Page 36 - Energize November 2021

NEWS

Historic day for South Africa’s power and energy market

NG Energy has received South Africa’s first ever
consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Rotterdam,
DNetherlands in a historic moment for South Africa‘s energy
market. The development is a precursor to the commissioning
of DNG’s first floating storage unit delivery in the first quarter of
2022, setting the stage for a new era of growth, competition, and
sustainability in the energy market.
This affordable alternative energy is the culmination of
a $5-billion, seven-year investment in infrastructure. The
development will catalyse the growth of a new gas economy in
South Africa, in turn supporting the shift to more sustainable
energy sources, facilitating industrialisation, creating new jobs, and
offering commercial customers more choice.
DNG Energy Group CEO Aldworth Mbalati says: “The arrival
of the LNG consignment is an inflection point for South Africa’s electricity and providing fuel for industrial processes and heating,
energy market, marking a key moment in our shift from coal-fired LNG can be used as a raw material to produce chemicals, fertiliser
and oil-fired power-generation to cleaner alternatives. Along and hydrogen. It can also be used in several residential, commercial
with renewables like wind and solar, the new generation of gas and transport applications.
technology brings low-cost power production capabilities to the “We look at the LNG value chain in a holistic way, from source
market on a massive scale. to consumption, with ambitious expansion infrastructure plans for
“In the context of South Africa’s just energy transition, LNG South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria,” said Mbalati. “Over the
represents an excellent alternative that will help cut greenhouse next few years, LNG has the potential to drive significant growth
gas emissions, reduce air pollution and help combat global and job creation, while helping South Africa meet its targets in
warming. It will play a key role in helping the country meet its reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30% to 40%.”
carbon emission goals and providing power to a growth population
as the world transitions towards a zero-carbon energy future.” Contact DNG Energy, Phone 010 880-2935, media@dng.energy,
In addition to an abundant energy resource for generating https://dng.energy

SAWEA announces chair to lead wind energy transition

he South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has announced the re-
appointment of Mercia Grimbeek as Chair, for a second two-year term. Grimbeek,
Twho has served on the Board of Governance since 2018, has been part of South
Africa’s renewable energy sector since its inception, eleven years ago. She will continue to
lead the board which is charged with steering the wind energy sector and advocating for a
clean and affordable energy mix, of which wind energy is a dominant part.
Grimbeek, together with the board, which remains unchanged, will usher SAWEA into
a period of unprecedented growth, with the ramping up of new deployment and rolling
procurement, which is expected.
“My vision has always been to see wind power as an emancipator of transformation and
growth in South Africa with SAWEA at the helm and the association has a key role to play,
now more than ever. As our country joins its global counterparts in driving down carbon Mercia Grimbeek
emissions, on the home-front our battle is just as pertinent, as we continue to push for an
accelerated transition to increased energy availability characterised by significantly larger voluntary not-for-profit association
percentages of green electrons in our power supply,” Grimbeek says. that represents the South African wind
Board members hold strategic leadership roles in their respective organisations, industry. The Board is primarily concerned
and therefore bring immense experience in the wind energy sector and particularly the with issues of governance and strategy.
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP),
ensuring that the organisation is well positioned to provide leadership to the broader Contact SAWEA, Phone 010 007-5655,
industry. The board represents a blend of developers, IPPs and OEMs, encompassing the admin@sawea.co.za,
critical role players in the wind energy value chain. SAWEA operates as a common law, https://sawea.org.za

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