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<figure class="aligncenter size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-300x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425943" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-90x90.jpg 90w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20181017-Pierre-Herben-BW-704x102493-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pierre Herben, Group Head – Carbon Neutrality, Anglo American</figcaption></figure></div>


Much like the roots of a tree, South Africa&#8217;s energy infrastructure is planted where it finds nutrients. Historically, this has been in the Mpumalanga province, where 83% of the nation&#8217;s coal helps fuel a fleet of power plants and significant transmission infrastructure. Yet, across the country, there is also an abundance of renewable resources – plentiful sun and wind. Therefore new ‘roots’ and transmission connecting the western part of the country are key to enable the country’s next economic and social development phase, which will undoubtedly depend on accessing clean, reliable, and affordable energy.



Renewable energy access is not only fundamental to supporting inclusive growth, livelihoods, and better health outcomes in the future – it must also be harnessed now if the country is to escape the grips of the current energy crisis.



South Africa is well-positioned to capitalise on this energy shift. In addition to its wealth of renewable resources and the critical minerals required for the decarbonisation of the global economy, it has a young population that can propel this transition when matched with the right skills and opportunities.



Given that existing energy generating infrastructure is at &#8211; or nearing &#8211; its end of economic lifecycle, combined with national and global imperatives to decarbonize, supplementing existing energy infrastructure with renewable energy is mission-critical to safeguarding the country&#8217;s future.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-for-now-and-the-future">Building for Now and the Future</h2>



In this regard, I am glad for the progress that government has made to toward liberalising the renewable energy sector to date.



Last year&#8217;s introduction of an &#8220;unrestricted&#8221; licensing threshold for energy projects is a welcome intervention, and equally, plans to update the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and to review existing limits on local embedded generation procurement will unlock the potential for rapid expansion of power generation capacity; while policies to enable the energy transition are being addressed by the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM).



However, the wheels of government must now turn faster than ever – beyond the energy crisis and toward an energy transition that provides security for growth and prosperity in the long term.&nbsp;



According to&nbsp;Economist Impact (EI)&nbsp;report,&nbsp;Powering Progress: Policy shifts and economic frameworks to enable South Africa&#8217;s energy transition,&nbsp;only well-coordinated, progressive, and fundamental changes to the country&#8217;s energy mix will provide the best route to a prosperous low-carbon future and energy security.&nbsp;



A critical area that needs urgent focus remains grid development, access, and connectivity. This is a crippling issue &#8211; some 6.3GW of renewable energy capacity procured by government through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), could not find grid access, while a further 7400 MW of renewable energy procured from the private sector could not be allocated (under REIPPP Bid Window 6) due to unavailable grid access.



According to research commissioned by the&nbsp;National Business Institute (NBI), at least 190GW of renewable energy is needed by 2050 to decarbonise the power sector and realise South Africa&#8217;s low-carbon ambitions.



The mining industry has already started doing its part to answer the call for clean energy with a pipeline of over 6.5GW of sustainable energy projects.&nbsp; At Anglo American, together with our partners at EDFR, we have created Envusa Energy, set to deliver 3-5 GW renewable energy ecosystem across South Africa.



This energy ecosystem will meet not only Anglo American’s decarbonisation needs but also help to driver of economic development within South Africa&#8217;s renewable energy sector, supporting the country&#8217;s broader just energy transition.



Across many other industries, companies are on the same path – signalling a commitment to not only making the energy transition real but&nbsp;just and inclusive,&nbsp;too.



To support this future growth, greater grid availability will be critical to delivering renewable energy projects for public and private investments.&nbsp;



There has never been a more important time for the development of public-private partnerships between the government and business, marrying private-sector financing and technical expertise with efficient and simplified government processes to develop much-needed grid connection capacity. This is especially so in areas like the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape regions, which will enable the delivery of utility-scale renewable energy resources.



This decentralisation of energy resources across the country will have several advantages. It will enable access to affordable electricity, build more resilient and energy-secure communities, enable physical and digital infrastructure improvements to meaningfully reduce inequality, and contribute to a business operating environment suitable for attracting investment and economic growth across the country.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A people-centric Just Energy Transition</h2>



Given South Africa&#8217;s dependence on fossil fuels, shifting to a low-carbon future presents opportunities and risks for those reliant on carbon-intensive industries. For this reason, a pathway to a successful energy transition must ensure that people and communities dependent on these industries are not left behind.



