Page 15 - AfrElec Week 39 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

The South African ministers pressed for
details on what finance was available, but the
envoys favour an incremental approach and
more commitments from South Africa, the
people said.
While Gordhan urged support for Eskom,
other options such as transitioning South
Africa and its car industry toward electric
vehicles were also discussed, they said.
Albi Modise, a spokesman for the
environment ministry, confirmed that a group
of ministers met with the envoys but declined
to comment further, saying a statement will be
issued later.

INVESTMENT
Egyptian power investment

power; we have had the discussion with South Africa away from coal in Africa exceeds $3bn
them. That power will obviously not only
assist the national grid and ourselves, but Envoys from some of the world’s richest Egypt has implemented electricity projects in
also contribute towards the decarbonization nations met South African cabinet ministers other African countries in excess of $3 billion,
of the economy over time,” stated CEO to discuss a climate deal that could see billions Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and
of the Minerals Council of South Africa, of dollars put toward ending the country’s Renewable Energy.
Roger Baxter, adding, “Our members have dependence on coal, Bloomberg reported. He referred to the Egyptian alliance of
already indicated that they are planning to The delegation is trying to hammer out the Arab Contractors and ElSewedy Electric
invest in about 2 GW of renewable energy, an agreement that can be announced at the to implement the Nyerere Dam project in
supplementary embedded generation. That is COP26 climate talks, which start in Glasgow, Tanzania to generate hydroelectric power
going to cost something between R30 billion Scotland on 31 October, two people familiar with a capacity of 2,115 megawatts, with
($2 billion) and R40 billion ($2.7 billion).” with the talks said. investments of $2.9 billion.
During the presentation, it was noted The discussions with South Africa – the The projects include an expansion of the
that the mining industry, which accounts for world’s 12th-biggest emitter of greenhouse capacity of the electrical interconnection line
60% of the country’s $302 billion economy, gases – include representatives from the US, between Egypt and Sudan from 240 to 300
is heavily reliant on power generation UK, Germany, France and the European megawatts, he added. It also includes solar
derived from coal, which still accounts for Union. projects in Eritrea and Uganda.
approximately 82% of the country’s electricity While South Africa is under pressure to
production while renewable sources account cut its dependence on coal – which accounts
for merely 5.6%. for more than 80% of its power generation – it
The southern African country is the needs finance to facilitate the transition to STORAGE
continent’s largest economy and the 12th cleaner energy.
largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the Developed nations may also need to find Xlinks launches Morocco-
world. The decarbonization of the mining away to address the challenges faced by South
industry is imperative to meeting South Africa’s state-owned power utility, which is UK Power Project
Africa’s decarbonization plan under its burdened by R400 billion ($27 billion) of debt.
Nationally Determined Contributions The envoys met Tuesday with South A 10.5GW solar-plus-wind project is under
(NDCs) reduction targets, with aims of African ministers including Pravin Gordhan, development in Morocco’s Guelmim Oued
mitigating 420 megatons of carbon dioxide the public enterprises minister whose Noun region, with 3.6GW of this to be
annually by 2030. portfolio includes oversight of power utility exported to Great Britain.
Eskom Holdings, Barbara Creecy, the Xlinks – the company behind the
environment minister, and Ebrahim Patel, Morocco-UK Power Project – said the project
the country’s trade and industry minister, the is capable of generating for an average of 20+
COAL people said, asking not to be identified as a hours a day, taking advantage of the high solar
public announcement has yet to be made. irradiance in the south of Morocco alongside
The world’s richest South Africa’s politically powerful labour consistent convection desert winds to provide
Talks will be held on Wednesday with
an alternative source of zero carbon electricity
countries consider unions, business leaders and the Presidential to GB.
Climate Change Coordinating Commission,
It is also to feature a 5GW/20GWh battery
spending billions to move three people familiar with the arrangements facility, helping to ensure the power generated
said.
can be delivered every day, resulting in a

Week 39 30•September•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P15