Daily Media Assessment - 06 October 2021

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Media Assessment Effective Date February 2021
Review Date February 2024
06 October 2021
1. Print Media = 07 articles
2. Broadcast Media = 05 items
3. Online Media = 107 articles
RATINGS: Positive story Neutral story Negative story Crisis
LONG TERM ISSUES (Capacity, New Build, Funding, Climate Change, Leadership and
Business Strategy)
Issue Description Affected Risk
Business Strategy Engineering News writes that while speaking Board/EXCO
(Eskom operations) during a webinar hosted by the University of
Witwatersrand’s School of Economics and Finance
yesterday, Eskom Group Chief Executive
(GCE), André de Ruyter, said that the message of
the climate envoys who visited South Africa in the
run up to the COP26 climate talks in Scotland was
that there is “substantial concessional financing
available” to enable South Africa to pursue a just
energy transition. De Ruyter reportedly indicated,
however, that the initial focus would likely be on
supporting Eskom to build the infrastructure
required for decarbonisation, as well as to support
vulnerable workers and communities, rather than to
address Eskom’s legacy debt.
The publication notes that in response to a

question posed during a webinar De Ruyter said,
while he was not privy to the discussions held with
government Ministers, the engagements between
Eskom and the envoys had been “good” and
“productive”. De Ruyter is quoted as saying that: “I
think the general message is that there is
substantial concessional financing available to
enable South Africa to make this energy transition
in a just manner and I have to stress that the
climate envoys are as committed as we are to
ensuring that this is a just transition.”
According to the publication, De Ruyter was less

optimistic that concessional finance could be
applied immediately to address Eskom’s legacy
debt. The GCE is further quoted in this regard as
saying: “Unless we’re all prepared to, in my view,
substantially accelerate the retirement of our coal-
fired generation fleet beyond what we are currently
contemplating…I think that addressing
concessional financing vis-à-vis our legacy debt is
going to prove remarkably challenging to
Public
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implement. The package that we are talking about

at the moment involves the concessional funding of
new generation capacity, the repurposing and
repowering of our power stations as they shut
down, the expansion of our transmission grid and
conversion of our distribution network. So, it is
more about the future than it is about the past.”
Business Strategy Based on an original story by Bloomberg News, the Board/EXCO
and Climate Change media reports that according to a study by
the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
(CREA), Eskom has become the world’s biggest
emitter of sulphur dioxide. CREA reportedly found
that Eskom produced 1 600 kilotons of the pollutant
in 2019, the latest year for which comparable data
is available, and that was more than any company,
and the total emission of the power sector of any
country with the exception of India. The reports say
that Eskom has previously said it would need to
spend R300 billion to comply with South Africa’s
emission standards.
Business Strategy The media reports that the Constitutional Court has Board/EXCO
(municipal debt) ruled Eskom’s decision to cut off power to
defaulting municipalities was irrational and
unconstitutional. According to the reports, the land
mark decision involving the Emalahleni Municipality
and the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality dates
back to a December 2019 decision by the Supreme
Court of Appeal that Eskom’s decision to interrupt
bulk electricity supply was irrational as Eskom
knew it would not result in the financially strapped
municipalities settling their debt. The reports note
that analysts said that the Constitutional Court
decision now heralds a new era for electricity
security in local towns and for limiting the harm
stemming from disputes between organs of state
by binding them to intergovernmental dispute
resolution, and ordinarily barring them from
withholding services from private third parties. It is
noted by the reports that at its core, the judgment
proscribes all organs of state, not only Eskom and
municipalities, from making their internal disputes
the problem of private third parties.
Leadership and The media reports that a tribunal set up to recover Board/EXCO
Business Strategy looted funds has ruled that R11.5 million held in a
(governance and bank account linked to a suspended senior Eskom
investigations) manager be forfeited to the state. According to the
reports, in a judgment handed down on Monday,
Special Tribunal Judge Thina Siwendu ruled that
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suspended Eskom Coal Operations Senior

Manager, Petrus Mazibuko, his brother Shadrak
Mazibuko, and their company, Thephunokheja
Projects, broke the law in accepting bribes. Judge
Siwendu ruled that all the funds in the bank
account of Thephunokheja Projects – which was
said to be in the "cupboard and home improvement
business" – immediately be transferred to the
Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The reports note
that Thephunokheja Projects was found to have
received repeated payments from Commodity
Logistix Managers Africa (CLM), a registered
Eskom supplier of coal, and a company called
Thembathlo, between 2019 and early 2021.
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
De Ruyter says 'substantial' concessional finance available to support just energy

transition
Eskom Group Chief Executive André de Ruyter said on Tuesday that the message of the
climate envoys who visited South Africa in the run up to the COP26 climate talks in Scotland
was that there is “substantial concessional financing available” to enable South Africa to
pursue a just energy transition. He indicated, however, that the initial focus would likely be
on supporting Eskom to build the infrastructure required for decarbonisation, as well as to
support vulnerable workers and communities, rather than to address Eskom’s legacy debt.
The State-owned utility has debt of R401 billion, which is said to be about R200 billion above
the level where it could be considered sustainable. During its 2021 financial year, Eskom’s
operating surplus of R31 billion fell short of debt interest payments of R37 billion. In
response to a question posed during a webinar hosted by the University of Witwatersrand’s
School of Economics and Finance, De Ruyter said, while he was not privy to the discussions
held with government Ministers, the engagements between Eskom and the envoys had been
“good” and “productive”. The visit involved envoys from France, Germany, the UK, the US
and the European Union and the discussions focused on opportunities for enhanced
cooperation, financing and support for South Africa in light of its improved climate pledge.
South Africa has deposited an updated Nationally Determined Contribution range of 420- to
350 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-eq) for 2030 with the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, which represents a marked improvement on its
2015 pledge of 614 Mt CO2-eq to 398 Mt CO2-eq. During the visit, the South African
government proposed the establishment of a Just Transition Financing Facility, supported by
concessional finance from developed countries, to enable ambitious climate action, while
also addressing the social impacts of the transition. “I think the general message is that there
is substantial concessional financing available to enable South Africa to make this energy
transition in a just manner and I have to stress that the climate envoys are as committed as
we are to ensuring that this is a just transition,” De Ruyter said. Such finance, he said, could
be used to support Eskom in building renewables generation capacity, to repurpose and
repower its decommissioning power stations and to expand South Africa’s transmission and
distribution networks. He was less optimistic that concessional finance could be applied
immediately to address Eskom’s legacy debt, as proposed in a recent paper by Meridian
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Economics. The paper argues that a sovereign-to-sovereign concessional package, linked to

