Page 12 - AfrElec Week 28

AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
the period between 2020 and 2050 in order to meet he Paris goals, but without signi cant cost impact.
It could do this by pursuing a “substantial and immediate renewable energy build programme (at least double the IRP 2019 rate) which comes atnoadditionalcostforconsumers.”
e report’s authors called for the govern- ment to update downwards the current renew- able energy cost assumptions in its current 2019 IRP. It also urged the government not to build new gas- red generating infrastructure for at least a decade.
“An accelerated transition creates the basis foranewsustainablebusinessmodelforEskom,
which will be required for it to chart a course out of its severe nancial and operational chal- lenges,” said Grové Steyn, founder of Meridian Economics and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
“ e e ects of continued cost reductions in renewableenergyandstoragetechnologieshave reached the point where it makes sense to invest heavily in these projects to rapidly reduce load shedding and avoid higher power costs,” said Steyn.
“ e additional CO2 savings will be enough to make the country’s power sector “Par- is-aligned” and signi cantly reduce SA’s climate risks,”headded.™
NEWS IN BRIEF
COVID-19 POLICY INVESTMENT
South Africa’s Mantashe hasCOVID-19
e South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, and his wife, Nolwandle Mantashe, have tested positive for Covid-19.
According to a statement by the Presidency, Mantashe and his wife received their test results on July 14.
“ is was the minister’s third round of tests to be conducted since the outbreak of this virus,” Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said.
e minister and his wife are currently in isolation at home, where he will continue to work.
“ e minister remains committed to a course of ensuring security of energy and petroleum products supply to society during this di cult period and beyond.”
Williams added that Mantashe had directed all members of his private o ce in government to also get tested.
“As we wish the minister and Mrs Mantashe a speedy recovery, we extend the same well wishes to the thousands of South Africans and their families who are also battling coronavirus.
“To defeat this virus, we must all continue playing our part in observing the WHO (World Health Organisation) protocols of washing hands regularly, wearing a mask and practising physical distancing.”
Nigerian Auditor-General indictsNBET’soutgoingMD
e Nigerian O ce of the Auditor-General has indicted the embattled outgoing Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company (NBET), Marilyn Amobi, for nancial mismanagement, disrespect for due process, and contract fraud.
e indictments are contained in a June 2020 Auditor-General’s special report on audit monitoring and evaluation of NBET’s capital projects and programmes between June 2017 and June 2018. e report was submitted
to the National Assembly as Nigeria’s Constitution provides.
Ordinarily, the audit checks should form some paragraphs in the annual Auditor- General’s Report, but the Auditor-General, Anthony Ayine, wrote that it had become necessary to issue the special report “because of the public interest generated in the NBET’s a airs.”
Appointed in 2016, Ms Amobi has had a controversial stint at NBET. In February 2019, she controversially paid at least NGN2bn to two power generating companies and made controversial payments to law rms and other consultants.
Africa needs a lot of energy
topoweritsCOVID-19
recovery
Africa will need a lot of energy to build back better in the a ermath of the coronavirus pandemic, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Vera Songwe, said Wednesday.
Speaking during a Res4Africa webinar on scaling up renewable energy investments in Africa, Ms. Songwe said actions to ensure there is enough energy to power Africa’s rebuilding e orts should focus on three key aspects - infrastructure, supply and cost of energy.
She said following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, education
and health had moved to ICT platforms, consuming about 40 percent of the continent’s energy.
‘So for us to be able to have on the continent a viable ICT sector that will allow our economies to build back better, we
are going to need a lot of energy,’ said Ms. Songwe, adding private investments will play a crucial role, especially with the launch of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
e ECA Executive Secretary said the issue of the continent’s energy was not transition but energy substitution.
‘We do not have the transition problem
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Week 28 16•July•2020