Achieving this level of the energy transition will entail transformational and systemic change, which no individual, company or entity can deliver alone.&nbsp;



According to the Economist Impact report, as many as a million jobs could be generated through renewable energy projects by 2050 &#8211; more than three times the number of jobs possibly at risk in the transition.&nbsp;



Making this a reality will require unprecedented levels of engagement and collaboration between government, communities, civil society, labour, and business. Working together, a just transition can be realized by building up people’s resilience through progressive skills development and job opportunities created by access to affordable, decentralised, and diverse renewable energy — especially in secondary and tertiary industries.



By moving decisively to address gaps across the country’s energy landscape, South Africa can begin laying the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive energy future.

EnergyTransitionPolicy_Videowall3

Building Better – Renewable Energy for Today and the Future

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COP26 was a ‘mixed bag’ for developing countries, unlocking some much-needed funding mechanisms, even as it under-delivered in other areas. The issue of funding is one that has been high on the international agenda for many years, along with the shortfall between pledges made to aid with climate adaption and mitigation and what was actually realised.



Coming away from COP26, the shift in the discussion around financing was highlighted by an agreement between the United State,&nbsp;France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU) and South Africa to decarbonise South Africa’s energy sector and finance mitigation measures to protect against job losses in the sector.



A just energy transition



As the largest emitter of carbon in Africa, South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal will demonstrate that a shift from a heavily coal-dependant country to a decarbonised one is not only possible, but that it can be done without sacrificing economic growth.



The keynote sessions of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa [formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa]&nbsp;[7-9 June 2022]</a>, will focus on understanding the finance options, the priorities and the roadmap of the&nbsp;JETP. But more importantly,&nbsp;the discussions expand the conversation across the continent, asking how finance of that magnitude can be mobilised to support Africa’s energy transition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://bit.ly/3MwqMM9">REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND AS A DELEGATE</a></h2>



It&#8217;s all about collaboration



The theme for this year’s event – Collaboration to fast forward Africa’s energy transition – recognises that collaborative efforts will&nbsp;drive the energy transition. Collaboration between public sector and private sector; between utilities, regulators and government; across generation to distribution, from manufacturer to financier to end user &#8211; all have a role to play in ensuring the energy system of tomorrow is sustainable, affordable and achievable.



More broadly, the realities of Africa in transition need to be considered and carefully planned to avoid a multitude of challenges. These include not adding to the debt burden of African countries in order to meet climate ambitions; and recognition that as the continent that contributes the least to global emissions, Africa is in a unique position to ask for meaningful financial and technical contributions from the international community.



Attendees and exhibitors at Enlit Africa represent the leading suppliers, experts and energy professionals from Africa and around the world, offering an opportunity to network and engage with utilities, municipalities, OEMs, government, regulators, EPC, developers, financiers and the entire energy ecosystem.



A deep dive into topics of importance



Conference sessions focused on alternative funding mechanisms and public private partnerships will address some of the questions around financing, while roundtable discussions will provide an opportunity for attendees to dig deeper into the plethora of climate funds and opportunities for impact investment and discuss the ever important question of risk allocation and mitigation.



Generation from both traditional and renewable energy will include&nbsp;discussions on efforts being made to convert existing power generation plant,&nbsp;electrification projects and alternative generation options such as offshore wind and hybrid systems. The attendees will also discuss how disruptive renewable energy systems are providing an element of security for industrial and commercial concerns around the continent as a means of addressing power outages and unreliable supply.



Commercial and industrial delegates will get to explore the role of energy storage,&nbsp;wheeling tariffs at municipalities and self-generation. All of these discussions will provide tangible, actionable steps for those entities interested in generating their own electricity and explain how energy storage will underpin the shift to more renewable energy integration for municipalities, utilities and private generators.



Information about the programme, speaker line up, networking, roundtable and site visit opportunities can be found by visiting <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/programme">https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/programme</a>



Disruptive technologies



An entire section of the programme will be dedicated to the role of storage in the power sector, including how to&nbsp;integrate battery energy storage systems [BESS] at a municipal level,&nbsp;storage, renewable energy and society; and the role that new generation and storage is playing in Africa’s mining sector.