decarbonisation targets, could save the country R100 billion and could help facilitate the part
recapitalisation of the unbundled Eskom units of generation, transmission and distribution. “If
[such a deal] does happen, I believe that it will be through an extensive and very complex
set of negotiations,” De Ruyter said, arguing that lenders would probably be reluctant to fund
debt incurred to build coal assets. “Unless we’re all prepared to, in my view, substantially
accelerate the retirement of our coal-fired generation fleet beyond what we are currently
contemplating . . . I think that addressing concessional financing vis-à-vis our legacy debt is
going to prove remarkably challenging to implement,” he said. “The package that we are
talking about at the moment involves the concessional funding of new generation capacity,
the repurposing and repowering of our power stations as they shut down, the expansion of
our transmission grid and conversion of our distribution network. “So, it is more about the
future than it is about the past.” Speaking at the tail-end of the recent visit, American envoy
Dr Jonathan Pershing, who is US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, described South
Africa’s latest climate pledge as “extraordinary” and said donor countries would seek to
support South Africa’s ambition to transition to a decarbonised economy with concessional
finance. Pershing noted that as a middle-income country, South Africa was not always able
to secure concessional loans from the World Bank and other multilateral institutions. “But
that does not mean there is not a need here [and] it doesn’t mean that there is not a demand
for capacity building that isn’t really accessible on commercial terms. “And so, yes, we
believe that part of what the donors will be seeking to do is to help raise concessional
finance for the South African transition.”
Engineering News, Mining Weekly
Eskom is now the biggest sulphur dioxide polluter in the world: researchers
Eskom, South Africa’s coal-reliant power utility, has become the world’s biggest emitter of
sulphur dioxide, a pollutant linked to ailments ranging from asthma to heart attacks,
the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said. Eskom produced 1 600
kilotons of the pollutant in 2019, the latest year for which comparable data is available,
according to the report released on Tuesday by CREA, an air-pollution research
organisation. That was more than any company, and the total emission of the power sector
of any country with the exception of India. While China, the US and the European Union
have slashed sulphur dioxide emissions in recent years by fitting pollution abatement
equipment to power plants, Eskom has only done so at one of its 15 coal-fired facilities.
Eskom has disputed a 2019 study that ties its emissions to more than 2 000 deaths a year,
though it said its pollution killed 320 people annually. “They need to comply with minimum
emission standards to reduce the burden they place on public health,” said Lauri Myllyvirta,
lead analyst at CREA, in an interview. “The only viable way to do that is to phase out some
of the plants that are in the worse condition in terms of reliability and upgrade the rest.”
China has slashed its annual emissions to 780 kilotons from 13,000 kilotons in 2006, CREA
said. The nation’s biggest coal-fired power plant operator, Huaneng Power, emitted 26
kilotons of sulphur dioxide last year from a fleet of power stations with almost twice Eskom’s
installed capacity of about 44 000MW, it said. Eskom’s pollution is also high because of the
high sulphur content of the coal it burns, Myllyvirta said. Myllyvirta put the cost of fitting
Eskom’s plants with the equipment, known as flue-gas desulfurization units, at between
R100 billion ($6.6 billion) and R200 billion. Eskom has previously said it would need to
spend R300 billion to comply with South Africa’s emission standards. The state-owned
power utility is more than R400 billion in debt.
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Eskom emits more sulphur dioxide than any power company in the world –
latest research
A data analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), released on
Tuesday, finds that South Africa’s national power utility, Eskom, has become the world’s top
polluter in its field. It says no other power company on the planet emits nearly as much
sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. Sulphur dioxide contributes to high levels of ambient air
pollution and is the main health-harming pollutant from the burning of coal. According to the
World Health Organisation, South Africa’s air quality levels exceed safe limits. According to
a study by air pollution expert Mike Holland on the health impacts of coal-fired plants in
South Africa, air pollution has multiple effects on our health, including cardiovascular and
respiratory illnesses, some of which can prove terminal. Holland estimated that more than 2
200 deaths are caused by air pollution. “Most of these deaths are due to SO2 [sulphur
dioxide] emissions, which form deadly PM2.5 particles once released into the air,” says the
CREA report. The report explains that while other regions have taken action in reducing
emissions, Eskom has not, and now emits more sulphur dioxide than the entire power sector
of the EU and the US – or the US and China combined. In 2015, the Edgar emissions
database reported that the six economies with the highest power sector sulphur dioxide
emissions were India, the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the
European Union. Since then, China and the US have taken considerable steps to move
away from fossil fuels and have managed to significantly reduce emissions. India remains
the largest polluter, with South Africa and Saudi Arabia not far behind. CREA’s analysis of
emissions data from each of these countries illustrates that, relatively, by 2019, Eskom had
become the world’s most polluting power company measured by sulphur dioxide emissions.
According to the CREA report, China went from 13 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide
emissions from the power sector in 2006, to two million tonnes in 2015, to an “ultra-low” level
of 780 thousand tons in 2020. In the past decade, China has implemented a massive retrofit
programme, whereas Eskom has remained much the same. Now, China’s largest coal
power plant operator, China Huaneng, emits less than 2% of Eskom’s emissions, despite
having a fleet almost twice the size. And compared to the US, Eskom’s emissions from 15
coal-fired power plants are more than twice as high as those from the entire power sector of
the United States, with 249 coal-fired plants. Like the US, the EU has made major gains in
transitioning away from fossil fuels and rapidly shut down power plants. The entire electricity
and heat sector of the 28 EU countries equates to only a third of Eskom’s emissions. Based
on the company’s own integrated report, in the 2020/21 financial year, Eskom emitted 1.6
million tonnes of sulphur dioxide. The IEA estimated that in 2019, India emitted 4.3 million
tonnes of sulphur dioxide from burning coal. However, lead analyst of the CREA report, Lauri
Myllyvirta, explained to Our Burning Planet that relatively, Eskom is the world’s biggest
power-polluting company because no single company in India comes close to Eskom’s
emissions. The report states, “Indian coal is much lower in sulphur than South African coal,
meaning that despite having more than five times as much coal-fired capacity, the emissions
are ‘only’ twice as high.” 10 years ago China and the US were the biggest pollutants by a
landslide. Massive retrofit programmes and installing cutting-edge desulphurisation
equipment at their power plants has seen a rapid reduction in their emissions.
Comparatively, although they started lower, Eskom’s emissions have remained relatively
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stable over the past decade. Eskom Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha told Our
Burning Planet that Eskom is “fully aware of its emissions obligations. It has embarked on a
programme to transition from retiring coal-fired power stations to renewable energy, with a
view to attain a net-zero status by 2050.” Myllyvirta said, “The data from China, Europe and
the US shows that emissions can be cut very fast and steep once a government decides to
act.”
Daily Maverick
Eskom options narrow after Concourt debt ruling

Power utility Eskom might just have to whistle for its outstanding R36 billion debt owed by
municipalities after the Constitutional Court ruled as irrational and unconstitutional its
decision to cut off power to defaulting municipalities. The land mark decision involving the
Emalahleni Municipality and the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality dates back to a December
2019 decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal that Eskom’s decision to interrupt bulk
electricity supply was irrational as Eskom knew it would not result in the financially strapped
municipalities settling their debt. Analysts said the Concourt’s decision now heralds a new
era for electricity security in local towns and for limiting the harm stemming from disputes
between organs of state by binding them to intergovernmental dispute resolution, and
ordinarily barring them from withholding services from private third parties. At its core, the
judgment proscribes all organs of state, not only Eskom and municipalities, from making
their internal disputes the problem of private third parties. “There is no doubt that the
Concourt ruling will hurt Eskom’s drive to collect debt. The Concourt puts yet another hurdle
in getting these municipalities to honour their obligations. While the Concourt ruling secures
local energy provision, it does not ensure that Eskom receives the money end-users pay,” a
senior ANC official said. The official said Eskom had a duty to report its financial disputes
with defaulting municipalities to the National Treasury (NT) for the latter to mediate the
matter. “Eskom failed to do this. Moreover, the obligation on government to intervene does
not stop at a mere attempt to mediate financial disputes between organs of state. “It is the
duty of National Treasury and national government in general to actively intervene in cases
of state failure, especially in the case of municipalities, responsible as they are for service
delivery to paying customers,” he said. South African Local Government Association head of
energy Nhlanhla Ngidi said municipalities were not necessarily passing the buck, but that it
was the National Treasury’s obligation to ensure that funds dispersed were used for what
they were meant for. “There is an acknowledgement that municipalities have various
challenges, municipalities are not deliberately fiddling with funds or diverting them but using
them for other purposes, the challenges are broad, it is all work in progress, the policies are
there … with good intention, but the implementation needs to be perfected. “We are not
producers of electricity but just conduits, we have put in place policies to make sure things
are used in good place but we are not enforcers, we have created an enabling environment,”
Ngidi said. Ngidi said the National Energy Regulator of South Africa had a bigger role to play
in ensuring more affordable electricity. “Our position is Eskom is passing the buck, we as
consumers are paying for the inefficiencies of Eskom, for them sorting their mess means
increasing the price of electricity,” he said. Business advocacy group Sakeliga said it had
become common for Eskom to cut off power on a large scale when municipalities failed to
pay their debt, but that local authorities were mere conduits as well. Sakeliga’s Piet le Roux
said the energy problem in the country was very big and not all of the issues, from
transformers imploding to load reduction, were entirely Eskom’s fault, but that a better
system needed to be established to assist owing municipalities. He said processes needed
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to be introduced that would centralise the administration funds which would enable
municipalities’ various stakeholders like water boards and Eskom to be paid before funds
were released to the municipalities. “We have to make sure that municipalities work, service
providers have to be paid first and then the rest of the funds are released to the
municipalities,” Le Roux said."
The Star, Cape Argus
Millions retrieved from Eskom boss

