Latest news with #BhekiNxumalo
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Eskom admits to challenges in meeting 2030 emissions targets
Cooling towers at an Eskom coal-based power station in Duhva. Eskom's head of generation Bheki Nxumalo on Wednesday revealed that the utility's existing power stations may struggle to meet the crucial emissions standards due to insufficient technology designed to curb nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx). Image: Mike Hutchings/Reuters South Africa's power utility, Eskom, has openly acknowledged significant hurdles in achieving the ambitious decommissioning targets set for the Just Energy Transition (JET) by 2030. During a presentation to Parliament on Wednesday, Eskom's head of generation Bheki Nxumalo revealed that the utility's existing power stations may struggle to meet the crucial emissions standards due to insufficient technology designed to curb nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx). "The emissions standards post-2030 call for reduction much more aggressively. That's where the risks are because stations have different technologies. We are now on a drive for emissions abatement technologies post-2030 but its not all of them that will be ready, including Medupi," Nxumalo said in response to questions from MK Party MP, Brian Molefe. "Kusile will meet most of the requirements but it is going to be an issue to comply with that. Most will but the "NOx and SOx" will require more in refurbishment." 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ Nxumalo said Eskom was doing economic studies on its overall Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) strategy from exemptions granted by the Department of Fisheries and Forestries and Environment (DFFE), not only for Kusile and Medupi's compliance, with stricter emission standards. "We are preparing to go to market but also considering the number of units. We are not going to do all of them by 2030, implementation will go post-2030," Nxumalo said. "We are not only looking at Medupi for reduction of the carbon footprint and also the NOx and SOx across the fleet. The research team is busy at work looking at other means we can employ in units running post-2030." Eskom Group Executive for Renewables, Rivoningo Mnisi, said the power utility had made a breakthrough in other global entities taking over the slack left by the US withdrawing its more than $1.5 billion commitments to South Africa's JET programme. "Dynamics and changes from the US have changed how we traditionally view funding, but it comes with opportunities. What we noticed is that the clean energy initiatives need to make business sense," Mnisi said. "We have had engagements with the World Bank that sourced funding from various funders. They are quite aware of our 5-year projects and are quite keen and confident to support the funding requirement. "We have also engaged with others [such as] the French Union. There is an appetite to partner. There is also interest from the Chinese funders interested in this. It's key how we go to market on this. We are working on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which should be structured to allow us offtake and show how projects will make money and what our contribution from the balance sheet will be. "There is no shortage of funding to support the clean energy initiatives. What's more important is the governance structures to allow the PPP participation and the funding model to take place." As part of its strategy, Eskom is considering blended financing to avoid restrictions from single funders that could conflict with its operational needs. "We are in the process of shortlisting the supplier for the 72MW solar PV, while on the 150MW of gas the contract award is imminent and should be done potentially in the next two months," Mnisi said. "We are also doing some assessment of the long duration energy storage as part of the options we can implement at Komati, as well Grootvlei solar PV and gas on plan. They should be delivered by 2029, a shift from what we did at Komati Development. Work for Arnot, Camden and Hendrina is also started and the intention is to ensure that all projects are implemented and operational before 2030." BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Eskom: Koeberg repairs won't worsen load-shedding this winter
Eskom has announced that Koeberg Unit 1 will now return to service by the end of August, instead of this month, due to additional steam generator maintenance. The unit was initially expected back online in July, but Eskom said the revised timeline reflects its commitment to thorough inspections and the highest quality standards at South Africa's only nuclear power station. 'During scheduled detailed eddy current inspections – a non-destructive testing method used to detect cracks, corrosion or wear in the metal tubes of steam generators – defects were identified on four tubes, among several thousand inspected, across two of the newly installed generators,' the power utility explained. Specialised international and local teams immediately carried out advanced automated repairs on the four tubes. Eskom confirmed these repairs have been successfully completed to uphold stringent safety standards. Major maintenance completed Eskom said major maintenance work, including the legally required 10-year Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT), had been successfully completed. The ILRT pressurised the reactor building over 72 hours to confirm its structural integrity and leak-tightness in line with international standards. Eskom group executive for generation Bheki Nxumalo emphasised: 'The safety of employees, the public and the environment remains our top priority. Carrying out these additional inspections and repairs to world-class standards is an investment in the long-term reliability of Koeberg and South Africa's energy future.' No increased load-shedding risk Eskom reassured that the delay will not increase the risk of load-shedding. Since mid-May, there has been no load-shedding, with only 26 hours of outages recorded between April 1 and Thursday. 'The winter outlook released on May 5 remains valid. Importantly, the planned return of 2 500MW this winter does not rely on Unit 1,' Eskom said. Unit 2 remains fully operational, generating up to 946MW with a year-to-date Energy Availability Factor of 99.38% at the end of June. – Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station's Unit 1 return postponed: what it means for South Africa's energy
