SANEA Talking Energy - July 2008

Namibia's electricity sector presents investment opportunities — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:22 PM

Windhoek, Namibia - Namibia's electricity sector could be the toast of investors with increasing demand for power in the country presenting substantial and lucrative investment opportunities for the international and domestic investor, analysts said. An analysis of the potential of Namibia's electricity generation sector's capacity to attract investment by a global consultancy and research firm, Frost & Sullivan, said that the local electricity generation sector was currently worth US$1.3 billion, and would rise to US$2 billion by 2014.

Electricity consumption, generation decreased in May — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:24 PM

South Africa’s electricity consumption fell by 2,5% in May, while production decreased by 2,1% in the same month, according to official data. Power consumption decreased to 20 381 GWh, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) said on its website.

Record 29 000 engineers registered with Ecsa — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:25 PM

The Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa) said it had reached a milestone with about 29 000 qualified engineering practitioners now registered, which it said indicated the engineering industry's confidence in the council. Previously disadvantaged persons accounted for 56% of new registrations over the past three years, which accounted for the greatest increase in numbers.

Sasol says optimising output at Qatar GTL plant — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:27 PM

Sasol, the world's biggest maker of motor oil from coal, said it expected output to exceed design capacity at Oryx gas-to-liquids (GTL) joint venture plant in Qatar. "We've gone beyond ramp-up and are in the optimisation phase," Group GM Lean Strauss said on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid. Strauss added that revised production figures for Oryx would be published in a twice-yearly investment insight due in July.

PetroSA seeks strategic engineering partner for massive Coega refinery — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:29 PM

National oil company PetroSA is looking to appoint a strategic engineering partner to manage the various project phases of its new 400 000-barrel a day fuel refinery at Coega, in the Eastern Cape. CEO Sipho Mkhize said that the engineering partner would execute the feasibility, front-end engineering design and project management through to commissioning of the refinery, dubbed Project Mthombo.

Coal-bed methane exploration booms as SA’s energy demand grows — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:31 PM

The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) has confirmed that there has been an increased interest in prospecting for coal-bed methane (CBM) in South Africa. DME DDG for mineral regulation Jacinto Rocha said that there were 23 exploration rights for CBM in the country, and noted that there had been a surge in applications.

Lower-rated circuit breakers could help Eskom achieve 10% target, argues consultant — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:32 PM

If municipalities reduced the capacity of the main circuit breakers of domestic dwellings, Eskom would achieve its targeted 10% reduction in domestic electricity consumption, and related demand-side management (DSM) targets, says private consultant Bart Druif.

Makeover planned for SA nuclear power — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:33 PM

The government has enlisted the aid of a brand consultant to give the image of nuclear power in South Africa a major makeover. It is seeking to identify so-called ‘nuclear ambassadors’ to endorse nuclear power stations in communities and the business world.

Sasol Wax expands hydro-treating capacity in Germany — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:36 PM

Synthetic and petroleum-derived wax producer Sasol Wax, would expand its hydro-treating capacity for paraffin waxes at its plant in Hamburg, Germany, and the company also planned to double the production capacity of synthetic wax at its Sasolburg plant in South Africa by 2013.

France's big nuclear build seen as showcase for exports to countries such as SA — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:38 PM

Atomic power champion France is building a new generation reactor largely to supply power for neighbours that are wary of having nuclear plants, although its own need is for more flexible sources of energy such as gas.

National Energy Bill — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:41 PM

The National Energy Bill has been placed on the SANEA website. Click here to view the National Energy Bill.

Developing long term value for the private sector through strategic carbon management — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:44 PM

Carbon Management can mean many things to many people, but it all coalesces to the simple objective of reducing one’s carbon dioxide emissions in order to minimise the future impacts of climate change on our lives and the planet. With this in mind, in order to maximise long term value, the private sector needs to take a strategic approach to climate change to ensure that liabilities are mitigated and opportunities are realised.

Is sweet sorghum biofuel’s Holy Grail? — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 02:45 PM

Biofuels are widely blamed for driving food prices higher and causing food riots in many countries. At least 25 percent of the U.S maize crop is used for the generation of biofuels and extensive areas Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Brazil are also devoted to growing fuel, rather than food. With sweet sorghum, however, only the plant’s stalks are used for biofuel production, while the grain can be utilised for food or livestock feed. This crop is also not in high demand in the global food market,a dn thus has little impact on food prices and food security.

SANEA Awards 2008 — by VDW — last modified 2008-08-04 03:45 PM

The SANEA AWARDS 2008 winners were announced during a dazzling gala dinner recently. They are: Bethlehem Hydro (Pty) Ltd – Anton-Louis Olivier, MD in the Project Award category; Edwin Naidu, Senior Writer of The Sunday Independent in the Journalism Award category and Dave Wright, General Manager Corporate Planning at Engen Petroleum Limited in the Education Award category