Appreciating the technical, financial and logistical opportunities and areas of caution will provide utilities, governments and all power sector players the ability to plan an energy transition that addresses the objectives of SDG7 and meets Nationally Determined Contributions announced during COP26. Additionally, it will also open up avenues for new business models. Specifically, the conference will focus on the development of the hydrogen economy, understanding the development of national hydrogen strategies and the economic structures and pricing that will support it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-register-here-for-free-exhibition-pass"><a href="https://bit.ly/3LlkZsH">REGISTER HERE FOR FREE EXHIBITION PASS</a></h2>



Back at the CTICC <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa</a> will return to the CTICC in Cape Town with a world-class exhibition, showcasing the latest technology and services on offer in the sector. Known for its compelling content and speakers, the organisers will not disappoint, with two keynotes and most of the content presented in speaking hubs on the expo floor. Conference delegates will also be able to enjoy the networking and site visits that the event has popularised for over two decades. Strict health and safety COVID-19 protocols will be observed.



 Industry support Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2022 will be no exception. <a href="https://www.esi-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESI Africa</a>, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa)</a> is Africa’s leading exhibition and conference, gathering the power and energy industry’s most influential professionals and decision makers from across the continent for three days of relevant, accredited technical and strategic conference seminars, valuable networking opportunities and access to world-class products and solutions.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa</a> is organised by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wearevuka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vuka Group&nbsp;</a>(formerly&nbsp;<a href="http://www.clarioneventsafrica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarion Events Africa</a>), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include&nbsp;<a href="http://www.drcminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DRC Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.africaminingforum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Africa Mining Forum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nigeriaminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nigeria Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://generationehq.com/smarter-mobility-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smarter Mobility Africa</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ecommerce-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECOM</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://cemafricasummit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEM Africa</a>.



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ENLIT AFRICA TO ADDRESS AFRICAN POWER SECTOR CONCERNS AROUND ENERGY TRANSITION

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Government of Tanzania have signed loan agreements totalling $140 million to finance the construction of the 50-megawatt Malagarasi hydropower plant in Western Tanzania.

The agreements cover a $120 million sovereign loan from the Bank and $20 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), administered by the Bank. Emmanuel M. Tutuba, Permanent Secretary at the Tanzania Ministry of Finance and Planning, and Nnenna Nwabufo, Director General of the Bank Group’s East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, signed the agreements.
The funds will be used to construct the plant and an evacuation transmission line, as well as to add 4,250 rural electrification connections, providing reliable renewable energy to households, schools, clinics and small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kigoma Region.
Tutuba said, “I would like to re-affirm the government’s commitment to working closely with the Bank in efforts to realize our national and international development aspirations. The government will take all necessary measures to ensure successful implementation of this project as planned.”
He lauded Tanzania’s cordial relationship with the African Development Bank that goes all the way back to 1964. He noted that the country was a proud founding shareholder who regard the Bank as a “development partner of choice.”
The project is one of Tanzania’s priorities under its Second Five-Year Development Plan and will also advance the objectives of the country’s Vision 2025. It also aligns with two of the Bank’s High Five strategic priorities, namely, Light up and Power Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.
Nwabufo said, “The signing of the loan agreements is another testimony of our joint commitment to working together to support Tanzania’s development aspirations. Malagarasi Hydropower is one of the flagship projects in Tanzania’s Second Five-Year Plan. We appreciate the trust the Government has put in the African Development Bank and we are committed to remaining a privileged and trusted partner of choice.”
The project is one of six transformative infrastructure projects, with a total value of $1.12 billion, that the African Development Bank has approved in Tanzania over the last three years.
The Bank Group’s total ongoing commitment in Tanzania, about $2.33 billion in value, covers the key sectors of transport, energy, water supply and sanitation, agriculture, governance and finance.
The Africa Growing Together Fund is a facility sponsored by the People’s Bank of China and administered by the African Development Bank.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank email: o.terry@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

Tanzania: African Development Bank Group signs loan agreements for $140 million to increase power generation

GABORONE (Reuters) &#8211; Botswana issued its first licences allowing three private companies to generate their own power which will mostly be destined for export, the energy regulator said on Thursday.



The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have received 15-year generation licences and will produce a combined 827 megawatt (MW) of power.



State-owned Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is currently the sole producer of electricity but the country is looking to diversify with several private investors at various stages of setting up coal, gas and solar power projects.



