Financial close is expected at the end of this month for construction in the second quarter of this year of a 68 MW solar power plant at a cost of between R1.52-billion and R1.56-billion, Exxaro CEO Dr Nombasa Tsengwa said during Thursday’s record-earnings presentation by the coal, energy and ferrous markets company. “We have been [...]

The average tariff increase for various categories of Eskom customers arising from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) recent allowable revenue decision has been tabled in Parliament as is required for these increases to be legally implemented on April 1. On January 12, Nersa approved revenue of R318-billion for the State-owned utility for [...]

A national shutdown does not achieve any positive objectives and political campaigning and differences, such as disputes relating to who should or should not be the President of the Republic, should be resolved through the ballot box and not through calling for shutdowns, business body the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) says. [...]

Coal, energy and ferrous markets major Exxaro reported strongly rising revenue in its year-end results for the year ended December 31, which boosted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda). The 41% higher revenue at R46.4-billion was the main driver for the 78% increase in group Ebitda to R19 002-million.

What South Africa’s base metals mining aspirant Orion Minerals has been trying to do over the last two years is to drive a very typical historic project financing arrangement for junior mining. This very typical historic project financing model involves getting banks in for between 60% and 70% of the project finance and equity in [...]

Ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has placed its ratings on State-owned utility Eskom on CreditWatch with positive implications, including its ‘CCC+’ issuer credit rating and 'zaB' South Africa national scale long-term rating. S&P attributes this to the South African government’s planned R254-billion ($14-billion) debt relief agreement, which the agency expects will address Eskom’s near-term debt [...]

As the world undergoes a revolution towards greener and more digitalised technology, and the need to feed almost ten-billion people by 2050 looms, there is consensus from experts speaking at Africa Agri Tech 2023 that farmers need to equip themselves with knowledge and planning for the future. Industry body BerriesZA CEO Brent Walsh says the [...]

The winner of a technology innovation challenge geared towards improving underground mine safety was recognised and showcased at a ceremony in Johannesburg last month. Darren Parker tells us more.

The Constitutional Court has conclusively ruled that water rights holders are entitled to transfer such rights in accordance with the provisions of the National Water Act, dismissing the appeal by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Agri SA and the South African Association for Water Users Associations (SAAFWUA) said in a joint statement on [...]

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has granted Eskom exemption that will enable it to operate temporary stacks at the Kusile power station, in Mpumalanga, for 13 months without using the flue-gas delsuphurisation (FGD) mechanism. The exemption, which was granted on March 14, has not been extended in terms of the newly published [...]

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) Group of Companies on March 14 provided an update on the merger of its subsidiaries Petro SA, iGas and the Strategic Fuel Fund, to create a single entity called the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC). In addressing the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, CEF chairperson Ayanda Noah [...]

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel reports that that energy one-stop-shop to speed up the regulatory processes required for private investment in electricity generation has been established and is being managed by InvestSA. In a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Patel reported that the one-stop shop had been established in [...]