Member Info for substp

Shock and Horror!!!!! Not :-) They were suppose to buy those last two turbines from IPSA and didn't but did ante up to settle a claim with Sasol . Still waiting on a decision from the courts to collect monies from Bolivia for Rurelec . Recently had to raise more money......... I think things are getting tighter for them.......

Busy busy busy........ http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Jobs-construction-engineer-DRILL-BLAST-ENGINEER-THERMAL-COAL-W0QQAdIdZ410986533

Eastern Cape wants larger slice of the rail budget 01-03-2012 - "The Strategy points out that rail infrastructure in the Eastern Cape consists of 3 500 kilometres of Cape Gauge and 300 kilometres of Narrow Gauge but only 23% is in good condition with 37% having “already been abandoned”. This situation, it says, flowed from Transnet’s decision to disinvest in rural and branch lines, adding “if we are serious about making rail the backbone of transport these undermaintained and abandoned assets must be revitalised”. The Strategy acknowledges that the Kei Rail has been “a disaster due to the service relying only on the movement of commuters without the freight component”. One initiative already underway is to conduct an investigation into re-opening the line between Queenstown and Maclear. This will require not only the revitalisa-tion of stretches of the railway infrastructure – some of the lines are not even visible – and also the stations at places such as Dordrecht that have been completely vandalised. The Strategy points out that revitalising this line would mean wood from the PG Bison forestry enterprises could be transported by rail rather than road with the resulting decrease in the damage to the roads. It says that the return of the line to service will make travel easier for commuters moving between Johannesburg and the outlying areas of the former Transkei, adding that connecting Maclear with Mthatha would also “improve the quality of the lives of people in the Eastern Cape”. http://www.getnews.co.za/story?id=1158

Address by Honourable Thandiswa Marawu, MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works at the South African Network for Women in Transportation (SANWIT) provincial conference 30 Aug 2012 "The strategic infrastructure development projects with over R100 billion investment include: The expansion and development of the Port of Ngqurha to be able to carry 800 000 container units as a transshipment hub. On this and other strategic ports such as East London Habour, Transnet has committed billions of rands. The decision to build a manganese export corridor from the Northern Cape to Ngqurha with an estimated value of R18 billion presents another opportunity. The same applies to the work being done to effect the R2.3 billion East London Habour improvements to enable it to meet higher auto logistics and coal exports." Where have we seen this before???? "There are plans to revive the rail branch lines in the province, which include investing in improving Kei Rail travel times and extending the rail line to KwaZulu-Natal and partnering with PRASA to re-open the Sterkstroom-to-Maclear rail line for passenger services as well as transporting timber and coal from that region." http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=30252&tid=81806

Adobe Page 9 "Main railway line infrastructure is good (independent ARDC reports)" http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/genera/files/companies/edinburgh_final__snr_overview___may_12_v11.pdf

"ARDC aims at providing an all-in one solution: Rail Infrastructure exists in Africa but needs to be refurbished and upgraded to higher standards > no need to build new expensive railways > investment cost is less > transport cost is cheaper > boost usage > benefit trade Ports need infrastructure and operating improvements > best done within PPP structure > service improvement > become more efficient and cheaper > boost trade." http://www.ardc.za.com/what-we-do.html

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/patel-outlines-sas-public-public-partnership-vision-2012-09-03 http://www.ppp.gov.za/Pages/whatisppp.aspx

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/transnet-compiling-first-ever-distributive-power-train-for-manganese-2012-09-07

Sorry.....:-) http://www.getnews.co.za/story?id=1911

It looks to me like that would run right past the Sterkstroom-Maclear branch line......Which means they'll be beefing up the main line...........:-) 07-09-2012 - The Department of Transport plans to reintroduce premier class rail transport to the Eastern Cape. "In a presentation to the National Assembly’s Tourism Committee, the Department said that new services planned included the introduction of premier class travel between Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. In addition, it is planning to re-introduce a service on the Western Cape-Eastern Cape corridor, running an economy class train from Cape Town to East London via Queenstown." Rail Map: http://www.transnet.net/BusinessWithUs/TNInfrastructurePlan/NIP%20-%20Chapter%207b%20-%20Rail.pdf

Back in June..... "Zodwa Batyashe‚ The Department of Energy’s spokesperson said launching the base-load programmes was dependent on other support mechanisms‚ particularly the tariff allowance that will support the investments. In this regard‚ the multi-year price determination application (for tariff increases) is being prepared and will be submitted by Eskom for consideration by the regulator starting in July this year. “This will create the certainty that the costs of the planned power plants can be recovered through the tariff‚” she said."

