status and outlook to the joint portfolio committee on public enterprises and mineral resources and energy, outlining what it expects in terms of power capacity and maintenance over the next year.
Power utlity Eskom says it is considering disconnecting the City of Tshwane as one of the necessary steps to secure outstanding payments.
Eskom is working with the South African Renewable Technology Centre to upskill its workers and adapt to the shift to renewable energy, moving away from coal power stations.
Sasol, South Africa’s second-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, sees carbon taxes posing a “significant risk” to its business and warned current proposals could cause it to curtail operations and green initiatives.
Eskom warned Friday (19 August) that while load shedding has been suspended, its generation system remains constrained, and blackouts at stage 2 "might be implemented at short notice tonight and during the evening peaks over the weekend".
Tiger Brands, Africa’s biggest listed food maker, will install solar power at four manufacturing sites by early next year, part of a wider rollout to reduce the company’s dependence on South Africa’s state-owned electricity firm.
There are currently no regulations in place to control what electricity resellers can charge as service or vendor fees, leaving prepaid users on the hook for charges that increase each year, with no intervention.
Syndicates are hijacking vital coal supplies destined for Eskom power stations, the Sunday Times reports. And while this practice has been ongoing for many years, the recent spike in coal export prices has seen this activity soar, it says.
Food Lover's Market says that it will expand its solar investments and implement energy-saving technologies at its distribution centres and certain stores to alleviate its reliance on Eskom-supplied power.
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