“We need to come to a point where we no longer import but become exporters of electricity,” said Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority chief executive officer, Rose Seretse.



Energy &amp; Natural Resource Corporation, which is owned by Strata, plans to construct a 600 MW coal-fired power station, Tlou Energy has been granted a licence to produce 2 MW of power through coal-bed methane and Sese Power, owned by First Quantum Minerals and African Energy have been licensed to generate and export 225 MW of power.



Despite its huge estimated coal resources of 212 billion tonnes, the diamond-rich country only has two operating coal mines with several investors at various stages of setting up coal mines for either export or power generation.



Lack of adequate rail infrastructure and the high costs of road transportation have been holding back investments in Botswana coal sector.

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Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

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Kenya Power’s pre-tax profit for the year ended June 2019 dropped by 93 per cent to $3.31 million, attributing the drop to the higher costs of buying electricity. Also, the unaudited results for the six month period ending December 31, 2019 the East African Portland Cement made $15.6 million loss after tax, with sales revenues up 8 per cent to hit. The Competition Authority of Kenya has approved the proposed acquisition of control of Gulf Energy Holdings Limited by KenoL Kobil PLC. David Kingoo, Manager at Cytonn Investments joins CNBC Africa for more.

Kenya Power’s full-year pre-tax profit dips 91.98%

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s Eskom has offered some managers voluntary severance packages, capping costs at 400 million rand ($26.8 million), a communique sent to staff by the struggling power utility showed.



Eskom does not generate enough cash to cover its mammoth debt servicing costs and expects to make a loss of around 20 billion rand this financial year.



The severance packages are open to managerial employees in non-core positions as well as managers from 60 to 62 years old, according to the communique, which was dated Feb. 6.



Eskom spokesman Sikonathi Mantshantsha declined to comment.



Analysts have long said that Eskom should cut its bloated workforce of more than 46,000 staff.



Under pressure from trade unions, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last year that voluntary severance packages would be the preferred method to cut costs at Eskom, rather than layoffs.



Eskom said in the communique that staff could apply for the severance packages from the third week of February, with employee exits planned for the end of April.



Eskom also offered voluntary severance packages in 2015.



($1 = 14.9245 rand)



Reporting by Alexander Winning; editing by Jason Neely

South Africa’s Eskom plans to spend up to $27 million on severance packages

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa is planning to create a new power generating company separate from struggling state-owned utility Eskom to boost energy security, senior officials said on Thursday.



Eskom, which generates more than 90% of the country’s electricity, is mired in financial crisis and suffers frequent breakdowns at its coal-fired power plants, forcing it to implement power cuts that have dented economic output.



Eskom’s problems have been a major concern among investors at industry conference the Mining Indaba this week.



“There is going to be a separate entity to Eskom, but the issue is not Eskom or no Eskom, the issue is security of energy supply,” Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said on the sidelines of the conference in Cape Town.



Details surrounding the plan for the new generating company are still hazy.



Mantashe said he wanted industry to partner with the government on its formation, but it is not clear what that partnership would entail. It is also not clear which generating technologies it would employ.



Director-general in the Department of Mineral Resources, Thabo Mokoena, echoed Mantashe’s comment that the main aim of the new company would be to improve energy security but did not elaborate further.



Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Alexander Winning and Mark Potter

South Africa plans to create new generating firm to boost power security, what you need to know

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The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says there will be an increase in electricity tariffs by the first of April this year. The announcement came after the electricity regulator concluded its minor review of the multi-year tariff order of 2015 and the minimum remittance order for the year 2020. George Etomi, Director at Eko Electricity Distribution Company joins CNBC Africa’s Kenneth Igbomor to discuss the future of Nigeria’s power sector.

Electricity tariffs expected to increase this year: The state of Nigeria’s power sector

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 6 (Reuters) &#8211; Eskom&#8217;s new chief executive took charge of the struggling state-owned utility on Monday, embarking on the mammoth task of fixing South Africa&#8217;s power deficit and restructuring a debt pile that has crippled the national economy.



Andre de Ruyter, appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November, will oversee a government plan to split Eskom into three units for generation, transmission and distribution in an attempt to make it more efficient.



Ramaphosa is trying to revive growth in Africa&#8217;s most advanced economy and attract more investments. Eskom, which generates more than 90% of the country&#8217;s power, is widely regarded as the most serious risk to an economy on the brink of recession.



