The findings of the latest work on the draft Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity, IRP 2017, by Eskom for the South African Department of Energy (DoE) are proving to be somewhat problematic for Energy Minister David Mahlobo. Click here to download the full Eskom IRP 2017 study for DoE dated November 2017 As a result, […]
Despite terminating its nuclear new build request for information in 2017 following a court decision to halt the process, Eskom is powering ahead with plans in preparation for the tender programme to be rebooted. Acting Eskom Group CEO Sean Maritz Nuclear vendors from France, Russia and China had prepared lengthy documents to submit to Eskom […]
The low electricity price increase granted by the regulator, NERSA, for the 2016/17 financial year, coupled with declining sales volumes, rising costs and debtor payment challenges, are all working to put Eskom’s revenue, cash flow and bottom line under severe pressure. As a result, the Eskom Group profit of R6,38-bilion for the 6-month period ending […]
Reverse osmosis and distillation are common methods of water desalination, but energy requirements are high. Forward osmosis is a recent development that promises to reduce energy costs and operational complexity, as well as the ability to make use of low quality waste heat. Water desalination is becoming increasingly important with the pressure placed on natural […]
In the event of an emergency, it is essential that the battery system performs as designed, or the substation may be left unprotected. Although many test methods can be performed to estimate the condition of the battery, the discharge test at specific time intervals and specific discharge rates are presented as the necessary tests, and […]
Water is a critical and scarce resource in southern Africa, and is likely to become even more so as the regional impacts of global climate change become more evident. This article describes a home-grown tool that has been developed to monitor South Africa’s surface water area. Being able to accurately and repeatedly monitor available water […]
Spatial data infrastructure (SDI) facilitates the collection and sharing of geographic information developed by different organisations. Various government departments are implementing SDI in order to contribute to the achievements of their objectives. SDI assessments to evaluate the implementation thereof are also occurring from local level to international level. This article establishes the availability of geographic […]
Power systems in mining and other industries are seeing a major structural transformation as renewables and energy storage costs continue to decline and global pressure to mitigate CO2 remains strong. For off-grid mining in particular, renewable and storage technologies present an ideal opportunity not only to improve the mine’s environmental footprint, but also to reduce […]
A final draft report from Eskom to its shareholder for the second quarter of 2017 ending 30 September 2017 paints an alarming picture of funding difficulties and declining liquidity (cash and cash equivalents plus investments in securities), primarily driven by perceptions of poor governance. The report, which has been viewed by EE Publishers and Fin24, provides […]
South Africa’s energy sector is at the cross roads in an uncertain and incoherent policy environment caused by the self-induced chaos of the Zuma administration, with three ministers of energy in 2017 alone, and further political change likely after the ANC’s elective conference in mid-December 2017. According to Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, failures of governance, […]
