Energy department signals shift away from coal power

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Energy department signals shift away from coal power

South Africa’s energy department has said it will start preparing for the end of coal-for-power use in the country but cautioned that a retreat from the dirtiest fossil fuel must take account of the impact on the economy and the people who depend on it for a living.

In a presentation to a small group of business, government and research representatives on Nov. 15, the department said it plans to set up a Just Energy Transition unit to help deliver an outcome “which delivers social justice,” according to a copy of it seen by Bloomberg.

While the department declined to immediately comment on the presentation, four people with knowledge of it confirmed its veracity.

[Bloomberg]

 

[Gordon_R]

Until Gwede goes, it's just talk...

 

[brilliantt]

The heading brought joy to my soul. Here in South Africa, coal is no longer working, because we, seemingly, don't have the technical competency to handle it.

The problem of damaged boilers emanates from what they call 'sub-standard' coal. This coal does not burn normally, but instead, explodes and damages boilers, leading to units constantly being taken offline to repair the boilers. And there is no end in sight.

So, since we cannot separate this 'sub-standard' coal from good coal, I think we should scrap coal altogether, otherwise we'll never have reliable electricity.

 

[Gaz{M}]

With all the Unplanned outages, and loadshedding, our CO2 output must have declined drastically already. So leave the existing coal plants to run 40% of the time, and fill the gap with renewables. No need to destroy coal towns and jobs.

 

[Scorpion101]

I honestly feel we have stupid people in government. Yes we will not be using coal for the power stations. But that does not mean we could not use that coal to produce our own Fuel (Petrol/Diesel). You then would be able to reduce the cost of petrol/diesel as it’s locally produced and also create new jobs. It’s a matter of repurposing the coal thereby keeping jobs and reducing fuel prices

 

[grok]

The heading brought joy to my soul. Here in South Africa, coal is no longer working, because we, seemingly, don't have the technical competency to handle it.

The problem of damaged boilers emanates from what they call 'sub-standard' coal. This coal does not burn normally, but instead, explodes and damages boilers, leading to units constantly being taken offline to repair the boilers. And there is no end in sight.

So, since we cannot separate this 'sub-standard' coal from good coal, I think we should scrap coal altogether, otherwise we'll never have reliable electricity.

We have sub-standard workers, there are ways to manage sub-standard coal, but only if you have the experience but they chased the ones with the know-how lol..

Hello Zimbabwe land-grab farmer situation, tell us how you doing?

 

[w1z4rd]

Fantastic news. Lets hope they mean it.

 

[RaptorSA]

"the department said it plans to set up a Just Energy Transition unit to help deliver an outcome “which delivers social justice,”

So we're going to be running on black power?

 

[borro]

 

[Swa]

The heading brought joy to my soul. Here in South Africa, coal is no longer working, because we, seemingly, don't have the technical competency to handle it.

The problem of damaged boilers emanates from what they call 'sub-standard' coal. This coal does not burn normally, but instead, explodes and damages boilers, leading to units constantly being taken offline to repair the boilers. And there is no end in sight.

So, since we cannot separate this 'sub-standard' coal from good coal, I think we should scrap coal altogether, otherwise we'll never have reliable electricity.

The only problem is the people who got the contracts. Eskom still hasn't rectified that it seems.

 

[ToxicBunny]

So we must protect the jobs of those in the coal industry while we fsck the possibility of millions of others to get jobs... Great logic there.

 

[Oldfut]

So we must protect the jobs of those in the coal industry while we fsck the possibility of millions of others to get jobs... Great logic there.

Ja nee, if only those in the "coal industry" were efficient and cost effective it may be worth it until alternative came on stream. But those being protected are really just vested interests of the ANC cadres and there chums, making money rather than electricity.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Ja nee, if only those in the "coal industry" were efficient and cost effective it may be worth it until alternative came on stream. But those being protected are really just vested interests of the ANC cadres and there chums, making money rather than electricity.

The problem for me is that this "protection" of the coal industry by the ANC to save maybe a few hundred thousand jobs, is at the expense of the country being able to create potentially millions of jobs, and many of those coal industry jobs would pivot into new areas and not actually be lost.

 

[The_Librarian]

We had an interesting discussion recently.

You may want to don a tinfoil hat.

When they push this electronic banking type thing through, and there's no more cash, then it will be easier for them (the international community and bankers) to apply sanctions on any level, be it individual, by province or by country.

What I want to say is Gwede may push through with lumpy coal, but once people lose the ability to buy and sell, they will change their tune, and will force things to change so that they will be able to buy and sell.

A hungry person is a desperate person, and will abandon all logical thoughts and processes. Even worse in a group.

So this will be interesting to watch.

 

[The_Librarian]

So we must protect the jobs of those in the coal industry while we fsck the possibility of millions of others to get jobs... Great logic there.

Flawless ANC logic. Viva.

 

[sdrawk]

We needed to start transitioning to renewables 15 years ago already. Keep commissioning and approving renewable energy projects. Start taking the older coal stations offline (making sure capacity is replaced).

Leave coal in the 20th Century where it belongs.

I know I'm talking to the wall here.....

 

[supersunbird]

Have they cleared this with Gwede?