Chris Yelland Profile picture
Energy analyst, consultant, electrical engineer, public speaker, writer and MD at EE Business Intelligence (Pty) Ltd.
Jul 1 6 tweets 2 min read
*MONEYWEB: NERSA not willing to accept municipal tariff ruling*

Energy regulator NERSA announced on Sunday evening (30 June) that it will apply for leave to appeal the high court judgment delivered on 28 June compelling it to only approve municipal tariff applications based on cost-of-supply (CoS) studies, Moneyweb has learnt.

Successful appeal may lead to tariff increases, rather than the widely expected decreases. Source: Moneyweb

search.app/G1dVDH3DmU6zEP… It is interesting to note that during the 4 days of excruciating @NERSA_ZA meetings (from 5 pm to 8.30 pm Monday to Thursday) last week to consider the price applications of all municipal electricity distributors, the full-time Nersa board member responsible for electricity regulation Mr Nhlanhla Gumede, voted against approval of virltally all the applications on the basis that the applications did not demonstrate the required linkage between the actual cost of supply by the electricity distributor and the electricity price increase applied for.
May 28 5 tweets 2 min read
These graphs indicate the very significant reduction in the burden on Eskom electricity generation (both energy and demand) for the first 20 weeks of 2024 (red line), compared to the same period in 2023 (blue line).
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It should be noted that the Eskom residual energy and demand reflects the burden on the Eskom generation fleet after subtracting the contribution made by non-Eskom generation (i.e. renewable energy from IPPs, and self-generation behind the meter on customer premises).
Nov 20, 2022 9 tweets 2 min read
I have just contacted the Eskom spokesperson by phone and received the following clear answers in respect of Eskom diesel supplies for the emergency diesel driven open cycle gas turbines at Gourikwa and Ankerlig: Question: Has diesel for the Eskom OCGTs run out?
Answer: Yes, the diesel tanks have physically run out, and the diesel tanks for the Eskom OCGTs are empty.
Apr 30, 2022 8 tweets 2 min read
For me, one of the things to come out from the 4th Zondo Commission report on @Eskom_SA yesterday is just how accurate the media investigations and reporting have turned out to be. The Zondo Commission findings and recommentations in respect of Zuma, the Guptas, Myeni, Gigaba, Zwane, Brown, Ngubane, Tsotsi, Molefe, Singh, Koko, Maritz and more come as no surprise whatsoever. From the reporting, we have known the facts all along.
Mar 17, 2022 10 tweets 2 min read
1/ Warning bells at Koeberg should be sounding. The full text from this newsletter piece follows: 2/ "As nuclear professionals we should know when to stop & re-assess our actions in interests of both conventional & nuclear safety. In light of this, we have had to implement a work stop following a significant incident, which could have resulted in us losing the running unit.
Feb 25, 2022 6 tweets 8 min read
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy @DMRE_ZA Minister Gwede Mantashe @GwedeMantashe1 has today formally dismissed former National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) @NucRegSA board member, Peter Becker. @DMRE_ZA @GwedeMantashe1 @NucRegSA Peter Becker was suspended as an @NucRegSA board member a few weeks ago, very shortly before an NNR board meeting that formally approved @Eskom_SA's safety case for the replacement of 6 steam generators at Eskom's Koeberg nuclear power station, thus allowing Eskom to proceed.
Feb 24, 2022 4 tweets 3 min read
In round figures: @Eskom_SA applied for a 20% electricity price increase in 1 April 2022, @NERSA_ZA only allows about i.e. Nersa only allows Eskom about half of what it applied for. But.... Image @Eskom_SA @NERSA_ZA BUT, in all likelihood, depending on the outcome of a pending appeal by @NERSA_ZA to the Supreme Court of Appeal, there may be FURTHER electricity price increases, the quantum, timing and phasing of which is still unknown.
Feb 11, 2022 4 tweets 1 min read
Some takeaways from SONA on new generation capacity:
1. No mention of 2500MW of new nuclear power.
2. No mention of 1500MW of new coal power.
3. 1200MW of Karpowership emergency power, which was supposed to come soonest, not mentioned - only the balance of 800 MW about to happen. 4. No mention of 2500MW hydro from the DRC that will not happen.
5. The 4000MW generation gap shortfall mentioned by the President is underestimated. Rather make it 6000MW and growing.
Jan 18, 2022 4 tweets 2 min read
BREAKING NEWS: The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board member representing civil society, Mr Peter Becker, has been suspended today after being denied all access yesterday to NNR information and documents available to other NNR board members.
bit.ly/3KlaRQs The actions against civil society NNR board member Peter Becker by the NNR yesterday come a day prior to Eskom receiving the green light today from the NNR to proceed with replacement of the reactor head and 3 steam generators on Unit 2 at Eskom's Koeberg nuclear power station,
Nov 6, 2021 6 tweets 2 min read
Why is the Eskom Energy Availability Factor (EAF) getting lower and lower each year? 1. Because the old Eskom generation plant is getting older every year, and there are diminishing returns and increased costs to maintain end-of-life plant required to operate flat out like work-horses.
Aug 9, 2021 6 tweets 3 min read
First pictures of the damage caused by the explosion at #Eskom #Medupi Unit 4 last night: I have it on reliable authority that there was an internal hydrogen explosion within the 800 MW generator of #Eskom #Medupi Unit 4, the ends of the generator have been blow off, the generator is destroyed, and it will have to be replaced. This is a massive setback.
May 29, 2020 9 tweets 8 min read
