Day: October 27, 2021

State owned power utility, Eskom, has announced that it will implement Stage four load shedding from midday today (Wednesday) until the early hours of Friday morning.

Then, load shedding will drop to Stage two until the next morning.

The power utility has been battling to keep the lights on as a result of trips and shutdowns at units at five power stations which are costing the grid nearly 15 000MW in power.

“Over the past 24 hours a unit each at Medupi, Kusile and Matla power stations tripped while a unit each at Lethabo and Arnot power stations were forced to shut down. This constrained the power system further requiring extensive use of emergency reserves and therefore, hampering the recovery of these reserves.

“We remind customers that load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system regardless of the stage of load shedding. The implementation of Stage 4 load shedding is therefore, no cause for alarm as the power system remains to be effectively controlled,” Eskom said.

The entity added that some recovery is already taking place with units already back on or returning over the next two days.

“Some generating units have returned to service and we anticipate another two units to return to service during the day. In addition, Koeberg Unit 1 is expected to return to service today and begin ramping up to full output within 48 hours.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), industry and trade unions have established a new forum that will see labour participate actively in mining research in the country.

The DSI and the Minerals Council South Africa – through the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) – established the MMP-Organised Labour Consultative Forum in Pretoria on Tuesday, with the signing of the terms of reference for the forum.

The MMP is a public-private partnership between the DSI and the Minerals Council South Africa, a mining-industry employer organisation.

Hosted jointly by the Minerals Council and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the MMP seeks to revitalise mining research, development and innovation in South Africa to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.

“At the signing ceremony, labour organisations welcomed the new initiative and expressed their commitment to inclusivity in the mining industry,” a joint statement read.

The organisations include the United Association of South Africa (UASA), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), Solidarity and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

The terms of reference detail the extent of organised labour’s involvement in and contribution to the MMP’s research and development agenda, and plans for a modernised and mechanised mining industry.

“The MMP’s engagements with organised labour are viewed as critical to the success of our research work and technological development.

“Through the Successful Application of Technologies Centred Around People (SATCAP) research programme, organised labour has been continuously consulted on various developments, such as the Isidingo Drill prototypes,” said MMP Director, Johan le Roux.

The establishment of the forum, according to the DSI, has formalised a long-standing relationship and commitment to a strong focus on a sustainable and modernised mining industry for the benefit of South Africa.

The SATCAP research programme aims to understand the challenges, effects and impacts of mining modernisation on people in the minerals sector.

CSIR CEO, Dr Thulani Dlamini, described the MMP as a significant milestone.

“We commit ourselves to work together towards a common objective, and look forward to the fruits of this partnership,” he said.

DSI Director-General, Dr Phil Mjwara, said the new initiative served as an important blueprint.

“The modernisation of mining will result in a substantial change in the skills required by mine employees. My message to the Minerals Council is for us to work together to develop the skills plan in anticipation of the modernisation of the mining industry. We are committed and we will continue to provide an enabling environment for the mining industry,” said Mjwara.

Minerals Council President, Nolitha Fakude, said the association was encouraged by the progress being made in research and innovation.

“We welcome organised labour as a partner to this initiative. They are critical in playing a meaningful role in the modernisation journey.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

Eskom says it plans to add at least 30GW of new generation capacity – mainly from solar and wind energy sources – to the system over the next 10 years.

This was revealed in the power utility’s Transmission Development Plan for 2022 to 2031 which was presented to various stakeholders.

Eskom said it will be building the required infrastructure to accommodate the envisioned extra capacity.

“To provide for an adequate and reliable transmission system, Eskom plans to increase the transmission infrastructure by approximately 8 400 km of extra high-voltage lines and 119 transformers to bring on board 58 970 MVA of transformer capacity over the next 10 years.

“Major expansion of the transmission network is critical for the connection of utility-scale renewable generation projects, mainly wind and solar, in line with the policy direction highlighted in the Integrated Resource Plan of 2019) and the Grid Code to diversify South Africa’s energy mix, and to provide non-discriminatory access to the grid,” the utility said.

Eskom’s Group Executive for Transmission, Segomoco Scheppers, revealed that the cost of the utility’s transmission plan is expected to run to at least R178 billion over the next 10 years.

“Of this amount, R144 billion is required for new capacity expansion projects to meet the reliability requirements, connection of new generation capacity and loads, as well as to acquire servitudes. A further R34 billion is required for refurbishments to the existing asset base and procurement of production equipment, as well as strategic spares,” Scheepers said.

He said in the shorter term, Eskom is working on connecting other sources of electricity to the grid over the next few years.

“Work is in progress to allow the connection of utility-scale renewable generation projects for Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), projects which are expected to be connected to the national electricity grid by 2024/25.

”We are also making our systems ready to connect the additional 2 000 MW capacity procured through the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) and this capacity is expected to be available during the course of next year,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has welcomed the green light given by Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, to open online applications for 2022.

Online applications for 2022 are for applicants who would need government bursaries to further their studies at any of the 25 public universities or 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, including students who previously studied without NSFAS.

On Tuesday, Nzimande visited the NSFAS headquarters in Cape Town to assess the state of readiness for the 2022 online applications system process for first time students, and returning students who previously studied without NSFAS.

Nzimande expressed his appreciation to the system improvements and significant considerations made to simplify the application process for eligible students.

“I am quite confident from the demonstration I have seen, that we are ready to open the 2022 online application for eligible students,” Nzimande said.

Speaking on the approval of the opening of the online applications for 2022, NSFAS board chairperson, Ernest Khosa, said the approval by the Minister to allow NSFAS to open the 2022 online application is an indication that the public entity is taking steps in the right direction.

“We appreciate the confidence and the support the new NSFAS Board and management is receiving from the Minister. Our team has demonstrated to the Minister all the stages each application will go through when submitted by an applicant [and] we were able to assure the Minister that we are much better prepared to deal with any challenges that may come,” Khosa said.

The Minister is expected to brief the nation on the opening date of the 2022 online application soon and more details on the system improvements, and application processes will be made available on the date of the briefing.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Social Relief of Distress (SRD) beneficiaries who opted to use the South African Post Office for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant payment have been encouraged to collect their R350 only after receiving an SMS informing them that their grant is available.

The Post Office said beneficiaries can visit their nearest Pick ‘n Pay or Boxer supermarket or post office to collect their grant.

“If you chose a bank account or cash send as your payment method, you will receive the money through the bank you chose. You cannot go to one of the supermarkets. Beneficiaries who have received the SMS and who choose to withdraw their grant from a Pick ‘n Pay or Boxer supermarket, must also have their cell phones and identity document with them,” the Post Office said on Tuesday.

The grant will not be available if beneficiaries attempt to collect it before they have received an SMS.

The Post Office said it has become aware of large numbers of beneficiaries who try to withdraw their R350 SRD grant before receiving their SMS.

“Only beneficiaries who chose to receive their grants from the post office have the option of also collecting the grant from Pick ‘n Pay or Boxer. The first week of every month is set aside for paying our old age, disability and child grants. During this week SRD R350 grants cannot be paid out,” the post office said.

Source: South African Government News Agency