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Books > Business & Economics > Industry & industrial studies > Energy industries & utilities
After unknown saboteurs toppled a strategic pylon near Lethabo Power Station in the Free State in November 2021, almost causing the country to plunge into stage 6 load shedding, Eskom’s chief executive officer André de Ruyter declared: ‘This was clearly now an act of sabotage and I think we can call it as such.’ Who was behind this, and what is their ultimate goal? Since his appointment in January 2020, De Ruyter has faced intense opposition from within the power utility as he attempts to clean up corruption and return the electricity company to a semblance of its former glory. He is not alone. Chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer and other trusted allies in Eskom have also come under intense fire. From forensic investigations and botched probes to accusations of racism, De Ruyter and Oberholzer have spent significant amounts of time fending off allegation after allegation. Amid this onslaught, it has become clear that their enemies will take any measures necessary to have them removed from office. Based on exclusive interviews with De Ruyter, Oberholzer and other key figures, Sabotage is a story of conspiracy and subterfuge at South Africa’s ailing power utility, uncovering the power struggles that threaten the country’s very survival.
The winner of the 2017 Ernest Cole Award is Daylin Paul for his project, Broken Land. The project explores the other side of power. Set in Mpumalanga, home of 46% of South Africa's arable soil, it is also the area where nine power-burning coal stations are active. Paul's work explores the direct impact of fuel-burning coal stations on the local economy, population, farming community and, more broadly, climate change. As Paul says, "These power stations, while providing electricity for an energy-desperate South Africa, also have a devastating and lasting impact on the environment and the health of local people. Mining licences granted conditionally by the South African government are meant to safeguard the ecology and allow local people to benefit from the mineral wealth of the land. But it is clear that these conditions are not being followed and that the health and economic well-being of both the land and its people are being jeopardised. Vast tracts of fertile, arable land are being ripped up, the landscape scarred with the black pits of coal mines while coal-burning power stations are one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world." The polluting power stations not only contribute to global climate change but, through toxic sulphur effluents, also to the poisoning of scarce water supplies for a range of communities who are dependent on these for their survival. The area has in recent years also been hit by devastating droughts. The power dynamics in the area have in recent times been drawn into the national political arena. The former Glencore coal mines, taken over by Optimum Coal Holdings Limited, a conglomerate owned by the Gupta family, are embroiled in corruption and nepotism scandals that are affecting the very highest levels of the South African government. The aim of Paul's project as he says is "to look at both the macro issues like pollution, poverty and climate change while also personalising the experience of the local people who are on the front lines of this crisis and provide us with a glimpse of what the future could be like for the country and indeed the SADC region."
Capture, massive deception and devastating human consequences still felt today… Legal journalist Dianne Hawker delves deep to retell the full Aurora story. In October 2009, Aurora Empowerment Systems – a black-owned, politically connected business – made a bid to rescue the liquidated Pamodzi Gold mines. Former President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, his lawyer Michael Hulley and former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson Zondwa Mandela, were listed as directors of Aurora. On paper the company looked almost too good to be true – promising to turn the mines into a new business that would offer stellar benefits to workers, while also expanding into Africa. Soon after the acquisition, the first cracks appeared. More than 5 000 workers and suppliers, who depended on their employment to keep themselves and their families alive, went unpaid. Over the next few years, Aurora-managed mines were stripped of assets, as illicit payments went to the families of the “connected”, while workers starved. Despite a litany of evidence of Aurora’s dishonesty, to this day little has been done to bring the perpetrators to book.
South Africa's Bomb kept the world guessing for years. Six-and-a- half nuclear bombs had been secretly built and destroyed, former South African President F.W. de Klerk announced in 1993. No other country has ever voluntarily destroyed its nuclear arsenal. From 1975 Nic von Wielligh was involved in the production of nuclear weapons material, the dismantling of the nuclear weapons and the provision of evidence of South Africa's bona fides to the international community. The International Atomic Energy Agency declared South Africa's Initial Report to be the most comprehensive and professional that they had ever received. In this book the nuclear physicist and his daughter Lydia von Wielligh-Steyn tell the gripping story of the splitting of the atom and the power it releases. It is an account of ground-breaking research and the scientists responsible; it deals with uranium enrichment, the arms race and South Africa's secret programme. The Bomb: South Africa's Nuclear Programme is a story of nuclear explosions, espionage, smuggling of nuclear materials and swords that became ploughshares.