Special Tribunal Judge Thina Siwendu has ordered that the R11 million held in a bank
account linked to a suspended Eskom manager, which she deemed to be proceeds of
unlawful activities, be forfeited to the state. The tribunal granted the Special Investigating
Unit (SIU) an interim order in April to freeze the funds after a whistle-blower alleged that
suspended Eskom Coal Operations Senior Manager Petrus Mazibuko was receiving
unauthorised payments from two Eskom suppliers Commodity Logistix Managers Africa and
Thembathlo through a bank account with FNB held by Thephunokheja Projects, run by
Mazibuko and brother Shadrak. According to the SIU investigation, Thephunokheja’s bank
statements showed the only source of income was the two Eskom suppliers. Mazibuko had
earlier said he was not aware the two Eskom suppliers were doing business with the power
utility. In her judgment on Tuesday, Siwendu said the Mazibukos’ conduct and that of
Thephunokheja contravened the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, as they accepted
gratification from the suppliers to influence an unjust result. Petrus Mazibuko did not disclose
to Eskom that he was a director of Thephunokheja Projects, and he told the Special Tribunal
in September he did not know the source of the funds in the FNB bank account. But
Siwendu wrote in her judgment: “Mr Mazibuko contends that because he was not a
shareholder or director, there was nothing to disclose and he had no duty to do so. “He says
his involvement [in Thephunokheja] was limited to assisting his brother with management of
the financial affairs of Thephunokheja and to help prevent sporadic withdrawal of funds from
the account. With the same breath, he did not dispute that his brother operated other bank
accounts in which he was not involved,” the judgment said. “I find that even though his name
does not appear on the statutory register of directors, he was a de facto director of
Thephunokheja and had represented himself as such. Even if he was not a de facto director
which I have found he was, on his own version, he accepted that he was ‘an adviser’ looking
after the financial affairs of Thephunokheja. I find that he had a duty to disclose his interest
and relatedness to Thephunokheja on all accounts.” Siwendu said she found the “plea of
ignorance unpalatable”.
Business Day
State confiscates R11.5m from bank account of suspended senior Eskom manager
A tribunal set up to recover looted funds has ruled that R11.5 million held in a bank account
linked to a suspended senior Eskom manager be forfeited to the state. In a judgment handed
down on Monday, Special Tribunal Judge Thina Siwendu ruled that Petrus Mazibuko,
a suspended senior manager in the power utility's coal operations, his brother Shadrak
Mazibuko, and their company, Thephunokheja Projects, broke the law in accepting bribes.
Siwendu ruled that all the funds in the bank account of Thephunokheja Projects – which was
said to be in the "cupboard and home improvement business" – immediately be transferred
to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Thephunokheja Projects was found to have received
repeated payments from Commodity Logistix Managers Africa (CLM), a registered Eskom
supplier of coal, and a company called Thembathlo, between 2019 and early 2021. It did not
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have any other source of funds. CLM had responded to a tender to transport coal for Eskom
in June of 2018, which it won. A few months later, in entered into a joint venture with
Thephunokheja and started making payments into the group's bank account. Siwendu ruled
there were no good reasons for the payments to have been made. She said that Petrus
Mazibuko's attempted defence – that he didn't know that CLM and Thephunokheja Projects
were doing business with Eskom – "cannot be believed". As an employee of Eskom, he
would have had to declare his interests in Thephunokheja, which he did not do. "He also did
not obtain written authority to conduct outside work or permission to receive additional
remuneration over and above his salary at Eskom," she said. The Mazibuko brothers and
Thephunokheja were ordered to pay the costs of the application, including costs of senior
counsel.
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Suspended Eskom Senior Manager ordered to pay back the money

The Special Tribunal has ordered that suspended Eskom Senior Manager for Coal
Operations, Petrus Mazibuko, pay back at least R11 million to the state after it was found
that his company indirectly benefitted from a coal transportation contract from the power
utility. This follows civil proceedings initiated against Mazibuko and his brother, Shadrack, at
the tribunal by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The tribunal found that Mazibuko
improperly benefitted from contracts awarded to a company with links to a business ran by
himself and his brother. “Judge Thina Siwendu found that Petrus Mazibuko did not declare
his business interests in terms of the Eskom Conflict of Interest Policy and had no
permission to do the work. He acted, by failing to disclose, in a way that compromised the
credibility and integrity of Eskom's supply chain processes,” the tribunal said. The judgement
also found that the Mazibuko’s company, Thephunokheja, “concluded a joint venture
agreement with Commodity Logistix Managers Africa (CLM)” to supply and transport the coal
just months before the Eskom contracts were awarded to CLM. Shortly after the contract
was awarded, at least R11 million flowed from CLM to Mazibuko’s Thephunokheja. The
suspended Eskom Senior Manager had also failed to disclose the close ties he had to CLM.
“However…they had no experience no expertise in the coal business. Mazibuko's conduct
was found to be an unauthorized gratification and in violation of Section 3 of the Prevention
and Combating of the Corrupt Activities Act of 204 and section 4 of the Prevention of
Organized Crime of 1998,” the tribunal said. The Tribunal also found that the conduct of the
Mazibuko brothers was against the law. “Petrus and Shadrack Mazibuko as well as
Thephunokheja accepted gratification, acted dishonestly, unauthorised, misused and sold
information to advance their financial interests and that they knowingly embarked on the
unlawful activities,” the judgement found.
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Suspended Eskom manager’s millions forfeited to the state

The Special Tribunal has ordered that R11 million from suspended Eskom Senior Manager
Petrus Mazibuko’s company be forfeited to the state. The order comes after Mazibuko’s
bank accounts were frozen in April. Mazibuko’s company, Thephunokheja Projects, which he
co-owns with his brother Shadrack, was at the centre of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)
probe into corruption at the power giant. Mazibuko was the senior manager for coal
operations at Eskom. Mazibuko’s side business with his brother was in direct contravention
of Eskom’s conflict of interest policy. Judge Thina Siwendu found that not only did Mazibuko
keep his business interests secret, he also did not have permission nor the experience to
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supply coal to his employer. Thephunokheja had entered into a joint venture with Commodity
Logistix Managers (CLM) Africa to supply and transport coal from different mining houses to
Eskom power plants nationwide. Siwendu ruled that the Mazibuko brothers acted
dishonestly, misusing and selling information to advance their financial interests.
Thephunokheja’s bank statements revealed that both brothers were signatories to the
account. Thephunokheja had two bank accounts: a gold business account and a business
savings pocket account. The Financial Intelligence Centre also issued a directive to place
the account on hold. The FIC believed the funds in those accounts were the proceeds of
unlawful activities. In June 2018, CLM Africa submitted a bid to transport coal for Eskom. Six
months later, it concluded the joint venture agreement with Thephunokheja. By December
2019, both companies were in business. But payments to Thephunokheja started in April
2019, before Eskom awarded the contracts. “He acted, by failing to disclose, in a way that
compromised the credibility and integrity of Eskom’s supply-chain processes,” said Siwendu.
During the hearing, Mazibuko tried, unsuccessfully, to challenge the jurisdiction of the
Special Tribunal. That appeal was dismissed, and the brothers were ordered to pay legal
costs for all parties.
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Cash-strapped Eskom dealt a R200m blow