Saddled with unreliable coal-fired power stations, Eskom has struggled to meet the country&#8217;s power demand since 2007, with several bouts of severe power cuts since then. Outages last year dented economic output and shook investor confidence in Ramaphosa&#8217;s administration.



The country experienced further outages at the weekend, with Eskom cutting up to 2,000 megawatts (MW) from the national grid on Saturday and Sunday due to a shortage of generating capacity.



In a previous role as CEO of Nampak de Ruyter steered the packaging firm through financial difficulties, and part of his new brief is to restructure Eskom&#8217;s 450 billion rand ($31 billion) debt pile.



De Ruyter&#8217;s predecessor at Eskom, Phakamani Hadebe, stepped down in July, citing health reasons. Sources told Reuters at the time that another reason was that he felt frustrated at being excluded from important decisions affecting the utility.



Eskom said in a statement on Monday that roughly 13,000 megawatts (MW) of its 44,000 MW nominal capacity were offline because of plant breakdowns.



It said it didn&#8217;t expect &#8220;load-shedding &#8221; &#8211; a local term for power cuts &#8211; on Monday but that the system was &#8220;constrained and vulnerable&#8221;.



($1 = 14.3205 rand) 



(Reporting by Alexander Winning; editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and John Stonestreet)

Eskom’s new CEO takes charge with power shake-up on agenda, what you need to know…

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; Plagued by power cuts and with its infrastructure in desperate need of revamping, South Africa’s struggling state power utility Eskom says the country desperately needs an additional 5,000 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity.



Here are some options:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HARNESSING POWER FROM INDEPENDENTS</h3>



Eskom’s nominal generating capacity is around 44,000 MW. But it also procures electricity from independent power producers.



Those projects &#8211; mainly renewables like wind and solar farms &#8211; have installed capacity of around 4,000 MW of power. However, a cap on how much electricity they are allowed to sell onto the national grid means they currently have unused capacity.



Lifting the restriction would allow an additional 500 MW to immediately enter the grid from wind farms alone, according to wind industry officials. Harnessing unused capacity from solar projects could contribute around 300 MW more.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MORE INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS</h3>



Under former President Jacob Zuma, approval for new producers was delayed for years. Those projects finally got a green light in 2018. Some under construction could be fast-tracked and brought online before their agreed commercial operation dates.



The government could also accelerate a new round of planned approvals that has been held up by administrative delays. However, those projects would likely not be on-stream for more than two years.



SELF-GENERATION



Private businesses have been clamouring for regulations to be eased to allow them to generate more of their own power. They are currently required to seek a license to generate more than 1 MW of electricity. Even below that threshold they must register their facilities with the energy regulator, a cumbersome process that has discouraged investment.



President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government will consider how to get more self-generation online with excess production directed back onto the grid.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">“FLOATING GENERATORS”</h3>



Ramaphosa has said South Africa will look at the possibility of procuring more power via “floating generators”. While he did not go into detail, barge or ship-based power plants provide quickly deployable capacity.



New York City, for example, has used barge-based power stations for decades.



In Africa, Ghana signed a 10-year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-ghana-power/update-1-turkeys-power-ship-maker-karadeniz-to-supply-electricity-to-ghana-idUSL5N0OY1WC20140617deal">here</a>&nbsp;with Turkey&#8217;s Karadeniz Holding in 2014 for 450 MW of floating generating capacity for its national grid.



Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom is, meanwhile, developing floating nuclear power stations, though they will likely not be available for commercial use for several years.



Reporting by Joe Bavier and Alexander Winning; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Here are four ways South Africa can get more power generation capacity

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Rwanda is pursuing an ambitious target to achieve affordable, reliable and universal access to electricity by 2024 in line with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1). Martha Phiri, Country Manager to Rwanda at African Development Bank (AfDB) joins CNBC Africa to share on the inauguration of the new Shango power substation project and its impact on the country.

AfDB inaugurates Shango power substation in Rwanda

Press Release



We regret and sincerely apologise that stage 4 loadshedding will move to Stage 6 loadshedding as from 18:00 today, as a result of a shortage of capacity. This follows a technical problem at Medupi Power Station impacting additional generation supply. The heavy rains has caused coal handling and operational problems at several power stations.



