OVERVIEW Energy
OVERVIEW Energy Companies are generating their own power. SECTOR INSIGHT Energy zones could boost old mining areas. Credit: Knight Piésold Areas in the Gauteng province that can no longer rely on the mining industry to drive their economies could become focus zones for solar PV projects. Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) have been allocated in other provinces (two for solar, one for wind) but the potential for REDZs in Gauteng is huge, because vast amounts of energy are needed to drive the country’s biggest economy. These zones would be developed in line with the national Integrated Resources Plan (IRP 2019) which the Gauteng Provincial Government is hoping will enable it to unlock several renewable energy projects. Other projects include promoting gas usage, the development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology and the recommissioning of power stations. National power regulator, NERSA, has been asked by the National Minister of Energy to consider granting licences to small-scale power producers to sell any excess power. The likely granting of these licences will open up the market and help small manufacturers to cover the cost of installing generating capacity. Many companies and institutions are generating their own power. In Johannesburg, the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works (pictured) has its own electricity source in a 1.1MW biogas plant. It produces electricity using cogeneration, which is combined heat and power. A landfill site at Robinson Deep in Johannesburg has started generating 3MW of gas. This is the first of five renewable energy projects that Energy Systems SA has lined up in Johannesburg. At the Cavalier abattoir in Cullinan, biowaste conversion company ibert provides about ONLINE RESOURCES National Energy Regulator of South Africa: www.nersa.org.za South African Photovoltaic Industry Association: www.sapvia.co.za South African National Energy Development Institute: www.sanedi.org.za a quarter of the power that the abattoir needs to function. Absa Bank has followed up on its decision to take its central Johannesburg campus off the national electricity grid. Investments in a 6 000-panel rooftop solar system (which cost R10-million), the synchronisation of gas and diesel generators and sophisticated water and underfloor heating systems have all contributed to massive energy savings. The rooftop solar installation at Absa’s Pretoria office provides 17% of its electricity needs and the bank intends rolling out solar solutions for another five offices soon in addition to investigating battery solutions in pursuit of what it calls “net zero offices”. One of the biggest roofs in South Africa is to get one of the largest solar installations. Mall of Africa, a joint venture by Attacq and Atterbury in Waterfall City, Midrand, will produce about 7 800 MWh/y from panels on 45 000 m² of roof space. Vukile Property Fund has decided to equip all of the malls in its portfolio with rooftop solar panels. Retrofitting of light fittings has also taken place, to improve energy efficiency. ■ GAUTENG BUSINESS 2020/21 28
OVERVIEW Oil and gas Various types of gas are available as fuels. SECTOR INSIGHT Rebranded Total petrol stations will sell liquified natural gas. Renergen, which owns rights to a field of liquified natural gas (LNG) in the Free State, has started taking orders for its product from logistics companies. Bulk Hauliers International Transport (BHIT) has signed an agreement to take LNG to fuel 50 of its trucks, which should lead to lower operating and maintenance costs. South African Breweries is another client. The first two dedicated filling stations will be Total stations in Johannesburg and Durban that will be rebranded in green. One station is planned for Harrismith on the busy N3 highway which links the cities. Delta Natural Gas (DNG) Energy announced in 2019 the rollout of 400 natural gas refuelling sites across South Africa with a focus on the taxi and logistics sectors. The first sites will be Johannesburg and Tshwane. The Provincial Government of Gauteng has announced that it wants to take “decisive steps” to increase the availability and use of gas. NGV Gas, a subsidiary of CNG Holdings, is promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) as a versatile alternative across all sectors. Another subsidiary, CNG Technology supplies equipment for filling stations and distributions, converts petrol and diesel-powered vehicles and advises companies on conversions. The major economic sectors using gas are the metals sector and the chemical, pulp and paper sector. Brick and glass manufacturers are also big consumers. National policy is driving a switch to the use of gas. A national Gas Utilisation Master Plan (GUMP) is being developed. Transnet Pipelines has completed a sophisticated new multiproduct pipeline (NMPP) between the coast and Gauteng which is ONLINE RESOURCES National Energy Regulator of South Africa: www.nersa.org.za South African Oil & Gas Alliance: www.saoga.org.za South African Petroleum Industry Association: www.sapia.co.za bringing a range of products to the manufacturing heartland of South Africa. The company operates a 3 800km network of underground, high-pressure petroleum and gas pipelines throughout the eastern parts of South Africa. The country’s biggest supplier of industrial heating fluids, FFS Refiners, supplies this product out of a plant at Chloorkop while the company’s Evander site is responsible for heavy fuel oils. Evander also has a tank with installed capacity of 8 500m³. Egoli Gas has a pipeline network that extends over 1 200km in and around Johannesburg and the company has 7 500 domestic, industrial and commercial customers. Vopak completed a new storage terminal in Lesedi on the East Rand in 2017 to receive product from the NMPP. The company that owns Egoli Gas, Reatile, has a 30% stake in Vopak and a stake in CNG Holdings. The regulator and promoter of oil and gas exploration in South Africa, Petroleum Agency South Africa, has awarded coalbedmethane-gas and natural gas rights in the provinces on Gauteng’s border, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. ■ 29 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2020/21