Cash-strapped Eskom will have to cough up just over R208 million for being in breach of a
contract between themselves and a construction company over work done at the Koeberg
Nuclear Power Station. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has set aside a Gauteng high
court order and substituted it with an order dismissing the appeal with costs, including the
costs of two counsel. The matter related to a contract that had been entered for the
replacement of the steam generators at the Duynefontein Koeberg Nuclear Station, units 1
and 2. The contract between Eskom and Framatome made provision for what is called
“compensation events” which allowed Framatome to claim from Eskom additional payment
and extra time to do the work. Compensation events entitle the contractor to be
compensated for any effect the event has on the prices and the contractual sectional
completion dates or key dates. SCA documents detailed that there was a compensation
event for which Framatome provided a quotation and for which the project manager had to
perform an assessment of the compensation event. SCA judgment documents read: “In his
findings, referred to as ‘Decision 11’, the adjudicator determined that Eskom had failed,
within the Project Manager’s assessment, to make a full assessment of the compensation
event in due time … The adjudicator concluded that Framatome’s quotation was deemed to
have been accepted by Eskom. “The effect of this decision was that the adjusted key dates,
sectional completion dates, completion dates, activity schedule and payments of the
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quotation became contractually binding upon the parties. “Aggrieved with that decision,
Eskom notified the adjudicator of its dissatisfaction … This prompted Framatome to institute
enforcement proceedings in the Gauteng High Court.” Judge Rammaka Mathopo said: “The
high court dismissed Eskom’s challenge to Decision 7 on the basis that the dispute fell within
the jurisdiction of the adjudicator and that Eskom neither objected to that decision nor gave
notice of its intention to refer the decision to arbitration.” The judge said the appropriate
forum to have the matter ventilated would be through arbitration and during argument at the
court. Eskom confirmed the dispute has been referred to arbitration. Judge Mathopo said:
“Eskom resisted the payment to the applicant on three bases. First, it contended that the
amounts claimed are not due and payable. Secondly, the proposal to change the payment
did not and could not form part of the quotation under the Contract. Thirdly, in deeming the
contractor’s quotation as acceptable, the payment provisions of the Contract were changed
and this was outside the jurisdiction of the adjudicator. These arguments have no merit. “In
terms of Decision 11 the amounts claimed were due and payable as a result of the
contractor’s quotation which was deemed acceptable by the project manager … What has
been claimed by Framatome is consistent with the contractual provisions that govern such
payments.” Framatome declined to comment while enquiries to Eskom were not answered
by the deadline. Spokesperson for anti-nuclear activist organisation Koeberg Alert Alliance,
Peter Becker, said the judgment showed there was even more money being wasted on the
attempts to keep the ageing Koeberg plant running. “The refurbishment of the Koeberg plant
including the replacement of the steam generators has been fraught with problems since it
started … South Africa has a problem with loadshedding, and this will be particularly severe
over the next two-year period. “This is exactly the time over which Koeberg will be
repeatedly shut down to install the new reactors in the containment buildings, and this will
only make loadshedding worse with associated huge costs to the economy. “The rational
decision would be to abandon the refurbishment of Koeberg, keep it running over the next
two years until it reaches the end of its lifetime, and to spend that time enabling and
connecting more renewable power sources to the grid,” said Becker.
Diamond Fields Advertiser, Cape Times, Independent Online
Manufacturing entrepreneurs called to enter Eskom’s business competition

The Eskom Development Foundation calls on black entrepreneurs in the manufacturing
sector to enter its annual Business Investment Competition (BIC). Launched in 2008, the
BIC is an annual competition targeting black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises
(SMMEs), giving them a platform to showcase their service offering, capacitating them with
business skills, and granting them an opportunity to network and market their businesses on
a national platform. To participate, the businesses must be in the engineering/construction,
manufacturing, agriculture/agri-processing or trade/services sectors, and have been in
operation for at least 24 months. Now in its 13th consecutive year, the competition’s prize
money totals R1,3 million. The overall winner will receive R300 000, and the winner of each
sector will take home R131 250, whereas the first and second runners-up will each receive
R75 000 and R50 000 respectively. Manufacturing is South Africa’s fourth-largest industry,
contributing 14% to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP). Eskom is calling all small
businesses in this sector to seize the opportunity that the Business Investment Competition
presents, as it is aimed at contributing to their development and sustainability. “Although
statistics show a 1,6% growth in the manufacturing sector in the first quarter of 2021
compared with the 4th quarter of 2020, showing signs of economic recovery, we realise the
impact that Covid_19 has had on this sector over the past year, particularly the small players
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that require greater assistance to stay afloat,” said Cecil Ramonotsi, Chief Executive Officer
of the Eskom Development Foundation. In the report on the survey of the National Youth
Development Agency (NYDA’s) Impact of COVID-19 on Small, Medium and Micro
Enterprises since lockdown, released in September 2020, the respondents cited the
challenges that the pandemic posed to the small business sector, as lack of revenue
generation (26%), cash-flow challenges (22%), and the inability to generate sales (14%).
“Eskom’s Business Investment Competition not only provides a cash injection to
entrepreneurs to sustain their businesses but also, through our Business Connect
workshops that the finalists participate in after the competition, we build their capacity with
business skills to help them navigate the challenging economic terrain that the pandemic
created,” added Ramonotsi. “Despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic created,
we were able to reinvest the prize money received from the 2020 BIC into the business by
getting an electricity upgrade in our factory to increase our production capacity,” said Tshepo
Mazibuko of KI Recycling, manufacturing-sector winners in the 2020 Business Investment
Competition. “Our Corporate Social Investment approach at Eskom has shifted, particularly
in relation to enterprise development, to interventions aimed at creating an enabling
environment for black industrialists to emerge and thrive,” said Ramonotsi.
Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter
Young scientists are a source of great talent for Eskom

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on South African society and the
economy, it has not stopped the country’s young scientists from delivering exceptional
results in a recent national competition covering a variety of topics. This is obvious in this
year’s Eskom Expo International Science Fair entries. Due to the pandemic’s challenges,
Eskom had to be proactive in coming up with new ways to organise and manage the
competition, including as online workshops, video tutorials, virtual scientific clubs, and
science day camps. The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is a non-profit organisation
whose goal is to inspire young people to participate in activities in order to foster an interest
in these fields and, in the long run, build scientific abilities that will lead to careers in science
and engineering. The power generator sees itself as doing more than just producing
electricity; it recognises the national benefits of instilling a love of science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, and creativity in children says Parthy Chetty, the Executive
Director of Eskom Expo International Science Fair who spoke to Radio Islam International.
COVID-19 also inspired some of the school students’ research, as seen by a number of
award-winning projects, such as the multi-layered handkerchief made by Lesedi Masike and
Mwanza Ng’nda from the North-West province to better control a cough or sneeze. They
were awarded a regional Eskom Award for the best female project as a result of this. The
Eskom Expo, now in its 41st year, is supported by the Department of Public Enterprises, the
Department of Science and Innovation, the Department of Basic Education, and the
Presidency. It involves students presenting their scientific findings to judges, private sector
professionals, academics, scientists, educators, students from other schools, parents, and
other members of the general public. Eskom’s official position is that growing the country’s
skills base is a primary priority, and it welcomes the chance to identify outstanding students
and set them on the path to academic success.
Radio Islam International Digital News
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Young scientists compare notes

A group of budding scientists of various Free State schools will showcase their sought-after
Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) know-how at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists’
International Science Fair (ISF) on Friday (08/10). Participants from 35 regions in South
Africa and selected African countries have been invited to the event, which will be streamed
live on YouTube. The group of 48 aspiring scientists representing the Free State will
measure their technological skill set, involving digital literacy, critical thinking and analytical
reasoning, against that of their peers. They qualified for the national final after having won in
the respective categories of the competition’s provincial final at the end of August. Their
research projects are relevant to a range of scientific fields – from agricultural and social
sciences to biomedical and medical. Provincially outstanding projects included:
• “The Butterfly” by Amy Pastors of the Eunice High School in Bloemfontein;
• “Carbon Fibre” by Dimpho Motsoeneng of Welkom-Gimnasium;
• “Bio-Degradable Plastic” by Robert Booysen of the Kgauho Secondary in
Botshabelo;
• “Energy Project” by Sowaibah Ali and Fatimah Anwary of the Ficksburg Secondary
School;
• “Robotic Capsule” by Relebohile Mosea, an Impaq home schooler from
Bloemfontein; and
• “Oxygen- and Water-poor Environments” by Helene Fourie.
Amy undertook a butterfly-inspired research project into the mechanics of this insect’s flight.
Dimpho’s research project showed that carbon fibre was excellent for use in buildings: Its
insulation effects and its durability are exceptional, as is its resistance to extreme weather
conditions. Robert was recognised for delivering the best development project. Sowaibah
and Fatimah’s project displayed their kinetic sail generator which produces renewable
energy. Relebohile’s project showcases that an antiviral encapsulated in a robotic capsule
can be developed with features such as drug delivery, diagnostics, and detection of the
virus. Helene proved that plants can indeed grow in oxygen- and water-poor environments if
certain conditions are met. According to Cecil Ramonotsi, Chief Executive Officer of the
Eskom Development Foundation, these projects demonstrated the scientific research
approach the Expo for Young Scientists strives to cultivate among learners. It forms part of
the broader strategy of skills development in science, technology, engineering, mathematics
and innovation subjects at school level.
News24, Express News, The Kimberley Prospector
Young scientists shine

