Investec’s ZAR 1bn fund to buy up stakes in South African green power projects

The investment vehicle, set up with UK Climate Investments, wants equity in operating renewable energy projects.

Investec Bank and UK Climate Investments have set up a ZAR1 billion investment vehicle to buy assets under SA’s green power programme. 

The vehicle, Revego Africa Energy Limited, is expected to list on the JSE by June 2019 where it hopes to raise another ZAR1 billion to invest in operating renewable energy projects.

Also, newly incorporated is the majority black-owned Revego Fund Managers, which will manage Revego’s investments.

Business Day, 17 February 2019

Former Necsa board calls for investigation into AGSA report

The Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) report for 2017/18 released last week is misleading and should be investigated by the media, the Nuclear Energy Corporation SA (Necsa) former board members declared in a statement.

“The items cited as adverse findings had been systematically and procedurally dealt with to the extent that, had they been included, the audit outcome would have been positive. The fact that the work was not taken into account by the AGSA is suspicious,” said Necsa's suspended CEO, Phumzile Tshelane. 

ESI Africa, 18 February 2019

Enel starts construction of 140 MW Eastern Cape wind farm

Italy's Enel, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), has started construction of its 140 MW Nxuba wind farm in the Amatole district, making it the group’s third wind project in the Eastern Cape province.

The construction of Nxuba, which is expected to be completed by September 2020, will involve an overall investment of more than €200-million.

Once fully up and running, Nxuba is expected to generate over 460 GWh/y, avoiding the emission of around 500 000 t/y of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Engineering News, 12 February 2019

New committee formed to save Eskom

A Presidential Cabinet Committee on Eskom has been formed to brief President Cyril Ramaphosa on a daily basis on progress made to resolve the challenges at the power utility.

“This committee will deal with matters of Eskom daily and deliver daily reports to the President on what actions need to be taken to secure energy supply,” reads part of a statement from Cabinet.

The Cabinet Committee will be led by Deputy President David Mabuza and comprises the Ministers of Public Enterprises, Energy, Finance, Transport, Intelligence and Police.

ESI Africa, 18 February 2019

Modernisation to give Nangbeto hydropower plant another 30 years

Beninese-Togolese joint venture, Communtauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB), has appointed Voith to carry out extensive rehabilitation and modernisation measures at the Nangbeto hydropower plant.

The plant has been in operation for 35 years on the border between the two countries

The aim of the work is to secure the plant's operation for at least another 30 years and to modernise its auxiliary facilities. The contract is worth €22 million (US$25 million).

ESI Africa, 18 February 2019

Malawi invites bidders to express interest for solar PV tender

The Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) of Malawi is calling on qualified bidders to expression their interests for a 10 MW solar PV tender to be constructed in Salima.

The plant may be scaled up with an additional 10 MW capacity to 20 MW. 

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Malawi published in May 2017 shows the demand forecast for year 2020 exceeding 567MW whilst EGENCO’s installed generation capacity is at 411.6 MW (including diesel generators). 

ESI Africa, 17 February 2019

Transforming lives with solar TV

In sub-Saharan Africa, small solar home systems have brought electricity to millions of off-grid consumers, which has enabled community upliftment through education, healthcare and business development.

Technological advances in LED lights and mobile money payment systems have enabled the success of many of these projects. However, UK-based solar energy equipment supplier, Azuri Technologies, has evolved these offerings into one simple and affordable concept – AzuriTV.

In 2016, AzuriTV was the first fully-integrated pay-as-you-go solar satellite TV package for electrified customers in Africa, thus enabling users to enjoy the same high-quality TV services that are normally only available to urban households. The system includes a solar panel and battery system providing up to five hours of television viewing per day.

ESI Africa, 14 February 2019

Africa, Middle East increase onshore wind power capacity to 5.7 GW

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) on Monday released data that found Africa and the Middle East had installed 962 MW of onshore wind power capacity in 2018 – a 300 MW increase compared with 2017.

The GWEC’s global wind report forecasts that a further 6.5 GW of capacity will be added by 2023, compared with the current installed capacity of 5.7 GW.

In 2018, Egypt installed the most onshore wind power at 380 MW, followed by Kenya with 310 MW and Morocco with 120 MW.

Engineering News, 11 February 2019

The above reflects a summary of certain news articles published during the preceding week.

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