We have revised our coal-fired power forecasts on the back of the announcement by Eskom that another unit at the -.--GW Medupi coal power plant will be in commercial operation by February ----, after having been synchronised to the grid in September ----. We now expect that Medupi will be finished by ----, but still maintain our expectations for -.-GW Kusile to be finished in ----. ...We now expect that Medupi will be finished by ----, but still maintain our expectations for -.-GW Kusile to be finished in ----. One of the six units at the -.-GW Majuba coal-fired station has been shut down after the announcement by Eskom that it is currently operating at excess capacity. The unit will be kept as backup in times of higher electricity demand. ...A -.-MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant has started commercial operations in July ----. The Stortemelk hydropower plant was constructed in the Free State province at a cost of approximately
...French power producer Engie has arranged loans worth ZAR-.-bn (USD---mn) for the ---MW Kathu Solar Park project in the South African province of Northern Cape. The facility is expected to start operating before end-----. ...As a result, Eskom has announced it is planning to accelerate the process and increase the rollout of prepaid meters across Gauteng, thereby improving collection rates. A South African court has set aside the ruling wherein the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) granted Eskom s -.- tariff increase request, stating that proper procedures were not followed. This means that Eskom will have to revert to the previous increase of -.- and also repay customers the difference since the tariff took effect. ...This means that Eskom will have to revert to the previous increase of -.- and also repay customers the difference since the tariff took effect.
...BMI View: Thermal power generation will continue to account for over --.- of total power output in South Africa over our ---year forecast period due to the addition of just under --GW of new coal-fired capacity. The highest growth in new capacity additions will come from non-hydropower renewables, forecast to grow at an annual average of --.- . ...