The graceful flight of a butterfly inspired a learner of the Eunice High School to undertake a
research project on the movement of these insects. Amy Pastors watched a butterfly fly past
and asked herself if the grace and beauty on display was really as simple and effortless as it
looked. Hers was just one of 100 such projects showcased at the Free State Eskom Expo for
Young Scientists awards ceremony that was held virtually on Thursday, 26 August. The
butterfly project earned Amy the Eskom award for best female – one of four awards. The
participants hoped that their projects would be recognised by the judges with a gold medal,
one of the four Eskom special prizes or a coveted ticket to go through to the Eskom Expo for
Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF), which will be held on 8 October. The
standard of entries was particularly high this year, said provincial coordinator of the Eskom
Expo for Young Scientists, Nicho Swartz. This was despite the pandemic and the
consequent disruption of regular schooling. A wide range of categories were covered,
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ranging from agricultural sciences to social sciences. Top of the list, though, was the
biomedical and medical sciences category. Eskom special prizes included the following:
• The best development project, on a bio-degradable plastic, was submitted by Robert
Booysen of the Kgauho Secondary School in Botshabelo.
• The best energy project was created by Sowaibah Ali and Fatimah Anwary of the
Ficksburg Secondary School, who displayed their kinetic sail generator which
produces renewable energy.
• A gold award went to Impaq home schooler Relebohile Mosea from Bloemfontein for
showing that an antiviral encapsulated in a robotic capsule can be developed with
features such as drug delivery, diagnostics and detection of the virus.
• Category winner Helene Fourie proved that plants can grow in oxygen- and water-
poor environments if certain conditions are met.
The Free State awards event is one of nine provincial events leading into the final Eskom
Expo for Young Scientists ISF. The fair will involve participants from 35 regions in South
Africa and some African countries.
News24, Express News
Bryanston High School learner gets Best Female Award for the Eskom Expo for
Young Scientists
Like many other teenagers, Keerthana Nair aspires to do great things once she gets older.
The only difference is that she has already achieved this – at the age of 14. The Bryanston
High School learner won the best female award at the annual Eskom Expo for Young
Scientists in her first year attending the science fair last month. “It was such a phenomenal
experience which actually taught me how to better research and document. Although this
year’s Eskom Expo was virtual, the committee was very accommodating and supportive. I
never actually felt distant or lost because they were forever guiding me. Also, the Best
Female Award really gave my research a chance to gain traction,” said Keerthana. Life
Sciences Teacher at the school, Megan Lester, was one of Keerthana’s mentors during the
science fair. “Eskom Expo provides learners with a fantastic opportunity to explore topics
that interest them and develop experience in designing and carrying out investigations. I am
so pleased that Keerthana and our other learners who participated in the Eskom Expo have
received medals and recognition for their hard work and dedication,” said Lester. Keerthana
concluded, “I am fortunate to have been selected to participate in the International Science
Fair and I’m looking forward to the results in October. From there I would like to further
improve this research by trying to come up with a more reliable range of values to reach that
clinical accuracy. I’m also hoping to participate in the upcoming science fairs as well as other
amazing opportunities.”
Sandton Chronicle
Parel Vallei High School leaners invited to International Science Fair

Parel Vallei High School had 26 learners who entered the 2021 Western Cape Virtual Eskom
Expo for Young Scientists this year and we are very proud of the 13 special awards,
certificates and medals our learners received. Abi de Kock and Saskia Human’s project
about “Mask Hygiene” was awarded a silver medal. Sunwoo Kim, Eunwoo Jeong, Louis
Cronje, Hanru Kleinschmidt, Chaewon Lee, Jared Slater, Meyer Snetler and Douw Strydom
all received bronze medals and Chloë Rossouw, Karel Wüst and Johan Bredenkamp a
“highly commended” award. Saskia Human, Abi de Kock, Sunwoo Kim and Eunwoo Jeong
have now been selected to represent the Western Cape Province in the prestigious Virtual
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Online International Science Fair (ISF) where they will have the opportunity to present their
unique science projects and concepts on an international platform.
AWSUM
Into the future with robotics

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here, and these young people are among those
pioneering it.” These are the sentiments of Greenside High School robotics coach Melusi
Shezi. The youth he was referring to were the dedicated robotics team of Greenside High
School who met with the Gazette, together with Shezi and fellow robotics coach, Kgomotso
Maduenyane, to share their passion for technology and innovation, and the possibilities
robotics has for the future. “Robotics is about recognising needs in society and then finding
solutions for these,” said team member, Grade 11 robotics mentor Mizbah Ismail. She and
fellow team member Muhammad Siraj Loonat recently worked on a machine aimed at
addressing the pothole dilemma on roads. Other team members also sought to address
societal problems through their robotics masterpieces, through for example, machines which
take a person’s vital statistics and even dispense medication, or water-powered cars.
Maduenyane said he had learned more from the children than they from him. He said young
people were at an advantage as far as robotics was concerned, as they saw fresh solutions
to age-old problems and societal challenges. One of the pioneering forces in the team has
been Muhammed Hassen who is the robotics captain. Muhammed recently invented a
mining robot which has been so successful that he was approached by the Technology
Innovation Agency with the view of commercialising the machine, to use in mines. He
explained that the machine could take critical readings from mines, and then transmit these
to a control room. At the same time, it was designed with the intent of both job creation and
retention. The learners and their coaches said Greenstone High School was a strong
contender in the World Robotics Olympiad, the Eskom Expo for young Scientists and the
iMbewu North Gauteng Senior Science Fair. The learners said their scientific creations were
the result of months of hard work, late nights, and visiting and speaking with professionals,
such as a recent excursion they undertook to Netcare Milpark Hospital. They said they
believed this was what learning was all about – being observant and creating solutions.
Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Eskom and Trialogue partnership highlights role of big business in enterprise