We remind and assure customers that loadshedding at Stage 6 is no cause for alarm as the system is being effectively controlled. Stage 6, requires 6000MW to be rotationally loadshed.



Eskom&#8217;s emergency response command centre and technical teams will be working through the night to restore units as soon as possible. Eskom is working closely large industry to assist with further load curtailment.



Loadshedding is a responsible act and highly controlled process, implemented to protect the country from a national blackout.



After 2015, Eskom and the municipalities identified the need to extend the loadshedding stages up to stage 8 and the national code (NRS048-9 Ed 2) was subsequently updated.



Even beyond these schedules, the System Operator will reduce demand in a manner that is controlled.



Stage 6 loadshedding schedules are available on the Eskom website.



Eskom will keep you updated.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="669" height="960" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eskom-image.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-351888" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eskom-image.jpg 669w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eskom-image-209x300.jpg 209w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eskom-image-293x420.jpg 293w" sizes="(max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px" /></figure>

#LoadShedding: South Africa’s Eskom moves power cuts to Stage 6

LAGOS, Nov 30 (Reuters) &#8211; The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $210 million loan to help Nigeria upgrade its dilapidated electricity transmission and distribution network.



The loan to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will support construction of 330KV double circuit quad transmission lines and sub-stations across the country, the bank said in a statement late on Friday.



The AfDB funded project will run across seven states and will improve the capacity of power grid where it is most constrained.



Nigeria privatised most of its power sector in 2013 but retained control of its monopoly grid, operated by TCN. Most of the country&#8217;s power generation is from thermal power stations that use gas.



The creaking power grid has often been blamed for hobbling growth in west Africa&#8217;s largest economy.



AfDB&#8217;s acting vice president for Power &amp; Energy, Wale Shonibare said implementing the project would increase evacuation from the south towards the north, where power supply is limited.



The project would also improve power export and regional power system integration to the West African Power pool, especially through Niger and Benin interconnections, he said.



The country&#8217;s power output stands at around 4,000 MW, the Nigeria Electricity System Operator has said. Total power generation capacity is about 7,000 MW but the transmission network cannot cope if plants operate at full tilt.



Nigeria&#8217;s privatized power sector typically does not use meters to provide invoices, bill collections are low and energy tariffs have remained fixed for three years.



The effect, say industry experts, is that electricity distribution companies recover so little revenue from customers that they pay less than a third of what they owe to generating companies &#8211; leaving the sector with ballooning debts. (Reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by Christina Fincher)

AfDB approves $210 million loan for this West African nation’s power transmission project

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By 2024, Rwanda will have achieved universal access to electricity according to government’s targets. In trying to reach this target, the country is at the same time embracing clean and affordable energy which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for. Patricie Uwase, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure joins CNBC Africa for more.

The key role of renewable energy in Rwanda’s electricity targets

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The Government of Rwanda targets to achieve universal access to electricity by 2024 in bid to transform the country into a middle-income economy. Ron Weiss, CEO of Rwanda Energy Group joins CNBC Africa for more.
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How Rwanda plans to achieve 100% electrification by 2024

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 22 (Reuters) &#8211; Crisis-hit South African power company Eskom was handed an additional 59 billion rand ($4 billion) lifeline by parliament on Tuesday, prompting criticism from opposition parties who described it as a &#8220;blank cheque&#8221;.



The special bill passed by parliament to grant the funding was first proposed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in July as Eskom struggled to service its ballooning 450 billion rand debt pile and keep the lights on throughout 2019 as its creaking fleet of coal-fired plants buckled.



Eskom unleashed another bout of nationwide blackouts last week following repeated power cuts in February and March, which dragged the economy into contraction.



Mboweni said in July that the bailout Eskom should adhere to strict conditions to receive the bailout, including assurance that it would be used only to service debt and not for operational costs.



The multi-party Standing Committee on Appropriation, responsible for oversight of the bill, failed to agree on the conditions and early in October opted leave the Finance Minister&#8217;s draft bill unchanged.



&#8220;The bill as it stands is a blank cheque that will blow up the deficit,&#8221; the main opposition Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday, echoing objections of other parties.



Speaking at the parliamentary debate on Tuesday Mboweni did not directly address the matter of conditions but hinted that Eskom&#8217;s management would come under closer scrutiny.



