News Flash 8 April 2010
Developed by Kyosemi Corporation, Sphelar solar cells are one of the most intriguing solar solutions that we have seen in a while. On display at the recent PV Expo 2010 in Tokyo, these tiny spherical cells gave us a glimpse of how windows in buildings might be used to collect solar power in the not-so-distant future. Read More
Business Day
Black-owned coal mining group lists on JSE
BLACK-owned and controlled coal mining and exploration group Optimum Coal listed on the JSE’s Main Board on Monday. The company said in a statement it had listed in the general mining sector, opening with its first trade at R31,85 per share. Read More
New SA coal terminal for Richards Bay - report
British Rail Freight company may step in if Transnet fails to upgrade its rolling stock in time, according to sources quoted by Reuters. Read More
Extracts from Creamer’s “Engineering News”
NUCLEAR
Union urges nuclear consolidation to save PBMR skills
The Solidarity trade union has called for the merging of South Africa’s nuclear companies in an attempt to save as much as possible of the nuclear science, engineering and technological expertise gained by the pebble-bed modular reactor (PBMR) programme. “We ask for one institution. We do have Necsa [South African Nuclear Energy Corporation] at the moment. All nuclear institutions should come together. Necsa and the people from the PBMR should be merged together,” Solidarity... Full Article 7/4/10
Several African States actively preparing to join the nuclear energy club
How many countries in Africa have operational nuclear reactors? And just how many operational reactors are there on the continent? The answers are seven and eleven. Not many, but more than generally realised. The countries concerned are Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. South Africa has three reactors – one research reactor, at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria and two pressurised water reactors which power the French-designed and built Koeberg nuclear power plant... Full Article 7/4/10
OIL REFINERY
Energy Minister continues to back Coega refinery project
South Africa's Energy Minister Dipuo Peters reiterated her support on Tuesday for the development of a greenfield crude-oil refinery in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, indicating that the project would be necessary to ensure South Africa's access to cleaner fuels. The project, dubbed Mthombo, is being studied by South Africa's National oil company, PetroSA, which believes that a 400 000 bl/d refinery will help South Africa close any liquid-fuels security of supply gaps. Full Article 7/4/10
ELECTRICITY
SA facing increased risk of power failures
South Africa faces increased risks of power cuts from 2011 to 2013 unless co-generation projects come on line and consumers try to conserve more electricity, a government minister said on Friday. Africa's largest economy is battling a chronic power shortage that has curbed production at the world's top platinum producer and a major producer of gold because of electricity rationing by government. Full Article 7/4/10
SA power consumption up 8,5% in February
Electricity consumption in South Africa rose by 8,5% year-on-year in February, while electricity production increased by 9,1% year-on-year in February, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday. It added that electricity consumption for the three months ended February 2010 was up 8,1% on the amount of electricity consumed in the three months ended February 2009. Full Article 1/4/10
POWER STATION
Exxaro confirms coal supply in line with Medupi's 2012 start-up plan
The coal-mining unit of diversified resources group Exxaro Resources announced on Wednesday that it has signed a "definitive" coal supply and offtake agreement with Eskom for the 4 800-MW Medupi power station, which is being developed in South Africa's Limpopo province. The revised agreement will see delivery of first coal during the second quarter of 2012, with ramp-up to full production by 2015. However, a stockpile would be developed ahead of Medupi's start-up as from September 2011, and. Full Article 1/4/10
CLIMATE CHANGE
Over 110 nations back Copenhagen climate deal
More than 110 nations including top greenhouse gas emitters led by China and the United States back the non-binding Copenhagen Accord for combating climate change, according to a first formal UN list on Wednesday. The list, of countries from Albania to Zambia, helps end weeks of uncertainty about support for the deal, agreed at an acrimonious summit in the Danish capital in December. The list was compiled by the the UN Climate Change Secretariat. Full Article 1/4/10
Extracts from Creamer’s “Mining Weekly”
COAL
R8bn Optimum Coal BEE lists, targets stressed assets, ramps up output
New black-owned and controlled coal mining and exploration group Optimum Coal listed in the general mining sector on the JSE's main board on Monday, opening with its first trade at R31,85 a share. Optimum has 248,5 million ordinary shares in issue with a market capitalisation of around R8 billion and there was an instant trade of 416 000 shares upon listing. The company, which was taken over from BHP Billiton nearly two years ago, sees itself as a black economic-empowerment (BEE) coal consolidator. It raised R1,6-billion on listing. Full Article 29/3/10
Wescoal shares rise on R45m SACMH takeover bid
The value of the shares of JSE-listed coal mining and trading company Wescoal rose 11% on its all-share R45-million takeover bid for suspended South African Coal Mining Holdings (SACMH). Wescoal, headed by CEO André Boje, is offering 11,11 of its shares for every 100 SACMH ordinary shares held, which will involve the issuing of 50 222 415 Wescoal shares at 90 c a share, totalling R45-million. The failed SACMH, which was meant to be Royal Bafokeng Resources entry into coal mining, owns the 19-year-life opencast Umlabu coal-mine near Ermelo; and the potentially exploitable nearby Vlakfontein Sterkfontein coal resources. Full Article 25/3/10
Xstrata, Japan agree thermal coal price of $98/tonne
Mining group Xstrata, the world's biggest exporter of coal used in power plants, agreed a higher-than-expected benchmark price with a Japanese customer amid strong demand from Asia. Xstrata said in a statement on Thursday it finalised an annual contract price of $98 per ton for thermal coal with an unnamed major power utility customer in Japan. Full Article 1/4/10
