Energy, SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS

SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS Page 162

Coal fires most of South Africa's power stations, but renewables are under the spotlight.

South Africa is a coal-rich country, and 13 of its 21 power stations are coaL-fired. There is one nucLear power station at Koeberg, near Cape Town, which generates 6% of South Africa's eLectricity. Pans for a pebbLe-bed nucLear reactor have been sheLved, but sites for new nucLear pLants are being investigated. South Africa's instaLLed eLectricity-generation capacity of 44 000MW pLaces it weLL ahead of any other African country, but demand is currentLy around 37 000MW, so the reserve margin is very smaLL.

Large companies are taking an interest in deaner energy. The formation of Cennergi is a Landmark event. A South African company is revoLutionising photovoLtaic ceLL technoLogy. AngLo American PLatinum has found a way to power a Locomotive with pLatinumbased fueL ceLLs.

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