Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

OVERVIEW
Energy
An energy complex is planned for Lephalale.
One of South Africa’s biggest engineering projects is under
way in the western part of Limpopo, the building of the
Medupi power station. The facility is being built near the
existing Matimba power station and the giant Exxaro coal
mine at Grootgeluk.
Unit 5 of Medupi Power Station has achieved commercial operation
status, joining Unit 6 in supplying 800MW to the national grid. When
the Medupi power plant is completed, the Lephalale area will become
a petrochemical hub and energy complex.
An Integrated Energy Centre (IEC) has been launched in the
Fetakgomo-Greater Tubatse Municipality. Energy company Shell SA
has invested R18-million in the community centre, which has created
16 jobs. IECs, an initiative of the national Department of Energy (DoE),
are one-stop energy shops that assists local residents in getting access
to energy and providing information on energy resources.
The national Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has
been very successful so far. Three photovoltaic solar projects located
in Limpopo will generate 118MW at full capacity.
Most approved projects have been solar and wind. Now planners
want to promote projects using biogas, landfill gas and small-scale
hydro-electric.
The provincial government’s Green Economy Plan has identified
solar and biomass as the main kinds of renewable energy for Limpopo.
Energy generation is not the only component of the plan: with huge
silicon reserves in the province, there is potential to produce solar
panels and solar charges for cellphones.
ONLINE RESOURCES
National Department of Energy: www.energy.gov.za
South African Photovoltaic Industry Association:
www.sapvia.co.za
South African Wind Energy Association: www.sawea.org.za
Southern African Biofuels Association: www.saba.za.org
Sustainable Energy Africa: www.sustainable.org.za
SECTOR INSIGHT
Solar and biomass hold great
potential in Limpopo.
Nine biogas digesters have
been installed in the Vhembe
District to be controlled by
young entrepreneurs trained by
the University of Venda. A group
of 31 students is studying Energy
Management Systems as part of
the provincial plan.
The mining and agricultural
sectors are the two biggest and
most important sectors of the
Limpopo provincial economy.
They are big consumers of energy
and they hold the key to advancing
alternate technologies.
Implats recently negotiated
the supply of natural gas supply to
its refinery in Springs. Phase one
of the project will see 20 Doosan
fuel cells generating 8MW of
power. The long-term goal is to
generate 22-30MW.
Anglo Platinum has launched
an underground mining locomotive
powered by a fuel cell.
Platinum coating greatly enhances
the hydrogen absorption
capacity of fuel cells.
Mining group Exxaro is sponsoring
the rollout of alternative energy
near its remote Tshikondeni
mine east of Musina.
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