development
Trialogue, a niche CSI consultancy, provides thought leadership in the sustainability and
corporate social investment (CSI) space and hosts monthly webinars focusing on a range of
CSI-related topics. Earlier today, the Trialogue webinar, presented in partnership with the
Eskom Development Foundation, unpacked how big business could leverage its corporate
social investment to help support the development and growth of small, medium, and micro
enterprises (SMMEs), particularly through these challenging times of COVID-19. The event
was attended by more than 260 delegates from non-profit organisations, CSI practitioners,
big businesses, SMMEs, government, consultants, and academics. The hour-long webinar
panel comprised Eskom Development Foundation CEO, Cecil Ramonotsi, entrepreneur and
Eskom’s 2020 Business Investment Competition winner, Nomawethu Sotshongaye, and
Kevin Stroud, Supply Chain Manager at Sibanye-Stillwater. Trialogue’s Director, Cathy Duff,
who facilitated the webinar, gave an overview of the current economic outlook of the country,
which negatively affected the small business sector in a major way, stating that 7.8 million
unemployed South Africans relied on small enterprises for job creation. “SMEs represent
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over 98% of South Africa’s businesses and employ around 60% of the country’s workforce.
The sector was badly impacted by the pandemic, with reports of around 19% of SMEs
having closed down in 2020,” she stated. Many corporates and companies have contributed
massively to COVID-19 relief efforts. Cecil Ramonotsi expressed the view that the challenge
now lay in sustaining this support as we moved towards a post-pandemic society and in
ensuring that the socio-economic gaps that had widened during this period could be rapidly
narrowed. “The economic landscape is being fundamentally reshaped as we emerge from
COVID-19, and this process will have lasting impacts on the way in which we participate in
corporate social investment initiatives,” he added. “The Eskom Development Foundation has
been active for more than two decades in initiatives that benefit grassroots communities
across a range of activities – from healthcare and education to support for innovation and
emerging entrepreneurs. We currently support three CSI flagship projects and a number of
national programmes,” said Ramonotsi. Ramonotsi highlighted some of Eskom’s
programmes, including Simama Ranta, which encourages entrepreneurship among high
school learners, the Business Investment Competition aimed at developing small
enterprises, and Eskom’s Contractor Academy, which offers skills training to emerging
contractors. “Our own programmes confirm our position that Eskom is about much more
than power generation and keeping the wheels of the economy turning. We are, in the first
instance, an organisation that is committed to sustainable growth, job creation, and the
economic upliftment of communities,” he stated. The Eskom Development Foundation CEO
explained how Eskom’s CSI approach had shifted in relation to enterprise development
towards interventions aimed at creating an enabling environment for black industrialists to
prosper. He said that targeted investment in enterprise development over the long term was
crucial, as a quick-fix approach and short-lived campaigns would not produce the desired
outcome. “The Eskom Development Foundation has developed a holistic approach to
enterprise development, one that not only focuses on a financial injection to boost small
enterprises, but also focuses on capacity building, exposure to markets, and exposure to
quality business training to enable the entrepreneurs to navigate difficult economic times,” he
said. Ramonotsi expressed the opinion that the recovery of South Africa’s economy would
require big business to play a role in the empowerment of South Africans through asset
creation, wealth creation, and skills development to produce a new generation of trained,
qualified, and assertive job creators.
Mypressoffice
Joburg’s Eskom plan would cost it R11.5bn

The City of Johannesburg has two multibillion-rand hurdles to jump if it is to take over the
electricity distribution network from Eskom: it will have to pay the power utility R7.5 billion to
cover outstanding consumer debt and R4 billion to take ownership of distribution
infrastructure. Newly installed Executive Mayor Mpho Moerane said in his inaugural remarks
that the city planned to take over distribution from Eskom, which has run into deep conflict
with township communities due to unpaid bills and illegal connections. But Eskom has
responded by saying there is yet a long road to travel and talks are at initial stages.
However, both the City and City Power say an in-principle agreement was reached in July
2020 at a meeting attended by Eskom and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. The
supply of electricity is turning into an important election issue, particularly in Gauteng, where
communities have borne the brunt of “load reduction” by Eskom. Load reduction, unlike
loadshedding, targets areas where payment levels are low and illegal connections, which
overload the system, are rife. In an interview on Sunday, Moerane said that a memorandum
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of understanding would be signed on Friday with Eskom to outline the areas of work that
need to be processed. This would mark the start of the process, which “would take some
time”. He said talks with Eskom began as far back as 2016 but stalled after the ANC lost
control of the City. With the ANC back in power, the talks had resumed, Moerane said.
“Eskom has indicated to us that the city would have to take over the debt and pay around R4
billion for the infrastructure. When it comes to the debt, we need the National Treasury and
the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to assist us. The City
does not have R7.5 billion. On the value of the infrastructure, we will undertake due diligence
to determine the true value before we proceed,” he said. Moerane said at least 42
substations in Soweto were not working and the true value of the infrastructure would need
to be assessed. City Power’s own infrastructure backlog is considerable, with the total sitting
at R26 billion, comprising new electrification projects, bulk infrastructure projects, public
lighting and refurbishment projects, said Spokesperson Isaac Mangena. “The infrastructure
is very old, and we are exploring raising money through partnerships with the private sector,
to install infrastructure on a build, operate, transfer model and we pay them over time,”
Moerane said. Eskom has struggled for decades to collect consumer debt from
Johannesburg’s townships. It directly supplies Soweto, Orange Farm, Finetown, Diepsloot,
Ivory Park and all of Sandton. Soweto’s debt alone stands at R17.5 billion after a recent
R5.3 billion debt write-off. City Power has had its own difficulties collecting revenue from
customers, with arrear debt of R7.5 billion at the end of September: R4.2 billion pertaining to
large customers and R3.3 billion to residential customers. City Power has had severe
governance problems in the past, with allegations of corruption and conflict between the
CEO and the City. Newly appointed CEO Mongezi Ntsokolo, who had been in the job for just
five months, is on special leave as allegations against him, arising from his previous
employment, are investigated. Mangena said the governance and management issues were
resolved, with an acting CEO in place, all executive committee positions but one filled and a
fully capacitated board. Moerane said that given the difficulties with revenue collection,
especially in the densely populated suburbs, the City would not want to find itself in the same
situation as Eskom in several years’ time. It therefore wanted to introduce a “mixed energy
policy”, reduce the amount of electricity used by residents and move away from dependence
on Eskom to its own cheaper sources of energy. This includes encouraging the use of gas
for cooking and heating, energy from waste at its landfill sites, recommissioning three gas
turbines that were built during the 2010 World Cup and commissioning independent power
producers to produce directly for the City. Two requests for information are shortly to be
issued to the market, one for advice on energy mix planning and a second for the
recommissioning of the gas turbines.
Business Day, BusinessLive
New Joburg Mayor pushes Eskom power supply migration, while residents
raise concerns
Restoring the collapsed electricity infrastructure in Johannesburg has been part of the
economic reconstruction and recovery plan for the year, first formally announced by late
Mayor Jolidee Matongo. Matongo first announced the plans in his financial year’s budget
speech of 2021/2022 in his capacity as the City of Johannesburg’s Finance Member of
Mayoral Committee, as reported by CNBC Africa. Moerane, who was sworn in last week,
says he is demonstrating his support to facilitating the service delivery commitments started
by both late Executive Mayors, Councillor Geoff Makhubo and Councillor Matongo. For
many years, the Johannesburg grid has edged closer to collapse as a result of outstanding
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bills payments, vandalism, cable theft, and irregular maintenance of ageing infrastructure.
This has severely impacted residents in the form of frequent power cuts and has also
disrupted crucial utility functions, such as water the provincial water supply, that depend on
electricity. Moerane says the decision to migrate areas currently supplied by Eskom to the
municipal power utility entity, City Power, would improve the reliability of power supply. He
told Daily Maverick via email: “Considering that there is a great amount of debt attributed to
Johannesburg residents’ Eskom account holders, to manage the cost of electricity supply,
reliability of supply and demand pressure on City Power, the city is also looking at
introducing an alternative energy mix. This will include mini-grids, solar panels, gas, and
smart meters that will enable households to closely monitor and manage their consumption”.
Noting the financial constraints of many residents, Moerane said the City is encouraging
Joburg residents who cannot afford to pay for electricity to come forward and apply to be
part of the expanded social package (ESP) or rebates programme, in order to be exempted.
Moerane said the move is aimed at curbing illegal electricity connections which contribute to
vandalism of substations and power supply interruptions in Johannesburg communities. A
date has yet to be announced from when the migration would take place. Moerane says the
migration from Eskom to City Power is a complex ongoing long-term process but he believes
it will be a success given that the city is already in negotiations with Eskom. Eskom
confirmed to Daily Maverick that it is in exploratory discussions with the City of
Johannesburg and other parties involved saying, “at an appropriate time, and as discussions
advance, Eskom will ensure that all relevant stakeholders are engaged and form part of the
process. It is to be noted that any eventual handover of, or changes, in the distribution
licence would also require numerous regulatory approvals, including the National Energy
Regulator of South Africa and National Treasury, amongst others”. While Moerane has said
the plan has been welcomed in the city, some civil society members were not satisfied. They
say they are unconvinced that the migration will lessen their power supply troubles. King
Sibiya, a resident in Soweto and leader of the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee says, “In
my view, the mayor’s plan is great but does not resolve the issue with Eskom power supply
because even if we were moved to City Power, the city still has to source the electricity from
Eskom. The only exception from our end is that we won’t have to deal with Eskom directly”.
According to Sibiya, this is just a continuation of a systematic problem as there is no clear
indication of how the existing issues with Eskom will be resolved. Sibiya is also concerned
that City Power will serve as a middleman when it takes over the power supply and residents
fill face rate hikes. “My biggest concern with the plan is how it has been isolated from the city
of Joburg residents, there was no consultation for public participation”, said Sibiya. In the
past, the areas most affected by power problems include Soweto, Diepsloot, Orange Farm,
Ivory Park and part of Sandton. As reported by Ferial Hafele in Daily Maverick, electricity is
more often off than on in the city of Joburg with more than 1000 power cuts from January
2021 to 28 May – excluding Eskom loadshedding. This is as a result of the malfunctioning
power stations that are constantly stopping and starting.
Daily Maverick, AllAfrica, The Kimberley Prospector, Africa Pulse
South Africa extends Karpowership bid deadline again

