SANEA Talking Energy - April 2008

PetroSA raises Coega forecast — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:34 PM

South Africa's state-owned PetroSA expects its Coega oil refinery project to run 250 000 barrels per day, up from a previous 200 000 bpd forecast, a senior official said. "Moving from 200 000 to 250 000 (bpd) is really not costing you a lot, so this is now the base case," PetroSA's vice president for midstream ventures, Jorn Falbe, told reporters on the sidelines of a gas and oil conference in Cape Town.

Global oil production likely to peak in 2011 - analyst — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:43 PM

The point at which the world’s oil output would peak and production would enter a terminal decline might become a global reality as soon as 2011, an expert predicted. Peak oil, which referred to the point when no further production expansion would be possible, had become a contentious issue of debate in recent years with analysts predicting various dates and scenarios at when peak oil would be a reality.

Sasol announces global synthetic jet-fuel breakthrough — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:45 PM

South African synthetic fuels producer Sasol reported that it had become the first company worldwide to receive international acceptance for its fully synthetic jet fuel, produced through its proprietary coal-to-liquids (CTL) process, to be used by commercial airliners.

Africa's largest power exhibition — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:47 PM

African Utility Week’s unique training, networking and discussion platforms will demonstrate how utilities can be more efficient and offer cost-effective services through improved infrastructure maintenance, load management, delivery and revenue management choices. Last year, this prestigious event attracted the highest level of delegates – over 1000 from 47 countries!

Oil demand slowing, market more balanced - IEA — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:49 PM

The world oil market is becoming more balanced, demand is falling and oil prices should soften as a result, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said recently. OPEC's research director also said US demand was falling and other countries would also use less oil, depending on the extent of fall-out from a weaker US economy. "Demand is slowing down and we are moving towards a more balanced market," Tanaka told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Paris.

NERSA looking to create favourable environment for renewable projects — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:51 PM

The National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) was conducting a study of the renewable energy sector to establish how it could create a more favourable environment for investment in renewable power generation.

Sasol Wax to expand North American operations with Luxco acquisition — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:53 PM

South African petrochemicals firm Sasol, has announced that its subsidiary, Sasol Wax, had acquired the remaining 50% share of its North American joint venture (JV) Luxco Wax, turning it into a wholly owned Sasol Wax operation. Luxco Wax, which operates a plant in Richmond, California, is a supplier of wax specialities to a diverse group of industries, with particular strengths west of the Rocky Mountains.

Mozambique seeks investment in mining, energy — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 03:56 PM

Mozambique invited foreign investors to promote and explore the country's mining and energy resources, which include coal, natural gas and titanium. Energy Minister Salvador Nambuerete told an energy and mining conference that the southern African country was rich with hidden reserves and looking for investors. "One of our major objectives in the energy sector is to secure new projects for the generation, transmission and distribution (of hydropower) with the aim to meet our current and future needs, therefore, we need to attract foreign investments for the industries. Each participant should share experiences aimed at benefiting the socio-economic development of Mozambique."

Eskom seeking greater coal-quality consistency — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 04:14 PM

Eskom would seek to “narrow” its coal specifications to the top end of its quality spectrum, in a bid to improve the operation of its coal fleet and limit load losses, which had been at the heart of recent supply-side underperformance. It was now common cause that, while the utility continued to receive coal within its specified quality band, this supply had tended to migrate to the bottom end of a template that measures energy content, material abrasiveness, and acceptable levels of fine material.

Africa offers superior power returns — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 04:15 PM

Power projects in Africa boasted a 25% return on investment, compared with 15% for power projects in Latin America, and 12,5% for Eastern European power project, Frost and Sullivan energy and power systems analyst Jeannot Boussougouth said recently. Speaking at the tenth Africa Power and Electricity conference, in Johannesburg, he added that Nigeria appeared to be the most successful African country in the deployment of independent power producers (IPPs), with 1 700 MW of power being supplied by about 20 IPPs. Gas was the main feedstock for IPP projects in the West African country, and higher gas might begin placing stress on IPPs operating in Nigeria.

Power exports to Botswana will shrink by 60% over next two years — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 04:17 PM

Eskom will be reducing its power supply to neighbouring Botswana from the current 410 MW to 250 MW in 2009, and 150 MW in 2010 and 2011, as it struggled to keep up with demand, a top Botswana government official, Akolang Tombale, said. Botswana's current peak consumption was currently 530 MW, and it generated 120 MW of its own power, leaving a shortfall that it was hoping it could secure from nearby Mozambique. However, there were challenges in getting the power from the coastal country to Botswana, which mainly had to do with transmission. Rainfall and vandalism were the main problems.

The rise of the new energy world order — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 04:19 PM

Oil at US$110 a barrel, gasoline at $3.35 (or more) per gallon, diesel fuel at $4 per gallon, independent truckers forced off the road, home heating oil rising to unconscionable price levels, jet fuel so expensive that three low-cost airlines stopped flying in the past few weeks. This is just a taste of the latest energy news, signalling a profound change in how all of us, in this country and around the world, are going to live - trends that, so far as anyone can predict, will only become more pronounced as energy supplies dwindle and the global struggle over their allocation intensifies.

'We develop them and they go' — by VDW — last modified 2008-05-08 04:22 PM

It doesn’t matter where you are anymore; what matters is what you can do: this is the central idea Thomas Freidman presents in The World is flat. Natural resources matter and finances matter, but what matters most is intellectual property, know-how, skills, talent, call it what you will, that’s what matters most, says Gordon Institute of Business Science’s Professor Nick Binedell. He makes the point that there are countries with great natural resources that are unable to take advantage of their resources, and there are countries without resources that have built extraordinary economies.