Award-winning investigative journalist Karyn Maughan and former National Treasury insider Kirsten Pearson reveal the inside story behind South Africa's controversial nuclear deal. Through insider accounts, audio recordings and confidential minutes, the authors piece together the Zuma administration's secret dealings with Russia and how it went to extraordinary and dark lengths to conclude the nuke before Zuma's time ran out.
In March 2011 the Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) in Japan was hit by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami which resulted in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material. The incident led to the suspension of nuclear programmes by a number of countries. This book provides a definitive account of the accident.
As the global climate changes, scientists anticipate that the distribution of animal populations and disease vectors will expand. In the case of arthropods, such efforts hold immense significance as they have the potential to increase human mortality and suffering from arboviruses above current levels. The 238th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. on August 16-20, 2009, offered an opportunity for researchers to present and discuss new findings in invertebrate repellents research, regulations, and technology development. Recently efforts have been made to understand the role of chemicals in arthropod behavior, and screening programs are starting to incorporate repellency testing into their battery of bioassays. The lack of standardized protocols for measuring and comparison of repellents has remained a significant obstacle in arthropod research. Oftentimes studies report variable measures of success, and comparison of results across studies is not always consistent. Progress in the standardization of arthropod test methods for repellents would be valuable to many groups including academic researchers working in the field, contract labs supplying test results, government research laboratories, regulatory bodies in the process of developing guidelines for product registration, as well as companies looking to invest in new technologies. Perhaps one complicating factor in this process has been that research and technology haven't moved fast enough to meet the demand for effective arthropod repellents. Issues such as pest arthropod resurgence and insecticide/repellent resistance to chemical can create new challenges and add pressure for researchers. The collection of chapters in this book covers a range of applied and basic research on arthropod repellents. An overview of the state of arthropod repellents research is provided at the start. In the chapters that follow, there is a selection of papers demonstrating research on new repellent technologies at different stages of development. The scope of basic and applied research methods described in these chapters on new repellent technologies presents the range of testing that is often necessary to move a repellent technology forward in development. The transition from newly developed technologies to registered products is achieved in perspective of a growing market for natural arthropod repellents. New technologies that are completely developed and have gone through registration need to be accompanied by successful commercialization. The growing market for natural arthropod repellents presents such an example and highlights new opportunities in this area. The concluding chapter discusses the public entomology landscape, past and future opportunities for the development of chemical protectants.
This volume is a true shelf reference, providing a thorough
overview of the entire renewable energy sphere, while still
functioning as a go-to information source for professionals and
students when they need answers about a specific technical issue.
Crafted over the last 15 years into a problem-solving tool for
engineers, researchers, consultants and planners currently working
in the field, as well as a detailed map of the renewables universe
for those looking to expand into new technological specialties,
Renewable Energy by Sorensen offers the most comprehensive coverage
of the subject available.
Since the late 1980s, policy makers and regulators in a number of
countries have liberalized, restructured or "deregulated" their
electric power sector, typically by introducing competition at the
generation and retail level. These experiments have resulted in
vastly different outcomes - some highly encouraging, others utterly
disastrous. However, many countries continue along the same path
for a variety of reasons.
Market value is set by investor behaviour ....but objective methods
of valuation are vital for accurate predictions of market
behaviour. What are the key issues facing the industry - and the
main points the analyst needs to look for when interpreting oil
industry accounts? Do the best prospects necessarily lie with the
larger and better-financed companies? How best can an investment
strategy be managed in the refining industry, with its conflicting
pressures of environmental controls and inadequate returns?
Trading in oil futures and options is an introduction to price risk
management in the worldwide oil industry. With numerous practical
examples, it requires no prior knowledge and should be read by
everyone involved in the industry.
With twenty-two chapters written by leading international experts, this volume represents the most detailed and comprehensive Handbook on electricity markets ever published. It covers all dimensions of electricity markets: wholesale and retail; renewable electricity sources; the electrification of mobility, heating and cooling; and recent innovations such as distributed generation, electrical energy storage, demand response and digital platforms that are disrupting the industry. The benefits, as well as the limits, of open markets and competition are assessed at the level of underlying principles and with reference to specific cases, including the UK, PJM Interconnection, Texas, Australia, Scandinavia, continental Europe and China. The details of electricity market designs are analysed and discussed. The book also considers new emerging business models, as well as the impact of electricity sector policy priorities such as universal access and deep decarbonization. This Handbook is intended to be used and useful. Students and young professionals will find the information they need to enter the field. Researchers, experienced professionals and public decision-makers will get a comprehensive update on the topical issues in electricity markets that will guide them through the important developments the sector is witnessing.
Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions and New Energy is a summary of
selected experimental and theoretical research performed over the
last 19 years that gives profound and unambiguous evidence for low
energy nuclear reaction (LENR), historically known as cold fusion.
Bunkers are the lifeblood of the shipping industry - their availability, quality and, above all else, cost often determine whether a shipowner can operate efficiently and profitably. Cockett on Bunkers provides those involved in the shipping and oil industries with an understanding of the worldwide bunker fuel industry and a comprehensive manual that can be used as a reference in day-to-day bunker management and operation. Cockett on Bunkers contains up-to-date information on marine fuel standards and monitoring services, bunker buying techniques, bunker suppliers and the art of blending, pricing and bunkering operational procedures and takes into account recent developments in these areas.;Written in an accessible style with the emphasis on practical interpretation.
Part of the ""Carriage by Sea"" series, this second edition contains statistical information on coal consumption, production and trade, including comparative statistics by geographical area, together with full analysis. The carriage of coal by sea, including the specifications and problems of vessels used to carry coal, terminal operations and charterparties are also covered, as are some of the most frequently arising claims and preventative measures. The book is suitable for companies involved in the coal trades, including shipowners, operators, charterers, managers, shipbuilders and coal exporters and importers.
Modern society too often views water as a convenient vehicle for disposing of waste and the results are becoming increasingly apparent. Analysis of freshwater supplies frequently reveals disturbing levels of pollution, including human waste, heavy metals and synthetic chemicals, to the detriment of our health, and the health of entire ecosystems. The Water Crisis examines the roots of freshwater pollution urbanization, industrialization and intensive farming supported by case studies from the Rhine and the Great Lakes. It explores the impact of major pollutants and discusses methods of prevention. The final section provides a detailed overview of possible solutions, including soil-based treatment systems and constructed wetlands. A separate chapter is devoted to the important issue of groundwater pollution. Practical concise and accessible, this is ideal for students in environmental studies and environmental science, biology and geography, and general readers. Originally published in 1998
The oil and gas industry's wide international exposure and constantly changing landscape leave it particularly vulnerable to disputes. As this practical book demonstrates, the risks associated with disputes can be mitigated by parties utilising governing law and dispute resolution clauses in contractual agreements within the sector. Examining a global range of jurisdictions, the book offers clear guidance on the most appropriate choice of law and choice of dispute resolution forum for oil and gas contracts, analysing the key issues and defining the legal contours involved. Key Features: Insightful contributions from over 40 leading practitioners and expert legal scholars Examination of domestic and international case law, with analysis of the local laws of 24 jurisdictions globally Consideration of the future of disputes in the oil and gas industry by tracking the evolution and latest trends of the global energy market Examination of the dispute resolution mechanisms used to mitigate disputes, with a focus on international arbitration as a forum for dispute resolution Discussions of a range of operations in the oil and gas industry, including upstream, midstream and downstream projects, and the various contracts that exist within these Featuring a comparative and practice-oriented perspective, this highly informative book will prove an essential resource for practitioners advising parties concerning contractual agreements in the oil and gas sector, as well as a valuable reference point for scholars of energy law and arbitration.
This innovative book explores the legal character of petroleum licences, a key vehicle governing the relationship between oil companies and their host states. Examining the issue through the lens of legal culture, it illustrates why some jurisdictions exert strong state control and others only minimal.Critically investigating the nature of a petroleum licence, the book analyses whether it is a mere administrative right, a contract or something more akin to property rights. Chapters examine recent developments, such as the UK's strategy of maximizing economic recovery and the opposition to drilling for oil in Norway and Australia. Outside of Western petroleum jurisdictions, the book also explores several long-established jurisdictions including Russia and Mexico, as well as emerging jurisdictions, such as China and Uganda. Taking a contextual and system-oriented approach, it reveals the preconditions of the petroleum licence regime and offers a critical insight into the reasons behind alterations to the terms of the licences. Encompassing a wide variety of legal cultures and experiences, this thought-provoking book will prove to be a valuable resource for academics and students of energy law, particularly those with an interest in state regulation. It will also provide useful insights for industry-based practitioners.