South Africa has postponed the date for Turkish firm Karpowership and other bidders under
its Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) to
reach financial close to the end of January. The Department of Mineral Resources and
Energy (DMRE) told Argus that the deadline has been extended to "no later than 27 January
2022". The postponement is a result of delays in the finalisation of state-owned utility
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Eskom's approval and other regulatory permissions, it said. The RMIPPPP aims to alleviate
South Africa's near-term electricity supply crisis by fast-tracking 2GW of new capacity. It is
the third time that the deadline has been postponed. Originally, the "non-
negotiable" deadline was set as 31 July. But the DMRE extended this to 30 September, to
allow for the finalisation of regulatory processes, including Eskom board approvals and
related approvals under the Public Finance Management Act. Six of the 11 preferred bidders
–including Karpowership and Scatec Solar – requested more time, the DMRE said. Bidders
cited delays in the issuing of Eskom budget quotes, generation licences and other permits as
some of the reasons why they needed an extension. But these requests were received after
13 September, when the DMRE had already started the process to extend commercial close
owing to the fact that Eskom was not ready. All other preferred bidders also registered
concerns around the timing in their monthly status reports, the DMRE said. Karpowership
was selected as one of the preferred bidders to provide 1.22GW – nearly two-thirds of the
overall tender – over 20 years using gas-fired power ships berthed at Richards Bay in
Kwazulu-Natal, Coega in Eastern Cape and Saldanha in Western Cape. But the firm's multi-
billion-rand contract has been dogged by allegations of corruption and government
interference from the start. The portfolio committee on mineral resources and energy is still
examining claims that the DMRE manipulated the procurement process. A lawsuit brought
by South African LNG importer and losing bidder DNG Energy, which says that the bid
process was rigged in favour of Karpowership, will be heard on 30 November. Environmental
justice group The Green Connection said it was "cynically expecting" the DMRE's
announcement of a further extension as it was evident that Karpowership was "nowhere
near ready – with all the legal requirements in place – to reach financial closure." The group
has called for the RMIPPPP to be scrapped in its entirety as it has been delayed from its
inception. "The initial bid date was extended from August 2020 to 20 December 2020 and
although the winning bids were announced in March 2021, the results were immediately
questioned by experts," it said. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(DFFE) is yet to decide on Karpowership's appeal against its refusal to grant the firm
environmental permission for its project. "The process is still under way and the appeal will
be determined once all responses have been collated," it said. The Turkish firm was also
being investigated by the national prosecution agency over potential criminal conduct,
whereby it obtained DFFE authorisation for its project last year allegedly by using COVID-19
emergency provisions to bypass environmental assessment requirements. Last month the
National Energy Regulator of South Africa approved electricity generation licences for
Karpowership's projects, a move that was heavily criticised by many observers.
Argus Media
Phelan Energy reveals floating solar panel project for South Africa
Phelan Energy Group is a leading solar energy innovator, most known in South Africa for the
massive solar farm it built in De Aar, Northern Cape, back in 2016. The farm, 600 000 panels
strong, has a total capacity of 175MW, and was contracted to deliver renewable energy to
Eskom for 20 years. Now, the future-focused company has unveiled its next project: floating
solar panels. Phelan Energy presented the project at the Floating Solar Conference, held in
Amsterdam at the end of September, reports Business Insider South Africa. Floating solar
solutions aren’t particularly mainstream yet, having only really started making waves within
the last ten years or so, but they’re gaining momentum. Floating solar solutions offer a
number of perks their landlubber counterparts can’t. They’re easier to set up and take apart,
they don’t take up land-space, and their power generation to surface area ratio is better
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thanks to the cooling effect of the water surrounding them. That second point makes them
particularly useful for areas that are particularly sun-rich but lacking in land space. Phelan’s
proposed floating solar project, called FloatSun, is made of 120 cells. Main floats, built using
a thermoplastic polymer frame, are 1.9 by 1.2 meters in area, and float with their panels just
above the surface of the water. This makes for optimal cooling and, thus, energy production.
Walkway floats are fitted alongside the main ones, providing easy access for installation and
maintenance. Phelan plans to implement FloatSun installations first with already existing
hydroelectric dams, but there is a version built for ocean installations currently in
development. Units will be produced in Dubai, and Phelan plans to have a million ready
within a year, and 4 million more two years after that.
Stuff
LETTERS, OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS
The historical perspective of a just energy transition

