Umoya Energy
Power Pioneers It is an exciting time for renewable energies in South Africa, in particular in wind generation, as the country enters Round 4 bidding in August this year Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Rahim Ali Umoya Energy is the Independent Power Producer (IPP) that owns Hopefield Wind Farm (HWF), located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Established in 2008 by African Infrastructure Investment managers (aIIm), the IPP was created as a Special Purpose Vehicle to develop and own HWF, making it one of the pioneering wind energy developers in South Africa. Umoya Energy's technical manager, Sam Cook, has relished the chance to be a part of the project: "Indeed it was both novel and exciting to be a part of, as HWF was the first commercial wind farm in South africa to reach the COD milestone (Commercial operation Date) on 1st February 2014. Construction of the wind farm was completed on time, within budget, and without major challenges." Umoya Energy was selected as a successful bidder in Round one of the DOE's REIPPP Programme. "Hopefield wind Farm is the culmination of rigorous studies, planning and work by a number of people since at least 2008. Strong partners and active community engagement have been key to our success. It is certainly rewarding to play a role in building the project and also building relationships with the local community." For projects in the early rounds of the REIPPP Programme, there is no local supply of the main wind turbine components. This is soon to change…
Scatec Solar
South Africa's Sustainable Solar Future Scatec Solar are looking to become the biggest provider of solar energy in Africa Writers Matt Bone Project Manager Rahim Ali Scatec Solar is an integrated independent solar power producer working in South Africa, aiming to make solar a sustainable and affordable source of energy worldwide. Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns and operates solar power plants and now, in 2014, they deliver power from 220 MW facilities in the Czech Republic, South Africa and Rwanda. The company has seen strong growth over the years and has a solid pipeline of solar projects under development in Africa, US, Japan, Middle East and Europe. Andrzej Golebiowski, Country Manager for Scatec Solar in South Africa, is pleased with the current growth seen by the company in South Africa: "Since we began operating in South Africa in 2010, we have seen the cost of solar power drop by 70%, which was beyond anyone's wildest expectations back then. The solar power delivered today through the REIPPP Programme is cheaper in South Africa than the local coal power projects under development by Eskom." Power Hungry With the ever-rising demand for a sustained and prolonged power supply on the national grid, thanks in part to the business boom in the country, South Africa is seeing regular power shortages and is becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels, in particular coal. Using coal as the primary electricity source has brought challenges on an international level as the international community and regulatory bodies have put marked pressure on all countries to…
SLR Consulting
Diversifying consultancy SLR provides multi-disciplinary advice from in-house experts on a wide range of strategic and site-specific environmental and sustainability issues Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager Nick Norris SLR is an independent and employee controlled international environmental consultancy that has a reputation for providing high quality tailored services with an expanding network of offices in Africa, Australasia, Europe, and North America. SLR provides multi-disciplinary advice on a wide range of strategic and site specific environmental and sustainability issues. In particular, SLR specialises in the oil and gas, mining, energy, waste management, planning and development, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. African Managing Director, Brandon Stobart, says that the strategy for the development of the company is based on organic growth, augmented by the selective acquisition of high calibre companies to strengthen and extend technical and geographical coverage. He stated that for SLR to get involved with Africa Outlook in doing a feature article is part of a coordinated growth and marketing strategy. "One team approach" With 100 employees across Africa and 1000 globally, SLR has seen great business development, some strategic highs and improved performance in recent years. SLR is one of a handful of environmental consultancies that draws on knowledge and insight from across the globe and across multiple sectors. "It is our 'one team approach' across the globe that has been fundamental to SLR's success and our people, coupled with long standing client relationships that are our most notable strengths." Recent Developments and Projects The African environmental assessment offering has recently been strengthened by the successful…
Copperbelt Energy Corporation
