News in a Flash

POLYSILICON PLANT FOR SA [SOLAR ENERGY]?
"The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is planning to initiate a study into the viability of a polysilicon plant in South Africa, as interest in the solar energy market continues to grow." Read more here, at Engineering News.

WHAT TO DO WITH KUSILE [COAL FIRED POWER STATION]
This Engineering News article offers insight into the debate about what to do with the R142-billion Kusile Power Plant Project which is currently under construction. The article states that some argue that it is "the most expensive (on a kilowatt-for-kilowatt basis) in the world". It reports that Eskom is now also studying the possibility of increasing the stake available for purchase by private investors from 30% to 49%. It goes on to say "There was growing scepticism, however, about whether Eskom would indeed be able to secure any private interest in Kusile".

NEW CAR TAX TO START 1 MARCH 2010
This Engineering News article confirms that the planned CO2 emissions tax on new vehicles is to come into effect on 1 March 2010.

WWF SLAMS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN
The DoE published their power plan for SA at the "11th Hour" [the last day of December 2009]. WWF's Worthington was quoted as saying "“This gazetting of a so-called ‘Integrated Resource Plan’ makes a mockery of government policy and legislated requirements regarding integrated energy planning, in terms of both content and process,”. Read more, here on Engineering News.

WIND TURBINE MARKET TAKING OFF IN AFRICA
This Engineering News article reports that "The African large-scale wind turbine market would likely earn revenues of $424,3-million by 2015, a significant increase on the $148,4-million earned in 2008". It went on to report that "“The success of the wind power markets in Europe and the US has convinced many governments that wind power can assist in alleviating some of the power shortages in the continent...,”.

and "Wind power projects of between 120 MW and 300 MW have been announced in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. Interest in the wind power markets in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco was also growing." and "one major challenge to market expansion was that the power sector in many African countries was still regulated by monopoly control".

KENYA TURNS TO GREEN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES
Read more here, at Engineering News.

MIN WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS TO ATTEND POST COPENHAGEN MEETING ON 24 JANUARY 2010
Participants of the meeting, the "The so-called Basic (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) countries" are to 'fill in the blanks' of the Copenhagen Accord (to be done by 31 January 2010). Read more here, on Engineering News.