&#8220;One of the key issue we need to solve is to appoint the right people to run Eskom. Appoint the right board of directors and a competent management team,&#8221; he said.



&#8220;Then we must be in a position to hold that board of directors and management team accountable. The problem at Eskom is not just financial.&#8221;



Eskom has been without a permanent chief executive since Phakamani Hadebe resigned in May, citing unbearable pressure.



Hadebe was the 10th CEO in a decade to quit the state company in what has proved something of a revolving door of top executives and board members as treasury and presidential inquiries into graft and mismanagement deepened.



The special appropriation bill will go to parliament&#8217;s second house for approval before being sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his signature and enactment.



(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and Wendell Roelf Editing by David Goodman)

What you need to know about South Africa approving $4 billion bailout for debt-laden power utility Eskom

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 16 (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa&#8217;s rand tumbled more than 1% on Wednesday to its softest level in a week after state power utility Eskom said it would implement nationwide blackouts for the first time in more than six months due to capacity shortages.



The rand was 1% weaker at 15.0550 per dollar, its lowest since Oct. 10, as of 0615 GMT.



Eskom said it will cut up to 2,000 megawatts of power from the national grid on Wednesday due to a shortage of generating capacity, starting at 0700 GMT (9 am local time) and up until 2100 GMT.



The comments pushed the rand past the crucial 15.00 mark, with deeper losses likely as the session wears on, traders said.



Struggling state power firm Eskom implemented one of the worst power cuts in several years in February, hurting small businesses without backup power generators and industrial firms that consume large volumes of power.



&#8220;There was an initial knee-jerk reaction to the announcement. And the longer it (blackouts) goes on, the worse it will be for the rand,&#8221; said currency dealer at TreasuryOne Andre Botha.



&#8220;Any improvement (in sentiment) will depend on clarity we get from now on about what is happening. But there&#8217;s definitely negative risk across the board,&#8221; Botha said.



A debilitating round of power cuts in February and March pushed first-quarter economic growth into contraction and raised the likelihood of the country losing its last investment-grade rating.



Bonds also weakened, with the yield on the benchmark government paper due in 2026 up 3.5 basis points to 8.27%. 



(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

electricity

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Tanzania: African Development Bank Group signs loan agreements for $140 million to increase power generation

Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

Kenya Power’s full-year pre-tax profit dips 91.98%

South Africa’s Eskom plans to spend up to $27 million on severance packages

South Africa plans to create new generating firm to boost power security, what you need to know

Electricity tariffs expected to increase this year: The state of Nigeria’s power sector

Eskom’s new CEO takes charge with power shake-up on agenda, what you need to know…

Here are four ways South Africa can get more power generation capacity

AfDB inaugurates Shango power substation in Rwanda

#LoadShedding: South Africa’s Eskom moves power cuts to Stage 6

AfDB approves $210 million loan for this West African nation’s power transmission project

The key role of renewable energy in Rwanda’s electricity targets

How Rwanda plans to achieve 100% electrification by 2024

What you need to know about South Africa approving $4 billion bailout for debt-laden power utility Eskom

South Africa’s rand takes a tumble as Eskom plans nationwide power cuts

News Tips

Advertise With Us

electricity

Building Better – Renewable Energy for Today and the Future

ENLIT AFRICA TO ADDRESS AFRICAN POWER SECTOR CONCERNS AROUND ENERGY TRANSITION

Tanzania: African Development Bank Group signs loan agreements for $140 million to increase power generation

Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

Kenya Power’s full-year pre-tax profit dips 91.98%

South Africa’s Eskom plans to spend up to $27 million on severance packages

South Africa plans to create new generating firm to boost power security, what you need to know

Electricity tariffs expected to increase this year: The state of Nigeria’s power sector

Eskom’s new CEO takes charge with power shake-up on agenda, what you need to know…

Here are four ways South Africa can get more power generation capacity

AfDB inaugurates Shango power substation in Rwanda

#LoadShedding: South Africa’s Eskom moves power cuts to Stage 6

AfDB approves $210 million loan for this West African nation’s power transmission project

The key role of renewable energy in Rwanda’s electricity targets

How Rwanda plans to achieve 100% electrification by 2024

What you need to know about South Africa approving $4 billion bailout for debt-laden power utility Eskom

South Africa’s rand takes a tumble as Eskom plans nationwide power cuts

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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