Enel, through its renewable energy subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), has started construction on its Karusa and Soetwater wind farms in South Africa, with an installed capacity of 140 MW each. The plants, both located in the Karoo Hoogland District of the Northern Cape, are expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Karusa and Soetwater will involve an investment of over 200 million euros each.

Africa is set to become increasingly influential in shaping global energy trends over the next two decades as it experiences the fastest progression of urbanisation the world has seen. This is according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which released its Africa Energy Outlook 2019 in November. This in-depth study finds that current policy and investment plans in African countries are not adequate to meet the present or projected needs of the continent’s young and fast-growing urban population – and suggests that while the current energy gap remains a major barrier to Africa’s sustained economic development, it inversely presents significant opportunities for many African countries

For years, technology has promised to revolutionise the power sector. While smart grids have been implemented in many countries, devices within the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital control solutions are the enablers for the intelligent utility.

Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan released the Roadmap for Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry a few days before the TDP was presented and following the release in mid-October of South Africa’s new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) by the Minister of Minerals & Energy Gwede Manatashe.

By Hemant Harie, Managing Director Gabsten Technologies

McKinsey predicts that by 2030, growth in global petrochemical demand may slow from the 3.6% seen over the past decade to between 2.0% and 3.0%. With this outlook, the McKinsey report further explains that as different trends come to bear on the sector, the industry will face a new set of challenges – one of these being the impact of digital and advanced analytics on operating models and markets.