Eskom's former Interim Group Chief Executive, Matshela Koko, writes: “On August 26, 2021,
the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) made the correct decision to support
the 2 500MWe Nuclear New Build Programme. This is a move that will decarbonise the
country’s electricity sector and provide the desired power quality into the future at a cost and
pace that South Africa can afford. This is a realisation that the varying demand imposed on
the electricity grid now and in the future can best be met with a mix of generating plants
which should include nuclear power, renewable technologies, and gas to power plants.
Koeberg Power Station is the Continent's only operating nuclear power plant. The decision
to build it was taken by the then minister of mines and planning in May 1968 pursuant to the
report prepared by the then Atomic Energy Board’s Nuclear Power Committee, the
chairperson of which was Dr HJ van Eck. The 1968 decision to build the Koeberg Power
Station was motivated by the need for a just transition to conserve the water used for power
generation in South Africa. The Vaal River carried the heaviest burden for power generation,
at an average of 165 million litres a day of the raw water intake for the year 1966. Part of the
explanation for the just transition to conserve the water used for power generation is found in
the severe restrictions which were imposed on the use of water from the Vaal River Basin.
The restrictions were in force during the greater part of 1966 and, as a result, the amount of
electricity used for pumping water was substantially lower than in the previous years. This
elevated the real essence of the water and electricity nexus. The water and electricity nexus
was very important to understand due to the increasing electricity demand and the
decreasing freshwater quality. It was because of the severe water restrictions in 1966 that
Grootvlei Power Station was selected as a station at which a generating set using dry
cooling towers would be installed, to gain experience in the use of this system for
condensate cooling under South African conditions. Grootvlei Power Station replaced an
older generation of power stations and is located within the Vaal River basin. Dry cooling
towers consist of a draft-inducing shell at the base of which several pure aluminium heat
exchangers are mounted, and cooling of the water takes place in a closed circuit by
convective heat transfer on the same principle of a motor car radiator. The method of
condensate cooling increased both the power station construction and operating costs by
about 10% and it is adopted where there is insufficient water for wet cooling. The raw water
intake would be reduced from 2.2 litres per kilowatt sent out for the wet cooling system to 0.1
litres per kilowatt sent out for the dry cooling system. The premium that came with the
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transition from the wet cooling system to dry cooling technologies was considered a small
price to pay to conserve the water used for power generation. In 1966, Eskom issued the
enquiries for the supply and installation of a 200MW boiler and turbogenerator set at
Grootvlei Power Station. The turbogenerator set was to be designed for dry cooling either by
the direct or indirect system. Tenders were received in March 1967. The dry cooled unit at
Grootvlei went into commercial operation in May 1971 and it had the largest cooling tower of
the type in the world. It was a prototype tower that was meant to materially assist in the
planning and designing of future power stations. The experiment at Grootvlei Power Station
was a game-changer. Eskom is today one of the world’s acknowledged leaders in the field of
applied dry cooling technologies. Majuba units 1-3, Kendal, Matimba, Medupi and Kusile
power stations are among the largest dry-cooled installations in the world. The transition
from wet cooling technologies to dry cooling technologies was a big step change in the
conservation of water used for power generation. However, the scientists and engineers
were determined to do more to conserve the water used for power generation particularly in
the areas where coal resources were located. It was for this reason that, in May 1968, the
Ministry of Mines and Planning took a decision to build Africa’s first nuclear power station at
the coast where seawater was to be used for condensate cooling purposes. A condition
precedent to the introduction of Africa’s first nuclear power station at the coast was the
completion of a nationwide high voltage transmission network. The network would allow for
the flow of power generated at the coast to the interior. The network would also enable
electricity to flow from the highveld to the coast. During 1970 and the early months of 1971,
Eskom’s programme of transmission line construction suffered serious setbacks, mainly due
to shortages of steel and cement. As a result of the delays, the projections at the time were
that the 400kV transmission line from Gauteng to the Western Cape would be energised by
the early 1980s. Based on the projections and in early 1974, it was decided that the first
nuclear unit of the capacity in the range of 800MW to 1000MW would be commissioned in
the second half of 1982. A second unit would come into operation a year later. It made
perfect sense that a large nuclear set installed in the Western Cape would be more
economical than the combined costs of an inland coal-fired unit of equivalent capacity
together with the associated transmission system to the Cape. An enquiry for either a
pressurised water reactor or a boiling water reactor system was issued in February 1974. In
April 1975, three tenderers were selected from the five suppliers who had submitted tenders,
and the three were invited to make final submissions for the construction, on a turnkey basis,
of Africa’s first nuclear power station 25km north of Cape Town. The contract was signed in
August 1975 for the design, construction and commissioning of two nuclear generating sets
each with a nett electrical output capability of 922MW. The two generating sets were
scheduled for commercial operation by the end of December 1982 and 1983 respectively.
The construction programme for Africa’s first nuclear power station was disrupted by acts of
sabotage at the end of 1982. The commissioning and raising to the power of Koeberg’s first
unit was completed and taken over in July 1984. It attained 2 000 effective full-power hours
in a shorter time than any similar set at a French-built nuclear power station. This
achievement was attributed to the policy of acquiring a power plant that is largely identical to
units previously manufactured and commissioned in the supplier’s own country. By the end
of 1984, the second unit was licensed to load fuel and pre-critical testing began. The first
phase of the just energy transition was driven by the need to conserve the water used for the
generation of electricity. Because of South Africa’s limited water resources, Eskom has,
since the 1960s, improved dry cooling technologies to such an extent that the latter can be
used successfully in future power stations including at Medupi and Kusile power stations.
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Eskom was also forced to build Africa’s first nuclear power station at the coast where
seawater was used for condensate cooling purposes in order to conserve the water used for
power generation in the areas where coal resources were located. Koeberg power station is
today the cheapest generating power station in the Eskom fleet. The second phase of a just
energy transition is driven by the decarbonisation of the electricity sector. On September 20,
2021, the Cabinet approved tougher greenhouse gas emission targets ahead of the 2021
UN Climate Change Conference of Parties, also known as COP26. For some strange and
inexplicable reasons and in pursuit of the tougher greenhouse gas emission targets, Eskom
plans to repower Komati using a solar photovoltaic plant supported by 244 MWh battery
storage. Similar projects are planned at the Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power plants,
all of which were scheduled for closure by 2025. Komati, Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden
power stations have a combined capacity of 5 700MW. To suggest that the power stations
can be repowered using solar photovoltaic plants supported by battery storage is fantastical.
COP26 takes place at the opportune time after the first of two high-temperature gas-cooled
reactors at Shidaowan in China’s Shandong province, attained a sustained chain reaction for
the first time on September 12, 2021. The reactor is scheduled to be connected to the
electricity grid before the end of this year. The nuclear power plant at Shidaowan features
two small reactors that will drive 210 MWe turbine. Nersa’s decision of August 26, 2021, to
support a long-term government plan to build new nuclear power units, is as important as the
decision by the then minister of mines and planning in May 1968 to build the first nuclear
power station on African soil. What makes the Nersa decision great in its significance is that
it places South Africa in a position to build a conventional nuclear unit at the current nuclear-
licensed site near Melkbosstrand and a 200MWe-300MWe small modular reactor at
Phelindaba by 2032. The new nuclear power stations must be identical to units previously
manufactured and commissioned in the supplier’s own countries. The first phase of our just
energy transition was driven by the need to conserve the water used for power generation.
Our forebears did three things: first, they made us the leader in the field of applied dry
cooling technologies; second, they built the nationwide high voltage transmission network to
create a single national electricity grid; and finally, they built Africa’s first nuclear power
station at the coast where seawater would be used for condensate cooling purposes. The
second phase of the just energy transition is driven by the tougher greenhouse gas emission
targets that were adopted by the Cabinet on September 20, 2021, and by the need for
electricity security that must come at a cost that will drive economic development. For this,
we need a mix of generating plants which includes nuclear power, renewable technologies,
and gas to power plants and, most importantly, the expanded high voltage transmission
network. Just like Grootvlei Power Station replaced older generation of power stations, small
and modular nuclear power stations will replace coal power stations in the Highveld. From
the comfort of my home, I sense a nuclear revolution. It is just a matter of time.”
Daily News, Independent Online
BROADCAST MATERIALS
Power FM (Yesterday): The Special Tribunal has ordered that suspended Eskom Senior
Manager for Coal Operations, Petrus Mazibuko, pay back at least R11 million to the state
after it was found that his company indirectly benefitted from a coal transportation contract
from the power utility. This follows civil proceedings initiated against Mazibuko and his
brother, Shadrack, at the tribunal by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
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eNCA (Yesterday): Over R11 million in the bank account of Thephunokheja Projects has
been forfeited to the state. That's the ruling by the Special Tribunal Court. This after the
company co-owned by suspended Eskom senior manager Petrus Mazibuko was awarded a
contract to supply coal to the different power stations in the country. Mazibuko has been
found guilty of contravening Eskom's Conflict of Interest Policy. He registered the company
in his brother's name. The special tribunal also found that the company was less
experienced in coal mining operations.
Talk Radio 702, 947 (Yesterday): The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mpho
Moerane, said Soweto and other parts of the City will start sourcing electricity from City
Power. Eskom has been battling to get payments from the residents. Soweto residents owe
Eskom billions of rands in unpaid bills. Through negotiations with the City, R5 billion of the
debt was written off in the past financial year.
eNCA (Today): Eskom needs to clean up its act by closing some plants and upgrading
others. That's the advice of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. It says Eskom
has become the world’s biggest emitter of sulphur dioxide, a pollutant linked to ailments
ranging from asthma to heart attacks. In 2019 alone, Eskom produced 1 600 kilotons of the
pollutant. This was more than any company, or power sector of any country, with the
exception of India. The CREA said Eskom needs to reduce the burden on public health.
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RATINGS: Positive story Neutral story Negative story Crisis

The publication notes that in response to a

According to the publication, De Ruyter was less

implement. The package that we are talking about

suspended Eskom Coal Operations Senior

De Ruyter says 'substantial' concessional finance available to support just energy

Economics. The paper argues that a sovereign-to-sovereign concessional package, linked to

Bloomberg, BusinessTech, MyBroadband, Moneyweb, News24, Green Building Africa,

Eskom options narrow after Concourt debt ruling

Millions retrieved from Eskom boss

Suspended Eskom Senior Manager ordered to pay back the money

Suspended Eskom manager’s millions forfeited to the state

Cash-strapped Eskom dealt a R200m blow

Manufacturing entrepreneurs called to enter Eskom’s business competition

Young scientists are a source of great talent for Eskom

Young scientists compare notes

Young scientists shine

Parel Vallei High School leaners invited to International Science Fair

Into the future with robotics

Eskom and Trialogue partnership highlights role of big business in enterprise

Joburg’s Eskom plan would cost it R11.5bn

South Africa extends Karpowership bid deadline again

LETTERS, OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

The historical perspective of a just energy transition

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