Eskom said the return to service of Unit 1 at the Koeberg Nuclear Power plant has been moved to August, after initially scheduled to return to service in July after planned maintenance. Image: Supplied Eskom announced that Unit 1 at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, South Africa's only nuclear facility located in Cape Town, that is supposed to return to service this month, has been pushed back to the end of next month. Currently offline for the second phase of its long-term operational maintenance programme, Unit 1 was initially expected to return to service by July 2025. Eskom said this adjustment reflects their "unwavering commitment to thorough inspections and maintaining the highest quality standards to ensure the safety and reliability of the facility". As part of the scheduled maintenance, detailed eddy current inspections — an essential non-destructive testing method—revealed defects in four tubes across two of the newly installed steam generators. Eskom said it acted promptly, deploying an advanced automated process to rectify the identified issues, with specialised international teams working in tandem with local experts to ensure the repairs met global safety and quality standards. "The successful completion of these critical repairs marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the safety framework at Koeberg." In addition to the tube repairs, the maintenance activities included the legally mandated 10-year Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT). "During this rigorous test, the reactor building was pressurised over a continuous 72-hour period, carefully monitoring its leak rate and structural integrity. The results from the ILRT confirmed the robustness of Unit 1's containment structure, thereby aligning with international safety protocols." Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom's Group Executive for Generation, emphasized the importance of prioritising safety at Koeberg. 'Our top priority is always the safety of our employees, the public and the environment. Carrying out these additional inspections and repairs to world-class standards, we are investing in the long-term reliability of Koeberg and South Africa's energy future,' he said. Nxumalo reiterated that the maintenance of Unit 1 is vital for delivering decades of affordable, low-carbon power, advocating how nuclear energy contributes to economic growth and environmental sustainability. Eskom is concurrently progressing on other generation projects, including the recently synchronised 800MW Kusile Unit 6, which is expected to enter commercial operation by September 2025. "This year has already seen the reconnection of Kusile Units 1, 2, and 3 to the repaired west stack, as well as the return to service of Medupi Unit 4 after a prolonged outage. Together, these initiatives are aimed at bolstering generation capacity and securing a stable electricity supply." Eskom said the revised return date for Koeberg Unit 1 is not anticipated to increase the risk of loadshedding. "The latest Winter Outlook released in May remains valid, indicating that the planned return of 2,500MW this winter is unaffected by the status of Unit 1. The report shows that loadshedding will not be necessary as long as unplanned outages stay below 13,000MW. Even with potential increases in outages, Eskom has projected a maximum of 21 days of loadshedding during the winter season, capped at Stage 2. As the winter season progresses, Eskom continues to encourage energy efficiency among customers while assuring them of the national power system's stability. Unit 2 of Koeberg remains operational, currently contributing up to 946MW and recording an impressive Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 99.98% as of the end of June 2023. Once all maintenance work is completed, Unit 1's reactor core will undergo refuelling, testing, and will be synchronised back to the national grid. Eskom said it meticulously plans these outages to ensure that both Koeberg units are not offline simultaneously, maintaining an essential power supply for the country.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eskom integrates Kusile's final unit, aiming for 2.5GW by 2025
Eskom has added the final 800MW unit of Kusile power station, Unit 6, to South Africa's national grid. The development represents a milestone in Eskom's strategy to add 2.5GW of new capacity by March 2025. Up to September 2025, Unit 6 will undergo testing and optimisation before being officially added to Eskom's generation fleet. Kusile's sister project, Medupi, is set to return 800MW from Unit 4 by April 2025 after an extended outage due to a generator stator failure. Once Kusile Unit 6 reaches commercial operation, both newbuild power station projects will be in commercial operation. Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane stated: 'Kusile Unit 6's addition is proof that we are making continued progress in stabilising and strengthening South Africa's electricity supply. Meeting the targets we set in the Generation Recovery Plan and our strategic roadmap underscores our determination to deliver new capacity, enhance generation performance, support economic growth and ultimately deliver a more sustainable energy future. 'We re-iterate our commitment to ensuring that South Africa is in no way returning to the levels of load-shedding that we experienced in 2023. Our focus remains on delivering a more reliable, resilient and sustainable power system for the country.' The Kusile power station will contribute 4.8GW when all units are in operation, making it South Africa's largest infrastructure project. The power plant is also the first in the country to implement wet flue gas desulphurisation technology to meet air quality standards. Eskom Group executive for generation Bheki Nxumalo stated: 'Eskom is at a critical point returning megawatts to the grid as we are currently in a constrained state. This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication and resilience of Eskom's employees and contractors. Their commitment has driven us forward despite numerous challenges. 'As we celebrate this progress, our focus is now on ensuring that Unit 6 achieves commercial operation in the second half of 2025, further strengthening South Africa's energy security.' Eskom remains committed to its Generation Operational Recovery Plan, focusing on governance and sustainability to ensure energy security for South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. In January 2025, Eskom connected the 930MW Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station to the national grid, advancing the plan. This connection follows a long-term operation programme to extend the unit's life by 20 years, following similar upgrades to Unit 1. "Eskom integrates Kusile's final unit, aiming for 2.5GW by 2025" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Zawya
