South Africa's first concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar demonstration plant of 60 kW was operational in the Western Cape, and supplying the daytime power requirements for the Aquila safari lodge, near Touws river.

Greg Kinross, President, CIC Energy

Chinese and Canadian developers submitted a tarrif offer and a draft power purchase agreement (PPA) for a proposed term of 30 years for the planned 300-MW Mookane domestic power project. This project could be developed at an estimated cost of US$800-million.

Tanzania has asked East African countries to start developing nuclear power as the cheapest source of electricity in the region where only 12 per cent of rural areas is connected.

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is hosting a regional meeting in Nairobi aimed at building power generation capacity and sustainability.

According to a government official on Saturday, eleven sites in the semi-autonomous region has been identified by South Sudanese authorities to build hydroelectric plants to exploit the White Nile and other rivers.

The residential sector in South Africa consumes 17% of the electrical energy. More than 70% of this electricity is generated using fossil fuels which contribute immensely to environmental pollution and global warming.

The integrated resource plan (IRP2) process which should provide clarity on the future path of South Africa’s energy sector over the coming decades is due to release its draft in September for public comment. This has to be the process that dominates everyone’s attention at the moment in relation to the electricity sector, not only in South Africa but in the region.