Mining’s mess is JET’s opportunity
Mine rehabilitation presents an opportunity for environmental restoration and economic empowerment in the energy transition. Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
07 November, 2024
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Elections take the shine off green hydrogen
Oxpeckers tracked 14 GH2 projects in Namibia, finding implementation has been slow and the only real growth has been in bureaucracy. John Grobler investigates...
11 October, 2024 -
Potential impacts of gas flaring in Soyo, Angola
Journalist Neusa e Silva travelled to Soyo to discover the potential human and environmental costs of gas flaring on the ground...
30 September, 2024 -
Stuck between lithium rocks and a hard place
Zimbabwean communities living around lithium mines have to put up with noise pollution, gas emissions, dust, flying-rock hazards and ground vibrations. Oscar Nkala investigates...
20 September, 2024 -
Financing municipal progress for Mpumalanga’s energy transition
Municipalities in SA’s energy heartland face significant financial problems to implement the JET. Thabo Molelekwa spoke to stakeholders trying to overcome the hurdles...
12 September, 2024 -
Slow walk to deliver GH2 talk in Namibia
John Grobler takes stock of progress on Namibia’s ambitious green hydrogen programme...
10 September, 2024 -
Confidentiality stands in the way of JET information
Amid new promises from the government to scale up renewables, Andiswa Matikinca tracks our journey to unlock data on SA’s Just Energy Transition...
21 August, 2024 -
‘Silent predators’ in the energy transition
Companies mining commodities needed for the global energy transition accused of keeping affected communities in Madagascar in the dark about their plans. Oscar Nkala investigates...
16 August, 2024 -
‘Future-proofing’ green hydrogen investments
John Grobler takes an inside look at a green hydrogen project that has made the most visible progress of nine such projects currently under development in Namibia...
07 August, 2024 -
‘We want a say in transition mining’ – DRC communities
Communities living on and working land in the DRC say they are not informed about mining permits for energy transition minerals. Jonas Kiriko speaks to them...
02 August, 2024 -
Mpumalanga is going with the wind
Wind farms are picking up speed in the province at the heart of South Africa’s energy transition, reports Thabo Molelekwa...
24 July, 2024 -
Cobalt crush undermines future of DRC’s community forests
Historic UN deal to restore degraded forest ecosystems in southeastern DRC is being torn apart by mining companies. Jonas Kiriko investigates...
22 July, 2024 -
Dark side to ‘a new dawn’
Tanzania is banking on its natural resources during the global transition to clean energy, but analysts warn there are dangers ahead. Oscar Nkala investigates...
12 July, 2024 -
Green energy innovations in the desert
Green hydrogen features in Namibian projects aimed at producing carbon-free steel and ammonia fuel for shipping and rail transport. John Grobler reports...
05 July, 2024 -
Running on empty: Mpumalanga’s energy transition needs juice
Despite its resources and capacity for green energy storage, SA's energy capital reaps minimal benefits due to an export-heavy focus. Sakhile Dube investigates...
20 June, 2024 -
The dark light: Zimbabwe’s energy nightmare
Power shortages across the country are fuelling deforestation through the illegal charcoal trade. Nqobile Tshili, Yolanda Moyo and Nkosana Vuma investigate how this network operate...
12 June, 2024 -
Mega plans for green hydrogen power in Mpumalanga
The province is the focus of ambitious plans for GH2 power development, but civil society organisations fear it promises more than can be delivered. Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
07 June, 2024 -
Environmental (mis)management in Zimbabwe
The Environmental Management Agency does not have enough power to curb rampant water pollution and land degradation. Mandla Tshuma investigates the battles it faces...
24 May, 2024 -
Zimbabwe’s lithium liability
Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a global leader in mining and processing lithium. Tatenda Chitagu investigates the cost of these ambitious plans...
17 May, 2024 -
Mpumalanga carbon capture pilot project completed
A pilot project in Mpumalanga’s energy heartland aims to capture air pollution and store it in the ground. Thabo Molelekwa looks into this controversial technology...
24 April, 2024 -
Zambia tallies the costs of mining for electric batteries
Still reeling from environmental and public health problems caused by lead mining, the country now faces growing manganese demand for electric batteries. Oscar Nkala investigates...
16 April, 2024 -
Mpumalanga gas project aims to bridge JET gap
Development of R155-million LNG pilot in Amersfoort promoted as a way to alleviate energy shortages while South Africa transitions to renewable energy. Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
23 February, 2024 -
The cobalt curse of the Congo
Cobalt is a critical energy transition mineral, but its use in batteries and electric vehicles comes at a high price for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Oscar Nkala investiga...
14 February, 2024 -
‘New energy’ rush is stripping DRC’s natural assets
Mining companies cashing in on global demand for cobalt are destroying protected nature reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jonas Kiriko investigates...
05 February, 2024 -
Where’s the water for GH2 plan in Namib Desert?
John Grobler travels to the Daures Green Hydrogen Village pilot project in Namibia to find some answers...
23 January, 2024 -
How green is this hydrogen valley?