06-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Zimbabwe Joins Other African Nations in Pursuit of Nuclear Power
Zimbabwe is joining other African nations exploring nuclear power as a way to help solve chronic problems with electricity supply. Demand for power continues to increase on the continent due to growing populations and economic expansion. 1. The Koeberg nuclear power station in South Africa is the only nuclear power plant on the African continent. Its two units, with more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity in total, have operated since the mid-1980s. Courtesy: Eskom The only African country currently producing nuclear energy is South Africa. The French-built Koeberg plant (Figure 1) near Cape Town, with two Framatome reactors and just more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity, has operated for 40 years. Officials have said Russia will work on an expansion of that power station, and possibly on construction of new reactors elsewhere in the country. Eskom, South Africa's state power company, said it re-connected Unit 2 at Koeberg to the national grid on Dec. 30 of last year after replacing three steam generators, conducting comprehensive inspections, and refueling the reactor. A decision on extending the unit's operating license is expected this year. Koeberg Unit 1's operating license was renewed last year for another 20 years, to 2044. The Koeberg units, both pressurized water reactors, have operated since 1984 and 1985, respectively. Bheki Nxumalo, group executive for generation at Eskom, in a statement said, 'As South Africa phases out some of the aging coal-fired power plants by 2030, nuclear energy is poised to provide a reliable and stable baseload supply. Unlike intermittent renewable sources, nuclear power ensures continuous electricity generation, meeting the needs of both residential and industrial users. Its ability to produce carbon-free energy also supports South Africa's climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.' Edgar Moyo, minister of Zimbabwe's Energy and Power Development, said his country plans to increase its power generation capacity to at least 4 GW by 2035, up from the current 2.6 GW, although government data shows actual daily power generation is about half of capacity. Moyo said his country will collaborate with Russia on construction of small nuclear reactors. Moyo in late December told journalists at a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, that the IAEA 'have indicated their willingness to take us through paces until we get there.' Russia already has agreements to build nuclear power plants with Egypt, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, in addition to South Africa. Russian nuclear energy state-owned company Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2021 signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy. Economists and geopolitical analysts have said Russia wants to take a lead role in Africa's energy future to expand its influence on the continent. 'A reliable nuclear energy infrastructure could supply electricity to millions of people in rural or underserved areas,' said Irina Tsukerman, an adviser and foreign policy expert with Scarab Rising, a U.S.-based geopolitical research group. 'Many African countries still face significant gaps in electricity access, and nuclear power can help bridge that gap, particularly in countries with a growing urban population. Nuclear energy can provide a stable supply for expanding economies, ensuring industries and households have reliable power without frequent outages or blackouts, which are common in many parts of Africa.' Tsukerman told POWER, 'Right now, South Africa is the only country in Africa with a nuclear plant, although several more are being planned. In theory, introduction of nuclear power throughout the continent could be effective in addressing power shortages. That's because nuclear power has significant advantages over other forms of energy that could work well, including in developing countries.' Tsukerman said nuclear power would benefit Africa because it would provide 'reliable energy production' as well as 'large amounts of energy from relatively small amounts of fuel. For countries with limited land or resources, nuclear power can provide a reliable source of electricity without requiring vast areas of land, unlike solar or wind energy, which depend on large installations.' Gloria Magombo, Zimbabwe's secretary for energy and power development, during a December 2024 media briefing said that in addition to nuclear power, the country also wants to deploy more renewable energy resources apart from hydropower, which has been impacted by drought conditions. Magombo said, 'We are looking at coming in by 2030 with up to about 2,000 megawatts' from solar, wind, and hydropower resources. The country has a National Renewable Energy Program, though officials have said private investment along with public capital will be needed to support a build-out. A Renewable Energy Fund was launched in September of last year. The U.S. State Department in a report last year said, 'Debt significantly hinders Zimbabwe's economic growth and development,' noting the country 'owes over $9 billion [$7.0 billion of which is in arrears and penalties] to international financial institutions and bilateral creditors, equating to about 33% of the country's GDP [gross domestic product].' Dr. Lisa Marshall, president of the American Nuclear Society, and Dr. Sola Talabi, president of Pittsburgh Technical, a nuclear power consulting firm, told POWER that nuclear power would offer reliable baseload power for Zimbabwe and other African nations, and serve as a complement to other sources of energy while