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IOL News
11-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Is South Africa's solar energy growth hindered by outdated regulations?
According to GoSolr paper, regulations are hindering the growth of solar installations in the country. Image: Pexels South Africa's solar energy sector is growing steadily, but not nearly fast enough to keep up with demand or the worsening national energy crisis. This is according to a 14-page GoSolr Light Paper – June 2025, that highlighted findings on solar energy in the country. The paper reported that 137,000 homes in South Africa have already installed solar systems, with 1,000 new installations per month. But instead of being supported and encouraged, solar users are being penalised through high fixed fees, forced time-of-use tariffs, and inconsistent municipal regulations. 'We're still facing an energy crisis — Eskom can't produce all we need. Yet instead of encouraging solar, the system is actively placing hurdles in people's way,' the report warns. One of the key issues raised is the tariff structures imposed by certain municipalities. This is most notable in Johannesburg. While prepaid customers in Joburg pay a fixed monthly fee of R423, solar users on postpaid systems are being forced onto time-of-use billing with fixed fees as high as R1,615 per month, and no real ability to feed power back into the grid. Cape Town allows prepaid solar users to remain on simpler billing plans and offers a feed-in tariff of R1.16/kWh, plus an incentive of R0.29/kWh. The paper outlined how solar installation rules vary across municipalities. It noted that national requirements demand certified electricians and engineer sign-offs, but many municipalities go further, requiring extra application fees, tariff changes, and meter upgrades. 'The result is a complex, fragmented, and expensive process that deters many households and small businesses from going solar,' says GoSolr. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Even with Eskom waiving solar application fees until March 2026, the paper argues this must become permanent, and be backed by a single national policy framework to simplify compliance. South Africa's Energy Availability Factor (EAF) from Eskom remains low at 57.3%, far below the 70% target — raising fears of worsening load shedding during winter. Yet instead of scaling solar as a relief valve, the country is bogged down by policy gridlock. 'We are over-regulated and underperforming,' the paper states. 'It's time to stop faffing around with regulations and start doing.' GoSolr proposes five urgent actions: Free consumer tariff choice – no forced billing models. Review and reduce import tariffs for solar components. Implement a national solar framework that streamlines installation rules. Scrap excessive registration/compliance costs. Allow all producers — large and small — to feed energy into the grid. The findings were publicised after Eskom strongly rejected false claims circulating online about imminent stage 4 and stage 6 loadshedding from July 6 until July 20. The power utility stated the country's power system remains stable with loadshedding suspended since 10pm on 15 May 2025. "The Winter Outlook, published on 5 May 2025, covering the period ending 31 August 2025, remains valid. It indicates that loadshedding will not be necessary if unplanned outages stay below 13 000MW. If outages rise to 15 000MW, loadshedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days and restricted to Stage 2. There are no planned outages of this scale. Misinformation causes unnecessary alarm. Stay informed—trust only official Eskom updates on our official platforms," the power utility said. IOL NEWS
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ShaMaran Announces Annual Meeting Voting Results
VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2025 /CNW/ - ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. ("ShaMaran" or the "Company") (TSXV: SNM) (Nasdaq First North: SNM) held its annual general and special meeting of shareholders in Vancouver, British Columbia today, and all resolutions were passed. PDF Version Shareholders voted as follows on the matters before the meeting: Fixing the number of Directors Shareholders fixed the number of directors at five (5) with 99.65% of shares represented at the meeting voting in favour. Re-election of Directors Shareholders elected the following five (5) board members to serve on the Company's board of directors until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed: DIRECTOR ForWithheld Chris Bruijnzeels635,280,137 99.70 % 1,924,072 0.30 % Garrett Soden635,251,615 99.69 % 1,952,594 0.31 % Michael Ebsary635,303,258 99.70 % 1,900,951 0.30 % Keith Hill633,446,356 99.41 % 3,757,853 0.59 % Willian Lundin633,098,692 99.36 % 4,105,517 0.64 % Appointment of Auditors Shareholders appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor of the Company for the upcoming year and authorized the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration of the auditor with 99.97% of shares represented at the meeting voting in favour. Approval of Stock Option Plan The Company's incentive stock option plan was approved by shareholders with 99.84% of shares represented at the meeting voting in favour. Approval of the Amendment to the Deferred Share Unit Plan The Company's amendment to the deferred unit plan was approved by shareholders with 99.84% of shares represented at the meeting voting in favour. About ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. ShaMaran is a Canadian independent oil and gas company focused on the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Company indirectly holds a 50% working interest in the Atrush Block and an 18% working interest in the Sarsang Block. The Company is listed in Toronto on the TSX Venture Exchange and in Stockholm on Nasdaq First North Growth Market (ticker "SNM"). ShaMaran is part of the Lundin Group of Companies. Important Information ShaMaran is obliged to make this information public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out below on June 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company's certified advisor on Nasdaq First North Growth Market is FNCA Sweden AB. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
23-06-2025
- The Sun
