Chris Yelland: New technical problems at Medupi put SA at risk

New technical problems arising during the commissioning of Unit 6, the first of six 800 MW generation units at Eskom’s Medupi power station, may be placing South Africa’s electricity supply at risk.

Nuclear deal ‘has the hallmarks of the corrupt arms deal’

The recently announced deal struck with Russia for the supply of nuclear power plants “has all the hallmarks of the corrupt arms deal”, the Right2Know Campaign said on Friday. “The US50 billion deal is estimated to cost the country 20 times the arms deal, and this price is bound to go up once contracting is … Read more

SA nuclear power deal with Russia in early stages

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s nuclear cooperation deal signed this week with Russia is part of a tender process that will involve other competing countries and is not a contract to build power plants, government officials said on Tuesday. The Russian atomic agency Rosatom issued a statement on Monday saying that it had signed a … Read more

Australia offers uranium, coal to energy-starved India

By Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he would seal a civil nuclear deal to sell uranium to India on Friday, offering to ramp up supplies of energy to help the emerging Asian giant overcome chronic shortages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Abbott with full state honours during his two-day visit … Read more

Eskom secures loan from EIB for solar power plant

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s power utility Eskom has agreed a 75 million euro loan with the European Investment Bank to support its 100 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, the company said on Thursday. “Eskom is committed to investing in projects that will diversify our energy mix, including renewable resources,” Eskom’s senior general manager for renewables Ayanda Nakedi said. … Read more