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South African power utility Eskom says it will do utmost to have its Medupi power plant generate electricity by end of year

April 12, 2013 12:51
South African power utility Eskom said today it will do its utmost to have its new Medupi power plant generate electricity by the end of this year and ease pressure on the national grid, but admitted it will be a 'huge challenge'. 'Medupi is on a tight schedule to deliver first power to the grid from its first unit by the end of 2013,' Eskom said in a presentation to journalists during a visit to the plant. 'Meeting the deadline will be a huge challenge due to quality issues on the Hitachi boiler contract and Alstom control and instrumentation contract, as well as labour unres

Exxaro coal workers in South Africa end strike

March 23, 2013 14:00
Workers at South Africa's coal mining firm Exxaro on Saturday ended a nearly three week wildcat strike that threatened the electricity supply, the company said. Over 3,000 workers at the firm's five mines downed tools earlier this month demanding incentive bonuses for 2012, which were not paid due to unmet performance targets. The decision to return to work was reached after they agreed to a short term incentive of 2,800 rand ($301, 232 euros) for the first quarter of 2013.

3,000-plus coal workers strike in South Africa

March 11, 2013 11:16
Over 3,000 workers at five Exxaro coal mines in South Africa were on strike Monday over unpaid bonuses, a company spokesman said, prompting fears electricity supplies could be hit. "The strikes are related to different issues at the mines," company spokesman Win de Klerk said in a statement. "Production has stopped at these mines and Exxaro is engaging with unions and managing the situation to bring operations to normality as soon as possible," it said. The company supplies the state owned energy company Eskom with coal for power stations.

S.Africa energy regulator okays 8% tariff hike

February 28, 2013 14:30
South Africa's energy regulator Thursday granted electricity provider Eskom an eight percent tariff hike over the next five years, half of what was requested. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) chairwoman Cecilia Khuzwayo announced the hike "will be eight percent over the next five years." Eskom last October applied for 16 percent increases as it battles to avoid crippling brownouts which rocked the country in 2008. But unions strongly opposed such a sharp increase, saying it would lead to job losses, factory closures and a rise in prices.

UPDATE 2-S.Africa's Eskom drops objections to Glencore-Xstrata

January 18, 2013 12:00
* Glencore pushes back merger completion date * Eskom has agreed on a framework for coal supply talks JOHANNESBURG, Jan 18 (Reuters) - South African power utility Eskom has withdrawn its objections to commodities trader Glencore's takeover of miner Xstrata, removing one of the potential hurdles to the $33 billion deal. Earlier on Friday, Glencore pushed back the date for completion of the long-awaited tie-up to March 15, citing lengthy regulatory processes in South Africa and China.
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