Three independent sources indicate that @necsa_Ltd board yesterday authorised chairman @DavidNi79646904 to seek approval of @Energy_ZA minister @GwedeMantashe1 to reappoint suspended & later dismissed former CEO Phumzile Tshelane as a consultant to NECSA on a 6 month contract. @necsa_Ltd @DavidNi79646904 @Energy_ZA @GwedeMantashe1 Mineral & @Energy_ZA minister @GwedeMantashe1 says that he is not a member of the @necsa_Ltd board, & is unaware of the details, but that this matter was raised with him today by NECSA chairman @DavidNi79646904, & a meeting to address this has been scheduled for next week.
Mar 12, 2020 5 tweets 3 min read
#Koeberg #misinformation: So it turns out there was actually nothing wrong with cooling water pump that circulates sea-water to the condenser at Unit 1 in the tertiary water loop of @Eskom_SA's Koeberg nuclear power plant. And the pump did NOT have to be repaired after all. @Eskom_SA In reality, there was nothing wrong with the pump. It tripped out as it should when there was a low water level in the suction inlet pit, caused by an ingress of marine life to the inlet drum screen, which tripped due to high torque, resulting in the low suction pit water level.
Oct 28, 2019 9 tweets 7 min read
An explosive letter on 17 Oct 2019 from the current @necsa_Ltd board to the Minerals & Energy Parliamentary Committee reveals new information relating to misuse of Necsa funds by the former Necsa board under fired former chairman Kelvin Kemm & suspended CEO Phumzile Tshelane. @necsa_Ltd The letter reveals that SA nuclear corporation @necsa_Ltd has been making massive operating losses since 2014, which have deteriorated over the years, & has resulted in various ring-fenced funds being irregularly used to meet operating expenses, including salaries.
Oct 21, 2019 16 tweets 7 min read
Following major problems that brought Medupi power station to its knees during the height of the loadshedding last week, Medupi power station manager Rudi van der Walt has been forced to step down and be replaced immediately, pending his departure from @Eskom_SA and SA shortly. @Eskom_SA Other staff at Medupi have been dismissed by @Eskom_SA generation head Bheki Nxumalo for negligence in what Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer calls "consequence management" following a number of major problems at Medupi that contributed to the loadshedding last week.
Sep 15, 2019 8 tweets 7 min read
After a lull of a few months, right now a band of xenophobic criminals is currently again illegally evicting the family of my domestic worker, her husband & 2 young girls from their home in Alexandra, dumping all their worldly possessions onto the street & stealing a lot of it. Xenophobic criminals again on the rampage in Alexandra terrorising residents, illegally evicting them, maliciously damaging and stealing thir property, and driving them out of their homes, in a scam to take over their homes and sell them.
Sep 7, 2019 6 tweets 3 min read
At a recent @Eskom_SA media briefing, the threat of environmental non-compliance & Eskom's inaction in this regard appears to have finally dawned on acting CEO Jabu Mabuza & COO Jan Oberholzer. Pressures from lenders, financiers, banks, courts & civil society are becoming brutal. @Eskom_SA Jan Oberholzer seemed somewhat spooked by environmental threats & he castigated Eskom for failing to make progress since 2010 on compliance with the air quality minimum emission standards (MES) of SA. For 1st time, "Reduce Emissions" is added to Eskom's 9-point recovery plan.
Aug 30, 2019 5 tweets 5 min read
I am disturbed by misinformed, outdated & wrong figures of the cost to completion (CTC) for Medupi & Kusile put out by SCOPA chairperson Kmhuleko Hlengwa on @Radio702 to @JoanneGJoseph. He said CTC was R146bn & R161bn for Medupi & Kusile respectively. These figures are wrong. @Radio702 @JoanneGJoseph The CTC figures put out by SCOPA chairperson Kmhuleko Hlengwa on @Radio702 yesterday of R146bn & R161bn for Medupi & Kusile respectively, are those @Eskom_SA's 2015/16 financials 3 years ago for year ending 31 Mar 2016, and are out of date & very misleading.
Aug 23, 2019 11 tweets 7 min read
Yesterday 22 Aug 2019, @Eskom_SA acting CEO Jabu Mabuza presented a document, apparently prepared by Boston Consulting Group, to the Eskom Executive Forum, a group of about 600 Eskom E & F band managers & executives, detailing the company's vision & strategy for the future. @Eskom_SA The document presented by Eskom acting CEO Jabu Mabuza says that @Eskom_SA is in a utility death spiral with an outdated business model, with operational and structural inefficiencies, and a lack of transparency, in a rapidly changing in energy landscape.
Aug 11, 2019 6 tweets 3 min read
After engaging with @Eskom_SA for 2 weeks since its annual financial results on 30 Jul, the best I can extract from Eskom on the latest estimated cost to completion (CTC) for Medupi & Kusile, including flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) & interest during construction, is: @Eskom_SA Medupi:
Approved budget CTC exc FGD & IDC: R145bn
FGD: R38,7bn
IDC: R43,7
Total Medupi CTC: R227,4bn

Kusile:
Approved budget CTC inc FGD, exc IDC: R161bn
IDC: R62,8bn
Total Kusile CTC: R223,8bn

Total Medupi + Kusile: R451,2bn
May 6, 2019 5 tweets 9 min read
Environmental NGOs @groundWorkSA & @CentreEnvRights has launched high court proceedings against @environmentza Minister Nomvula Mokonyane & President @CyrilRamaphosa to set aside govt plan to double the amount of harmful pollutant SO2 that @Eskom & @SasolSA are allowed to emit. @groundWorkSA @CentreEnvRights @environmentza @CyrilRamaphosa @eskom @SasolSA The weakening of SO2 emission standards gazetted by the @environmentza would allow all coal-fired boilers to emit double their previously-allowed SO2 pollution from 1 April 2020. This includes the already heavily-polluted Vaal, Highveld and Waterberg Priority Areas.