Karpowership will push ahead with bids to secure environmental approval to install two ship-mounted power plants in South African ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South African Environment Minister Barbara Creecy dismissed appeals from five environmental groups that sought to block the company from applying for the approval to install a 450-megawatt gas-fired facility at the port of Richards Bay on the northeast coast, according to a ruling seen by Bloomberg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a separate decision, she allowed Karpowership to pursue environmental approval at Saldanha on the west coast, overturning an earlier decision by her department to deny permission for a 320-megawatt operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rulings are the latest twist in a saga that has seen the Turkish firm\u2019s projects repeatedly delayed by a court case and environmental challenges. It\u2019s also a boost to the government\u2019s attempts to increase power generation amid persistent blackouts that are stifling economic growth and souring the mood of voters ahead of elections next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karpowership has been working on three projects since winning about 60% of a state tender in March 2021 for 2,000 megawatts of emergency electricity to ease the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A plan to produce 450 megawatts at the Port of Ngqura will be delayed over a disagreement with the national port operator over the location of the power ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decisions are \u201ca significant boost towards the finalisation of Karpowership\u2019s projects,” the company said in an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The delay at Ngqura, due to the need to find a new location at the harbour for the ship to moor, could be as long as 12 to 18 months, it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karpowership will still need to get final environmental approval, sign a power-purchase agreement with national power utility Eskom and renew its right to access the national grid, which expires at the end of this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may also have to renegotiate the duration of the deal with the government. While it was awarded a 20-year contract, South African politicians, including the electricity minister, have now said they want a shorter agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n