Zambia sets sights on yet more solar as another 34 MW is connected to grid
The 34 MW Ngonye solar photovoltaic plant, in Zambia, has been connected to the country’s grid and has started operations.
Once fully up and running, the facility is expected to produce about 70 GWh of electricity yearly and help the Southern African country diversify its power mix away from its current reliance on hydroelectricity.
Engineering News, 29 April 2019
Guinea boosts power output to foster bauxite refining
Guinea expects to boost its energy production capacity by nearly four-fold over the next six years as it pushes mining companies to refine their bauxite output locally, the energy minister said on Friday.
The West African nation, Africa's biggest producer of the aluminium ore, is in the midst of a mining boom that has seen bauxite output explode, mainly on the back of demand from China. It now accounts for more than half of China's bauxite imports.
Engineering News, 29 April 2019
Tanesco gives Kibo green light to develop MCPP
Aim- and JSE-listed Kibo Energy has received formal notice from the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to develop the Mbeya coal-to-power project (MCPP) for the export market.
This enables the company to engage with African power pools regarding offtake agreements.
Engineering News, 29 April 2019
EDF puts energy-challenged Africa at the centre of its 2030 development strategy
Africa is at the heart of French energy solutions provider EDF’s ambition to triple its activity outside of Europe, as well as to double its renewable energy capacity globally, by 2030. However, there are various challenges facing the continent, and the company aims to help address these through its development strategy.
EDF senior VP for Africa Valérie Levkov explains to Engineering News Online that in addressing Africa’s energy challenges through being competitive and carbon free, EDF could assist in improving sustainable economic development on the continent, while also tackling climate change.
Engineering News, 29 April 2019
Ncondezi Energy JDA entering final phase
Ncondezi Energy has entered into the final phase of negotiations with its strategic partners, China Machinery Engineering Corporation and General Electric South Africa, to sign a binding joint development agreement (JDA) for the company’s integrated 300 MW power and coal mine project in Tete, Mozambique.
The company on Monday also reported in a statement that positive developments continue to be made on the JDA and it believes a final JDA that is ready for execution is close to being finalised.
Engineering News, 29 April 2019
NUM calls for reskilling of Eskom workers to equip them for clean-energy jobs
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for greater attention to be given to the reskilling of Eskom workers “so that they can be absorbed” into clean-energy technology work opportunities.
In a statement released following a meeting of its national executive committee in Gauteng, the NUM continue to express misgivings over independent power producers, as well as the proposed unbundling of Eskom into three separate businesses of generation, transmission and distribution.
Engineering News, 30 April 2019
Nedbank reports "overwhelmingly positive" response to pioneering renewable-energy bond
Financial services group Nedbank reported an “overwhelmingly positive” market response on Tuesday to its pioneering listing of a renewable-energy bond on the Green Bond Segment of the JSE.
Nedbank became the first South African bank to list such an instrument on the bourse’s platform, which was itself launched in October 2017.
Engineering News, 30 April 2019
Egypt pushes ahead with plans for nuclear power
Egypt is pushing ahead with plans to build a nuclear power station. The country’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) has approved the site of Al Dabaa in the first step of the licensing process required to build a nuclear station, Al Monitor reported on Tuesday.
ENRRA is responsible for overseeing nuclear activity in Egypt and ensuring the safety of people, property and the environment from risk of radiation.
Engineering News, 30 April 2019
SA’s largest concentrated solar power plant set to light up 179000 households
As South Africa struggles with power supply, the country has received a 100 MW injection into the electricity grid – through a new concentrated solar power plant in Kathu, Northern Cape.
“Kathu Solar Plant is unique because it has storage capacity. We can store heat and then generate,” said Cedric Faye, CEO of Kathu Solar Plant.
Business Day, 30 April 2019
Africa’s energy future: 100 percent renewable is feasible
The energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa can become 100% renewable by 2050, leading to lower energy costs, better health and environment and the number of direct energy jobs in Africa increasing from 1.2 to more than five million in 2050. An accelerated scaling of wind and in particular decentralised solar PV energy can, in combination with electrification of transport, cooking, heating and desalination and deployment of batteries and other storage technologies, result in a complete phase-out of fossil fuels in Africa within 2050.
ESI Africa, 30 April 2019
Housing development goes solar to avoid load shedding
The relentless hammering that South Africans endured during the recent phase of stage 4 load shedding has local businesses eyeing solar photovoltaic installations as a potential way to safeguard business continuity in the face of Eskom’s power supply issues.
An innovative new urban complex on the outskirts of Johannesburg’s CBD will soon have solar energy as its primary source of power - and the lessons learnt there may prove invaluable.
Victoria Yards is an urban development in Lorentzville, a suburb that is currently undergoing community-centred rejuvenation by developers who are recognising its potential as an inner-city "oasis".
ESI Africa, 30 April 2019
Zambia: 34 MW Ngonye solar PV plant comes online
The 34 MW Ngonye solar photovoltaic plant, which is located in Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone, has commenced operations.
Located in the south of Zambia, the plant, which is being developed by Enel Green Power (EGP), is part of the World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar programme carried out by Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). In June 2016, the project awarded EGP the right to develop, finance, construct, own and operate the plant.
The Ngonye solar plant, which is owned by a special purpose vehicle, 80% held by EGP and 20% by IDC, is supported by a 25-year power purchase agreement signed with Zambia’s state-owned utility, ZESCO.
ESI Africa, 2 May 2019
Possible solution to South Africa’s power challenges
Solar photovoltaic technology, in combination with energy storage products, can offer solutions to some of South Africa’s challenges, which include load shedding, rising power prices and no grid availability in certain areas, says solar PV and energy storage system provider IBC SOLAR South Africa MD Daniel Haitzler.
Solar power already comprises the biggest share among renewable-energy sources and will become the biggest energy source in this respect in a few years, according to Haitzler.
Engineering News, 3 May 2019
Company to focus on hydropower at AUW
South Africa-based independent power producer Renewable Energy Holdings (REH) aims to focus on the role hydropower plays in the Southern Africa power sector at this year’s African Utility Week (AUW).
“Hydropower is a very stable resource to add to the grid, especially when compared with solar power. “It is a more predictable generator of power, making it more suitable to support weak rural grids in areas which are more remote from other generation plants – such as in the eastern Free State,” says REH Group MD Anton-Louis Olivier.
Engineering News, 3 May 2019
The above reflects a summary of certain news articles published during the preceding week.
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