Johor cops bust RM7.1 million drug syndicate in two major raids
JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Police have successfully busted a drug trafficking syndicate believed to have been active since the beginning of this year through two separate raids in residential areas around Johor Bahru, with the value of the seizure estimated to exceed RM7.1 million. Johor police chief CP Datuk M Kumar said the special operation was carried out by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Johor police contingent headquarters with Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division, at about 7.30 pm, between June 14 and 15. He said that in the first raid at a two-storey terrace house in Taman Mutiara Rini, police arrested a 45-year-old local man believed to be the mastermind along with a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman. 'As a result of the inspection, police seized 2.67 kilogrammes of powder believed to be ecstasy and 368 grammes of drugs suspected to be marijuana,' he said in a press conference today. Following the arrest, police launched a second raid on another terrace house about a kilometre from the first location, which had also been rented by the same male suspect since May 2024 and arrested a 23-year-old Vietnamese woman. 'In this second raid, police seized 38 kg of ecstasy powder and 1.37 kg of ketamine,' he said. In both raids, police also seized two cars worth RM190,000, cash RM49,150 and various jewellery worth RM17,630, with the total seizure amounting to RM265,615. He said the two foreign women were believed to have entered the country legally, but further investigations were being conducted into their travel documents. The syndicate is believed to operate in an organised manner, including using social media and delivery via 'runners' and police believe there are still members at large out there and investigations are underway to track them down. He said that apart from being used as a residence, the first house is believed to be used as a place to store drugs, while the second house is a location to package the drug powder into small packets which are believed to be sold in the local market for RM250 to RM350. Kumar said urine tests showed that the man involved tested positive for methamphetamine while the two foreign women tested positive for ketamine and benzodiazepines. All of them have been remanded until June 26 for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Barnama
23-06-2025
- Barnama
Johor Police Smash Drug Trafficking Syndicate, Seize Drugs Worth Over RM7.1 Mln
JOHOR BAHRU, June 22 (Bernama) -- Johor Police have successfully busted a drug trafficking syndicate believed to have been active since the beginning of this year through two separate raids in residential areas around Johor Bahru, with the value of the seizure estimated to exceed RM7.1 million. Johor police chief CP Datuk M Kumar said the special operation was carried out by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Johor police contingent headquarters with Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division, at about 7.30 pm, between June 14 and 15. He said that in the first raid at a two-storey terrace house in Taman Mutiara Rini, police arrested a 45-year-old local man believed to be the mastermind along with a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman. 'As a result of the inspection, police seized 2.67 kilogrammes of powder believed to be ecstasy and 368 grammes of drugs suspected to be marijuana,' he said in a press conference today. Following the arrest, police launched a second raid on another terrace house about a kilometre from the first location, which had also been rented by the same male suspect since May 2024 and arrested a 23-year-old Vietnamese woman. 'In this second raid, police seized 38 kg of ecstasy powder and 1.37 kg of ketamine,' he said. In both raids, police also seized two cars worth RM190,000, cash RM49,150 and various jewellery worth RM17,630, with the total seizure amounting to RM265,615. He said the two foreign women were believed to have entered the country legally, but further investigations were being conducted into their travel documents. The syndicate is believed to operate in an organised manner, including using social media and delivery via 'runners' and police believe there are still members at large out there and investigations are underway to track them down.
The Star
22-05-2025
- The Star
Welfare Department to serve as main coordinator
PETALING JAYA: The Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Welfare Department (JKMWPKL) will serve as the main coordinating body on issues related to beggars through the KL Strike Force Committee under Destitute and Children activities. Under the Destitute Persons Act 1977 (Act 183), a person who begs is defined as an individual who engages in any conduct that encourages the giving of alms. The JKM and other enforcement agencies regularly conduct joint, scheduled and ad-hoc operations to pick up beggars. As such, any authorised officer or welfare officer can pick up a destitute person and bring them before a magistrate within 24 hours. 'JKM is constantly collaborating with other enforcement agencies, including local authorities (PBT), the Immigration Department (JIM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), the National Registration Department (JPN) and other agencies according to the case category. 'However, JKM only takes action against beggars who meet the definitions as stated in Act 183,' JKM told The Star. It added that JKM officers do not have jurisdiction over destitute individuals who fall under the enforcement of other agencies. These include non-citizens and immigrants holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards (Immigration Act 1959/63, Act 155); mentally disturbed beggars (Mental Health Act 2001, Act 615); cases of suspected chronic or infectious diseases (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, Act 342); drug addicts (Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, Act 283); alcohol addicts (Minor Offences Act 1955, Act 366); glue sniffers (Poison Act 1952, Act 366); and unauthorised collectors (House to House and Street Collections Act 1947, Act 200). For such cases, action will be taken by the relevant enforcement agencies under their respective legal jurisdictions.