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2012/09/06/eskom-price-hike-application-stalled

Do we have a Mexican Standoff now?????.......Only in SA.....:-) Eskom asked to integrate additional new-build options into tariff submission By: Terence Creamer 5th September 2012 "Government was concerned that the MYPD3 application had not catered for likely costs associated with any new Eskom projects beyond the Kusile power station, and had also limited the renewable energy horizon to those associated with the current process to procure 3 725 MW. O’Flaherty said multiple scenarios had been considered, but Eskom felt it could only submit on the basis of approved projects, or for projects supported by a determination by the Energy Minister Dipuo Peters." "In other words, the application was not aligned to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010), which implied additional new build costs that could arise during the MYPD3 period. In fact, Peters indicated recently that she was poised to make determinations that would to transform the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme into a rolling procurement process in line with the IRP2010. She was also considering new determinations for the procurement of conventional capacity from independent power producers. However, O’Flaherty said that, in the absence of these determinations or any “direction” on possible future build options, Eskom had had to make a call on what should be included in the application. Eskom also did not agree with the IRP2010’s demand growth assumptions, which had been a major feature in guiding the application." “[For instance], it is already to late to expect a nuclear programme in 2023 – it’s too late. It’s also too late to expect that there is going to be 500 MW of new coal in 2014, as the IRP2010 indicates, because there have been no decisions.” http://www.miningweekly.com/article/eskom-asked-to-integrate-additional-new-build-options-into-tariff-submission-2012-09-05

Interesting Trivia.....:-) http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/content/en/citizen/business-news?oid=311537&sn=Detail&pid=146826&-R46m-lifeline-for--rusks%E2%80%99-birth-town

http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom-asks-for-more-time-on-tariffs-20120831-2

Roiled platinum industry mulling centralised bargaining model By: Martin Creamer 27th August 2012 "The Chamber of Mines of South Africa facilitates a centralised bargaining process and conducts the wage negotiations for South Africa’s gold-mining and coal-mining industries, but not for the currently roiled platinum-mining industry, which opted rather to go it alone and conduct decentralised wage negotiations at company level – a legacy issue." http://www.miningweekly.com/article/roiled-platinum-industry-mulling-centralised-bargaining-model-2012-08-27

"The potential cogeneration capacity established from the various industries visited and information obtained through the National Energy Response Team (Cogeneration and Market Workgroup) indicates that a total of 2 000MW of cogeneration capacity could be harnessed in South Africa in the short to medium term (2012-2020)." "3.2 The generation capacity to be delivered by cogeneration projects will be on the basis of the Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) approved and gazetted for implementation by the Minister of Energy (‘the Minister’)."

Did you know???? (MS Dupio Peters... Medium Term Risk Mitigation Plan,including the introduction of cogeneration projects) From NERSA....All a good read.....Not sure if all of the programs are still available but these basics probably are....... http://www.nersa.org.za/Admin/Document/Editor/file/Electricity/Consultation/Documents/NERSA%20Consultation%20Paper%20Cogeneration%20Regulatory%20Rules%20and%20Feed-In-%20Tariff.pdf "COGENERATION Cogeneration is the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful thermal energy from a common fuel/energy source. In the South African context, cogeneration also refers to the production of electricity and useful heat from a fuel/energy source which is a co-product, by-product, waste product or residual product of some underlying industrial process. It differs from conventional generation in that it is coupled to an industrial process of the host plant. The following technologies have been considered under the three types of eligible cogeneration projects under COFIT: TYPE I Technologies Discard Coal Discard coal is low grade coal that is not suitable for export or industrial use and that is produced as a by-product of the coal beneficiation process at no additional cost. Discard coal also includes by product coal from existing and decommissioned mines. In South Africa, 40 per cent of the coal is not suitable for export. Mines normally stockpile the discard coal in dumps and this causes major environmental problems as the sulphur leaches from the coal into the soil. It can also self ignite and give off methane. This accumulated discard coal could potentially fuel power plants that are specifically designed for this quality of coal. However a plant designed to operate on this low grade fuel would be more expensive than the one operating with conventional coal. It is more feasible to use discard coal using Fluidised Bed Combustion plants that can capture up to 80 per cent of the coal bound sulphur in the fluidised bed with injection of a sorbent without increasing plant water consumption. TYPE II Technologies Coal Coal is a non renewable, combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons. It is the most used fossil fuel for electricity generation in South Africa and the world. For millions of years, a layer of dead plants at the bottom of the swamps was covered by layers of water and dirt, trapping the energy of the dead plants. The heat and pressure from the top layers helped in turning the plant remains into what we today call coal. Power plants burn coal to make steam. The steam turns steam turbines that generate electricity. The residual heat/steam from the generation process can be captured for use in industrial processes "The potential cogeneration capacity established from the various industries visited and information obtained through the National Energy Response Team (Cogeneration and Market Workgroup) indicates t

A very important issue (Lonmin) is that there will be no hostels at Elitheni. The employees will be housed at Indwe. But 80% of the work force will be locals who have their own abodes. So at most (to begin with) you're looking at a possible 100 people out of 500 looking for a roof over their heads. I'm sure they won't be restricted to Indwe either. Elitheni will also be running busses from the neighboring towns.

Things the company will need to consider? http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=321738&sn=Detail&pid=71616