Renewable energy technologies produce many measurable benefits, such as a clear reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is also apparent that these methods of energy production come with costs. Discussing renewable energy developments within an economic context, this pertinent Handbook provides a comprehensive view of the present and future dimensions of renewable energy use. Divided into six authoritative parts, the Handbook employs economic evaluation to provide an analysis of the benefits and costs of renewable energy, allowing authors to extrapolate potential policy changes. Chapters address the conceptual, methodological and empirical dimensions of renewable energy, providing a broad coverage of key topics while maintaining a clear policy-oriented philosophy. With a structured application of energy economics to renewable energy issues, this enlightening Handbook will be beneficial for environmental and energy policy makers. It will also be an interesting read for academics within such fields as policy regulation, energy economics and environmental economics.
First published as "Tracks: The Cv" work directory in 1997, the tenth revised and updated edition is published in 2006. It gives information of over 130 professions in the UK, organised in eight booklets, from communications media to service industries. Titles include pathways in the arts, construction industry, financial services, health care, insurance, land and sea work, law, leisure and tourism, local government, manufacturing crafts, marketing, planning and public services. Qualifications are listed from GCSE and NVQ/BTEC to degree level. There are work descriptions and pay scales with interviews and advice from British chartered institutes and individuals established in the particular field. Designed in an easy to access format of a page per profession, the handbooks also include contacts for working in countries in the European Union, and a detailed index of internet recruitment sites for each sector. "Tracks 8" provides information about national and personal services which range from the armed forces to fire fighter, hairdressing and call centre work. The wide scope indicates the varied opportunities for individual development.
Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Presenting cutting-edge research on the future of energy geopolitics, this visionary and provocative Research Agenda takes a hard look at the pressing issues faced by energy researchers in the new world (dis)order. Analyzing through three distinct lenses of affordability, security and sustainability, this innovative book begins by tracking the history and evolution of energy politics. Leading experts in the field identify the sources of instability within world energy markets, the problems of capital allocation to finance a growing demand for smart and renewable energy, and the benefits and costs of geo-economic shifts. A global range of case studies discuss the future of energy geopolitics, asking pressing questions about the deployment of clean energy technology, the implications of hydrocarbon price climbing, and the feasibility and possibilities of space mining. Ultimately, the book seeks to elucidate the uncertainties, paths, and impacts of the future developments in the energy transition and clearly define a future research agenda for energy politics. In doing so, it attempts to capture the complexity and constraints facing energy and its different sources — some that are complementary, some that compete with one another. Interdisciplinary and international in scope, this book will prove vital to students and scholars interested in energy security, politics and policy, alongside those studying energy markets and finance. It will also prove useful to policymakers and organizations in the energy sector concerned with the future of energy.
This illuminating book analyses energy transitions, carbon dioxide emissions and the security of energy supply in Mediterranean countries. Unpacking the history of energy transitions, from coal to oil and natural gas, and from non-renewable to renewable energy sources, Silvana Bartoletto offers a comparative approach to the major trends in energy consumption, production, trade and security in Mediterranean countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Â Chapters illustrate the key similarities and differences between Mediterranean countries that have influenced energy supply and consumption patterns. Tracing economic convergence in the last century and highlighting its impact on energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, this timely book offers critical insights into the problems of energy dependency and security in areas of political turmoil, as well as crucial insights into the future of the energy crisis. It concludes with a look to the future of energy consumption in the age of climate change and the slow but critical transition to renewable sources. Â Enlightening and provocative, this book is key reading for scholars of political science and economics engaged with energy production and consumption, as well as those studying climate change. Its historical insights and overview of significant energy trends will also be useful for policymakers and climate scientists.
What happens when electric utility monopolies pursue their acquisition interests undisciplined by competition, and insufficiently disciplined by the regulators responsible for replicating competition? Since the mid-1980s, mergers and acquisitions of U.S. electric utilities have halved the number of local, independent utilities. Mostly debt-financed, these transactions have converted retiree-suitable investments into subsidiaries of geographically scattered conglomerates. Written by one of the U.S.'s leading regulatory thinkers--a litigating attorney, regulatory advisor, expert witness and law professor--this book combines legal, accounting, economic and financial analysis with insights from the dynamic field of behavioral economics. With a clear assessment of the 30-year march of U.S. electricity mergers, the author describes the economic losses that result when merger promoters and their transactions face neither the discipline of competition nor the rigors of regulation. This work is essential reading for regulatory practitioners, consumer advocates and investment advisors--as well as citizens concerned with concentration of economic power. The principles explored are relevant anywhere regulated utility monopolies have the legal right to merge, acquire or be acquired. |
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