SA energy crisis - The African Mirror

Oct

26

2023

World Bank approves $1 bln loan to help South Africa tackle power crisis

NEWS

THE World Bank said that its board had approved a $1 billion loan to help South Africa reform its energy sector, as the country tries to overcome regular power cuts that have curbed economic growth. The bank wants to support the country's reforms to split struggling power firm Eskom and to transition to a low carbon economy, it said in a statement. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, the World Bank's director for South Africa, had told Reuters last month that the loan was under discussion and could come soon. In Wednesday's statement, Marie-Nelly said reforms the government had launched would "benefit the people of…

Feb

09

2023

By NQOBILE DLUDLA

SA energy crisis: high consumer prices loom

NEWS

SOUTH African manufacturers and retailers of food and other essential products warned that consumers will face much higher prices unless the government urgently finds solutions to the power cuts that are crippling the economy. Food, consumer goods companies and retailers in South Africa are cranking up diesel generators and spending more on backup power supplies, adding to the pressure from soaring costs for raw materials, transportation and packaging. South African businesses and households are spending between six and ten hours a day without electricity as state-owned utility Eskom implements some of the harshest blackouts in living memory owing to breakdowns…

Jan

18

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa plans new law to speed up power projects

NEWS

CARIEN DU PLESSIS SOUTH Africa is developing new legislation to speed up energy projects to add generating capacity and help end power cuts, a presentation by the country's energy crisis committee showed. Ageing coal-fired power stations, underinvestment in new capacity and foot-dragging on policies to encourage private providers has left South Africa facing constant power cuts. However, work is underway to accelerate the procurement of additional capacity, according to a presentation seen by Reuters on Tuesday from the National Energy Crisis Committee, set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa. It said the committee is working to "develop emergency legislation which can…

Aug

03

2022

By The African Mirror

Ramaphosa acts to ease South Africa’s energy crisis: impact will be felt in renewables

ENVIRONMENT

SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced an action plan to address the country’s growing energy crisis. It included relaxing the legislative and environmental requirements to speed up private investment and increase generation capacity. The Conversation Africa’s Nontobeko Mtshali asked Wikus Kruger for his insights. Author WIKUS KRUGER, Researcher in Renewable Energy, University of Cape Town What impact will this have on renewable energy uptake? Part of the challenge with the president’s announcements – and it’s natural that this will happen in a public speech – is that it’s relatively light on details and timelines. And so not everything is…