promoting foreign investment. The two noted that with 'population growth and socio-economic needs, what nuclear energy brings to the table is an energy course that can be coupled with district heating [providing higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers, for instance], as well as the potential of radioisotopes for medical diagnosis and treatment.' The two said that the World Bank Group categorizes Zimbabwe as a 'lower middle-income country with strong human and natural capital and significant growth potential. Building on its highly educated workforce, abundant natural resources, and recent advances in economic policy, together with key structural and institutional reforms, Zimbabwe could achieve steady and rapid growth and move towards an upper middle-income country status, which the Government of Zimbabwe has targeted for 2030.' They noted that the 'simplified and decentralized infrastructure of advanced reactors make them very attractive to emerging markets where large infrastructure deployment is very challenging. For example, a microreactor can be deployed within days, thereby providing immediate power.' Tsukerman agreed that nuclear power would be a way to attract foreign investment to Africa. 'Nuclear power projects, due to their size and complexity, can attract foreign investments, boosting economic development and infrastructure in the surrounding regions,' she said. 'Building and maintaining nuclear power plants requires skilled labor, including engineers, technicians, and construction workers. This can help boost local economies and create long-term employment.' Tsukerman also noted that nuclear power could help lower or even eliminate some African countries reliance on imported oil, natural gas, and coal for power generation. 'Nuclear power can help reduce this reliance, enhancing energy security and ensuring a more stable energy supply,' she said. Tsukerman also noted that 'Africa has significant uranium reserves, and mining it for nuclear power could provide a domestic source of fuel. Countries like Namibia, Niger, and South Africa have the potential to harness this resource.' Marshall and Talabi said there would be a connection between Zimbabwe's mining industry and its increased interest in nuclear power, saying that advanced reactors and microreactors have the potential to decarbonize the mining sector. They said that advanced reactors can provide reliable, low-carbon heat and electricity for mining operations, replacing traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources. This would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support climate goals. The two also noted that many of the country's mining operations are located in remote areas where access to the grid is limited. They said that microreactors 'can be readily deployed in these off-grid locations to provide a stable power supply, reducing reliance on diesel generators.' Talabi and Marshall said that the country's 'mining sector is essential for the clean energy transition, as it supplies critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements needed for renewable energy technologies. Microreactors can enable sustainable and cost-effective mining of these minerals.' Whether U.S. companies, particularly those in the nuclear power space, would invest in Zimbabwe is questionable. The U.S. government ended its Zimbabwe Sanctions Program in March of last year, but continues to monitor individuals and companies under its Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, or GloMag, part of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Officials in the U.S. and other countries, including the UK, have cited corruption, political instability, and the country's high levels of debt as reasons to be wary of investment. Tsukerman noted the economic issues in Zimbabwe and other African countries are also a factor. 'A downside of the U.S. reactors is that they tend to be more expensive than the Russian and Chinese technologies, they are limited in scale and size, and so more would need to be purchased to serve communities,' she said, noting the U.S. 'has yet to negotiate agreements with many of these countries, which in itself could be a monumental task given an anti-Western trend, particularly in West Africa, on the one hand, and the aggressive entry of other actors, such as Russia and China, on the other. Moreover, the U.S. has strict anti-corruption laws, which complicate bidding for tenders in countries with a different business culture, and many of the U.S. companies are reluctant to engage anywhere with an apparent high business risk.' India is another country working to make inroads in Africa. 'India currently is at the forefront of building thorium reactors,' said Tsukerman. 'According to plan, 30% of the Indian electricity in 2050 will be generated from thorium-based reactors. India is also a growing power throughout Africa, striving to compete with China and to expand its own geopolitical and economic reach. It has no shortage of workforce or engineers, and its work would be cheaper than U.S. or European implementation. However, so far India has not applied power plant outreach to its economic programs in Africa, and also struggles with modernizing its own business culture and implementation, focusing on exports of raw materials for the time being.' 2. Officials in Ghana, along with U.S.-based Regnum Technology Group, last year reached an agreement to deploy a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor in Ghana. Courtesy: NuScale Power There is some U.S. investment for nuclear technology in Africa. At the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last year, Nuclear Power Ghana and U.S. nuclear technology project developer Regnum Technology Group reached an agreement to deploy a single NuScale VOYGR-12 (Figure 2) small modular reactor (SMR) facility in Ghana. Their goal is to own and operate the continent's first commercial advanced light-water SMR plant. 'Of course, whether the Western powers decide to compete with the Russian and Chinese variants depends a lot on the terms they can negotiate,' said Tsukerman. She said that Japan, 'which is making slow headways in the more-developed African countries like Kenya, could be well-positioned to provide a viable alternative to Russia and China in the nuclear sector.' — Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
