The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million in damages in the City of Cape Town, this according to the provincial government. The strike by the South African National Taxi Council started on August 3, and ended on August 10. [...]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of the World Bank Group, has reported that, over the 12 months from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, it made investments totalling $11.5-billion in 40 African countries, to help accelerate the continent’s energy transition, enable green manufacturing, stimulate intra-African trade, increase local food production, strengthen [...]

One of the primary catalysts for the prevalent global emergence of subsidies within the renewable energy sector stems from the dominance of China, research firm BMI Research operational risk analyst Keaton Fitzpatrick has said. Speaking at a webinar hosted by BMI Research – a Fitch Solutions company – titled ‘Subsidy Wars and The Energy Transition, [...]

The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) in its public hearings submission has welcomed the opportunity to comment on State-owned power utility Eskom’s application for the Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) for full-year 2022, which formed part of the fourth multi-year price determination (MYPD4). “We do not believe that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) [...]

The current platinum group metals (PGMs) basket price puts 70% of the South African production base at a loss when taking into account replacement capital requirements on top of the working costs. A final gross cash dividend of R2.4-billion from income reserves has been declared.

The National Nuclear Regulator has asked Eskom to undertake additional engineering studies on the Koeberg power station before it can deliberate on its application to extend the long-term operation licence for another 20 years.  Speaking at a briefing to editors in Johannesburg on Thursday, Eskom's senior manager in its outage centre, Thabiso Moirapula, said that [...]

State-owned utility Eskom has confirmed that it is prioritising 47 grid-related projects within its larger R210-billion Transmission Development Plan (TDP) that it believes could collectively add 37 GW of connection capacity over the coming few years. It is also close to finalising the approach it will be taking to the issue of curtailment as it [...]

US-UK zero carbon emissions aviation company ZeroAvia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) clean energy group Masdar have entered a partnership to examine the production and supply of hydrogen at key locations. Initially, the partnership will concentrate on European and North American projects, but will also explore opportunities to set up clean flight operations in the [...]

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer speaks about the latest developments at Sasol's Secunda operation, including the R36-billion impairment Sasol has taken, what this means for the Secunda operation, the air quality emissions challenge Sasol is facing and what the developments at Sasol say about South Africa and the country's approach to the energy transition.

The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, an urgent piece of legislation that is key to overcoming South Africa's energy crisis, has finally been tabled in Parliament nearly five months after being approved by Cabinet. There are significant doubts that the bill, which is a crucial next step in the unbundling of Eskom and establishing a competitive [...]

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) and its subsidiary AMRAS have concluded the amendment and restatement of a facility with HSBC Bank Johannesburg Branch, Absa Bank and other lenders. The facility was also increased from R3.5-billion to R4.5-billion.

Johannesburg-based private equity and infrastructure investment firm RH Managers (RHM) is on a fundraising drive for a R2-billion social impact fund to boost South Africa’s healthcare and energy infrastructure. Although far more developed than many of its African peers, latest statistics indicate that South Africa will have an infrastructure investment gap of R4.8-trillion by 2030 [...]