A Network in power CEC like to play a role in observing and shaping the present and future business environment for the benefit of the company, its customers and its suppliers Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager Ben Wigger Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC) is an emerging independent power generating company, well positioned as a developer of energy including optic fibre based telecoms infrastructure in Africa. With a control centre on the Copperbelt, the company operate and maintain a network comprising transmission, distribution and generation assets. Their assets comprise of an emergency power generation capacity of 80MW, transmission and distribution network of around 1,000 km of overhead power lines, 41 high voltage substations and electricity network carrying capacity in excess of 700MW. CEC operate an interconnector with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through which power is wheeled to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. CEC is member of the Southern African power pool and is listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange, accounting for over 50 per cent of power consumed in Zambia. CEC is a member of SAPP and is an independent power transmission and quality electricity distribution company with interests in Zambia and Sub- Saharan Africa, including fibre based telecommunications. As a developer of energy infrastructure in Africa, CEC is respected in the region for its skills in designing and operating transmission systems and its status as an emerging independent power generating company. CEC sponsor local top flight football club Power Dynamos and are always looking for more ways to invest in the team. Shaping the…
African Energy Resources
Calculated coal mining African Energy Resources (AFR) Director Dave Edwards believes that this year will be a positive one for the company Writer Matt Bone Project manager James Mitchell African Energy Resources Ltd (AFR) is a mining and energy development company based in Perth, Australia, who began life as a company in Zambia looking for Uranium. They also have main offices in Gaborone (Botswana), Lusaka (Zambia) and a registered office in Guernsey. The Company own three large coal projects in Botswana which collectively contain over 6 billion tonnes of thermal coal. Dave Edwards, Director at African Energy Resources Botswana explains how uniquely positioned AFR is in the Botswana Coal and Energy industry: "The company is fairly unique in Botswana as the other companies in the coal market have not fully investigated the transport and power generation options. We have developed a close relationship with the authorities to attempt to fulfil a need for power in the Southern African context." A Gap in the Market Southern Africa is currently experiencing a severe power shortage and this problem is not being addressed fast enough, and Edwards is very much aware that AFR is in a strong position to offer a power solution: "We have been approached by various parties to develop a power station for the region, and we are looking at that now as a very urgent project. Interest was high last year and we expect to go to tender very soon." Botswana is geographically very well placed to service Southern Africa's coal power market needs. The…
Lesira-Teq
Intelligent water metering Lesira-Teq sells and supports intelligent metering technology and equipment in South Africa. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Eddie Clinton Lesira-Teq has established itself as a leader in South Africa's intelligent water metering market. The firm was established in 2003 and the innovative black owned company has introduced a water meter solution to the market which has transformed the industry. "Lesira-Teq is a leader in the intelligent metering system industry in South Africa," the company proudly claims on its website. "Lesira-Teq provides a comprehensive range of state-of the- art technology in over 350,000 intelligent water meters to some of the largest municipalities in South Africa including the City of Johannesburg, Mangaung Metro Municipality, City of Cape Town and many other water service providers, district and local municipalities." Why the need for such equipment, you might ask. Well, there is a growing awareness that water is a finite resource and water demand management has become the mantra for water authorities across the globe – it's why Lesira-Teq does so much work with local municipalities. Its meters provide the end user easy access to important information about their water usage, and, importantly also educates them on how best to manage and preserve water. Talking to Africa Outlook, Lesira-Teq's marketing manager Naphtali Motaung described its technology as "completely unique". He said it offers various options for end users. "For instance, our water meter enables the end users to monitor their water usage throughout the month and therefore helps to save water - and we have step tariffs,"…
Amanz’Abantu Services
Water for the people Amanz' abantu Services was established as a private South African company in 1997 with the aim of providing water supply and sanitation services for peri-urban and rural populations in the Eastern Cape, one of the poorest regions of South Africa. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager: Sheridan Halls Life without clean water and sanitation is hard to imagine for most city dwellers however that's the harsh reality for many in South Africa's peri-urban and rural areas – and the situation needs fixing urgently. One company, Amanz' abantu Services (Pty) Ltd (the name means water for the people in Xhosa) has made its mark in this often-forgotten sector. Based in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the company was formed after the 1994 elections when the newly democratic South Africa re-incorporated former 'homelands' like the transkei and Ciskei under one umbrella – and took on the provision of their services too. The National Department of Water Affairs issued a challenge to the private sector to assist them in rolling out – on a turnkey approach – the then Reconstruction and Development Programme. Oliver Ive, Managing Director of Amanz' abantu, says the company grew out of "five or six large, well-established firms who came together with the objective of implementing a turnkey rollout for water services for the rural poor." And it's kept going – even beyond the initial period governed by a government contract, which Mr. Ive feels has given the firm "a certain character". "We had to go out there and find opportunities. We have…
