When young electrical engineer Johan Human embarked on a business enterprise back in 1997, he could not have foreseen how successful his fledgling business, EDS Switchboards would become.

A further 20% increase in Eskom electricity tariffs is both unjustified and unacceptable, says the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Lucio Monari, Director, Energy and Extractive Global Practice at the World Bank discusses “Financial Viability of Electricity Sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa”.

Cape Business News recently attended the Voltex Electrical Trade Expo where we met with Shawn Roets, Regional Manager in the Western Cape and Namibia to get insight into the industry and the Electrical Expo itself.

According to SAnews.gov.za Eskom has strengthened its Western Cape network by commissioning the Kappa-Sterrekus 765 kV line.

On August 17, unit 4 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in Russia started operating at full power for the first time. The 800MWe BN-800 unit is fuelled by a mix of uranium and plutonium oxides which produce new fuel material as it burns. The reactor is scheduled to enter commercial operation later this year.

The Select Committee on Trade and International Relations has called on the Department of Trade and Industry (Dti) to find creative ways of enhancing the manufacturing sector including the use of alternative energy sources.

“Today, as South Africans, we stand tall and proud as we register further progress in our quest for energy security,” says President Jacob Zuma.

President Jacob Zuma officially inaugurated Unit 4 of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme (PSS), which on completion will be the largest PSS in Africa.  The Ingula PSS consists of an upper dam in the Free State and a lower dam in KwaZulu-Natal, each capable of holding approximately 22 million cubic metres of water. The dams, 4,6km apart, are connected by underground waterways passing through a subterranean powerhouse with four 333 Megawatts (MW) generators.

According to AFKInsider The “fear of nuclear” and criticism of South Africa’s new nuclear build program are largely about the cost rather than the technology, says Brian Molefe, CEO of Eskom, South Africa’s public electricity utility.