Page 11 - AfrElec Week 48 2020

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

since 2015. That doubled prices for some
consumers, but the government and industry
said it was needed to allow distribution
companies to recoup costs and pay generating
companies.

COAL
Zimbabwe’s energy policy
be more efficient. Electricity theft will also be 2018 and 2019.
prevented, the statement adds. The summons orders Eskom still favouring coal over
Furthermore, the reduction of distribution representatives to appear in the Witbank
losses will also be more climate friendly. Regional Court on the 28th of January next renewables
Ambassador Masaki hails the Egypt-Japan year.
partnership on this project, referring to TTC’s This follows an internal investigation and Despite Zimbabwe’s abundant potential for
long-standing operations in Egypt as a main report prepared by Eskom audit and forensic renewable power, the country is embarking on
contractor, while Hitachi ABB has been a into air quality compliance and reporting a coal-power building spree of as much as 8
manufacturer of power distribution systems in – and which was initiated by Eskom CEO gigawatts, much of it to be built and financed
the county for many years. Andre de Ruyter in May of this year. by Chinese companies.
“Japan has long been supporting the pivotal Greenpeace Africa has welcomed the In July, Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson
sector for development in Egypt, which is Department’s move. Mnangagwa, toured eight companies that
power and energy, with the commitment of Greenpeace Africa Climate and Energy own new coal mines, coking coal plants and
£1.5 billion until now.’ Campaigner Nhlanhla Sibisi said that power generation plants in Hwange, a district
“Recent achievements include the the Kendal power plant has earned Kriel, rich in coal and wildlife in the province of
construction of the Gulf Al Zayt Wind Power Mpumalanga, the title of a global hotspot Matabeleland North. As the tour progressed,
Plant along the Red Sea coast, and the Cairo for SO2 emissions, the largest hotspot in local firm Western Areas announced plans to
North Power Plant,” he adds. Africa and the largest hotspot driven by coal build two 300MW coal plants, while another,
Ambassador Masaki also says that the two combustion worldwide. Zimbabwe Gas and Coal, said it would build a
countries would continue to work closely Sibisi said that while it is commendable 750MW plant.
together ‘for the purpose of improving the that the Department has finally woken up to Chinese companies are also building new
people’s lives through projects in the power a realisation of the air pollution crisis facing coal infrastructure in the country. Zimbabwe
and energy sector, including renewable energy South Africa, this decision is well within the Zhongxin Electrical Energy (ZZEE), which
for inclusive and sustainable development’. Department’s mandate and long overdue. is a joint venture with the Zimbabwe
Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Defence Force, is building a 50MW power
Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker adds his plant with plans to expand that to 430MW.
appreciation for Japan’s long-term support of Dinson Colliery, the coal-mining subsidiary
the domestic electricity and energy sector. He GRID of steelmaker Tsingshan Holding Group, is
also states his desire for further enhancing building a $300 million coking plant. When
bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Nigerian electricity Mnangagwa visited, the company said it was
Japan. also planning a 100MW coal plant although
commission restores power when China Dialogue visited in November it
said it put the capacity at 12MW. Finally, Jinan
after grid collapse Corporation is planning a 600MW plant
ESKOM In September, barely two months after
Nigeria’s national electricity grid collapsed on Mnangagwa’s visit, both ZZEE and Tsingshan
Eskom faces criminal Sunday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria were fingered by environmental organisations
for mining coal in the Hwange National
(TCN) said in a statement, Reuters reported.
prosecution over pollution populous nation in Africa, are common, but a Park, a national outrage that compelled the
Power outages in Nigeria, the most-
government to immediately stop the mining
at Kendal system collapse is unusual. activities.
Nonetheless, other major coal projects
TCN said it would conduct investigations
The South African Department of to establish what caused the “multiple remain in the pipeline, namely the $3 billion
Environment, Forest and Fisheries’ (DEFF) trippings” as soon as the grid was fully 2,800MW thermal power plant in Gokwe that
announced on Monday that it plans to pursue restored. RioZim Energy is building with engineering
criminal prosecution against Eskom for non- The nation’s power grid, along with the and financial support from China Gezhouba
compliance with air pollution standards - and resulting precarious energy supply, is a key Group Company, and PER Lusulu Power’s
supplying false and misleading information in issue hindering growth in the continent’s proposed 2,100MW power plant in the north-
reports to an Air Quality Officer at the Kendal largest economy. western district of Binga.
Power station. Nigeria recently implemented its first
The alleged offense took place between power tariff increase in state-controlled prices

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