NuWater
Leading the way with water Nuwater is a specialist provider of solutions and services for the treatment, reclamation and re-use of wastewater as well as the desalination of sea and brackish water. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Sheridan Halls When apartheid crumbled in 1994, an estimated 14 million South Africans lacked access to a formal water supply and about half the country – some 21 million people – had no formal sanitation, according to the Department of Water Affairs. Since then, access to water has increased dramatically, but backlogs persist. At least 26 towns in the Free State, for instance, currently have no water at all in certain areas, water supply disruptions, or extremely unhygienic water coming from their taps. Water problems in these towns are mainly being caused through water treatment plants and pipes that are dilapidated while some dams are completely dry. Now, as that sinks in, this is a great point at which to introduce Nuwater, a specialist provider of solutions and services for the treatment, reclamation and re-use of wastewater (and the desalination of sea and brackish water). Nuwater can pretty much do it all and a central part of its offering is based on Reverse osmosis (RO), the technology of choice for large-scale desalination applications, be that desalination of seawater or wastewater containing high levels of dissolved salts. "We service our two main geographical markets of sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia from our offices in Cape Town and Singapore," says Nuwater's Michael Avant-Smith, who explains that the firm was established in…
S.A.M.E Water
Water works The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. According to UN Secretary general Ban Ki Moon: 'Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet, we must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource.' Writer Ian Armitage Project manager: Sheridan Halls Water. It is something we sometimes take for granted and it is often easy to forget its supply is finite. One day it will run out. So maintaining sustainable supplies for future generations is one of Africa and the world's biggest challenges. And this fact makes water and wastewater treatment vital. Enter South Africa's S.A.M.E Water, a "resourceful dynamic company which offers a wide range of services to the water industry". The company was formed in September 1966 and has a "successful range" of wastewater treatment equipment "designed to fulfil an entire spectrum of needs from the most basic to the most sophisticated equipment available," according to managing director Frank Schulz. "We have our own well-equipped manufacturing assembly workshops and skilled staff of approximately 80 people in our Johannesburg and Cape Town offices. Our technical skilled staff include: mechanical engineers, process engineers, environmental engineer, chemical engineers and auto-cad/solid worx drawing program operators and full time maintenance and installation crews," he says. S.A.M.E. Water's aim is to offer a "full scope" of services, "a type of one stop shop". "We do tender preparation, project planning, design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, successful handover and aftersales of a full waste and water treatment plant. It is all…
Biotherm Energy
Winds of change Africa Outlook talks to green energy specialist Jasandra Nyker, CEO of independent power producer BioTherm Energy. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell South Africa's energy problems have been well documented and recent issues with the Medupi power station and its operating system, and the impasse between Exarro and striking workers, has ignited fears about winter power shortages and possible blackouts. Brian Dames, Eskom's chief executive, has admitted concerns with respect to Medupi and it is clear South Africa is in desperate need of more energy after a decade in which Eskom's pleas for investment in generation capacity were ignored. It has led to renewed calls for a broadening of the energy portfolio to include more flexible energy sources such as renewables. The government is already taking action and in November 2012, it signed the first round of agreements with independent power producers. In total, 28 projects are underway involving an estimated R47 billion in new investments, with those approved in the bid process's second round to turn sod later in the year. The first round projects will see an initial 1,4000 megawatts (MW ) of renewable energy added to SouthAfrica's energy mix by 2014. Bids for a third round have to be placed with the Department of Energy by August 2013. "It is all part of the Department of Energy's Integrated Resource Plan, through which it has planned the transformation of SA's energy mix to 2030," says Jasandra Nyker, CEO of South African independent power producer BioTherm Energy. "We won three projects…