Puros is the northern-most of three ‘hydrogen valleys’ identified in the Namibian government’s GH2 masterplan. John Grobler visited to find out why...
18 January, 2024 -
Are municipalities good for JET money?
Financing for the Just Energy Transition is increasing, but is being undermined by indebted municipalities in Mpumalanga that are not bankable. Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
29 November, 2023 -
Green concerns over green hydrogen
Namibia’s ambitious GH2 project poses threats to a sensitive biodiversity hotspot and local communities, critics say. John Grobler investigates...
17 November, 2023 -
Question marks over Namibia’s green hydrogen plans
Hyphen’s ambitious GH2 venture is flawed and opaque, according to local critics. John Grobler spoke to them...
16 November, 2023 -
Solar’s not shining for all in Cabo Delgado
Mozambique's Energy for All programme has made great strides in far northern Mozambique, but not everyone is happy with it. Buanamade Assane investigates...
30 October, 2023 -
Mpumalanga joins the green hydrogen shift
HySHiFT project at Secunda is pioneering sustainable aviation fuel to help meet South Africa’s industry decarbonisation goals. Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
25 October, 2023 -
Solar powers up lives in northern Mozambique
Government authorities and communities have switched to solar panels and photovoltaic plants to power health units, schools and water supply systems, reports Nelsa Momade Pedro...
17 October, 2023 -
Nampula far from renewable energy goals
Investors are keen to support solar power in Northern Mozambique, but development on the ground is slow to take off. Amade Abubacar investigates why...
10 October, 2023 -
Pledges roll in for SA’s energy transition
South Africa expects more pledges as COP28 gathers steam, but how far have Western countries come in delivering on previous commitments they made? Thabo Molelekwa investigates...
22 September, 2023 -
A spoke in Mpumalanga’s power wheel
Wheeling electricity offers a solution to South Africa’s power crisis, so why is it not happening in the energy heartland? Andiswa Matikinca and Thabo Molelekwa investigate...
30 August, 2023 -
Training ramps up at Komati
Thabo Molelekwa gets an update on the training and community support programmes taking shape at Eskom’s pilot renewable energy plant...
13 July, 2023 -
SA’s coal lobby pushes back against green transition
Coal lobbying has long been an influential force in South Africa’s politics and economy. Thabo Molelekwa investigates its impacts on green energy investments...
19 June, 2023 -
The status of SA’s energy transition financing
Much has been made about the US$8.5-billion pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. Thabo Molelekwa investigates where it is...
23 May, 2023 -
A new light on the future of Eskom’s assets
A business coalition in SA’s energy heartland proposes a private take-over of Eskom’s assets – but not everyone agrees with privatising energy production. Andiswa Matikinca reports...
15 May, 2023 -
Mind the (green skills) gap
SA’s transition to renewable energy is challenged by a shortage of skills development and training. Thabo Molelekwa investigates, with support from the Pulitzer Center...
04 April, 2023 -
JustSA answers #PowerTracker question
Launch of catalytic renewable energy programme in Mpumalanga follows Oxpeckers data exposé. Roxanne Joseph reports...
16 March, 2023 -
Coal-mining web encircles Africa’s oldest game reserve
'Get-rich-quick’ coal prospecting rights threaten ecologically & economically vulnerable areas bordering Hluhluwe-iMfolozi reserve. Tony Carnie investigates for Our Burning Planet...
10 March, 2023 -
Where are Mpumalanga’s new energy projects?
South Africa’s power capital is being left behind in the race for renewable energy generation, reports Andiswa Matikinca...
02 March, 2023 -
Left in the dust for a greener future
Environmentalists and coal-dependent communities say people at the frontline of SA’s energy transition are in the dark about how it will unfold. Thabo Molelekwa speaks to them...
25 January, 2023 -
South Africa’s energy transition rises in the east
Mpumalanga, the province ‘where the sun rises’, takes centre stage in SA’s Just Energy Transition Plan. Yolandi Groenewald unpicks the details...
18 November, 2022 -
Sweet and sour future for sugar power
Giant sugar companies in Eswatini diversified into biopower cogeneration to keep the lights on, but how long will the strategy last? Phathizwe Zulu investigates...
21 October, 2022 -
Biogas power raises hot air in Botswana
An ambitious public-private biogas project needs to be scaled up if it is to contribute to Botswana’s renewable energy targets by 2030. Sharon Tshipa investigates...
06 October, 2022 -
Zimbabwe changes gear for electric vehicles
In response to extreme climate fall-out, Zimbabwe is ramping up its transition to electric vehicles as one of its key mitigation measures. Debra Matabvu investigates...
28 September, 2022 -
South Africa (M)ainstreams wind and solar power
Independent producers are already feeding enough power into the grid to replace two coal-fired stations. Thabo Molelekwa investigates the status of SA’s renewable energy roll-out...
22 September, 2022 -
Gone with the wind: Lesotho’s $15-billion energy pipedream
A wind farm hailed as Africa’s largest renewable energy project and the solution to Lesotho’s hefty electricity costs has ground to a halt. Sechaba Mokhethi investigates why...
16 September, 2022 -
Meet the #PowerTracker journalists
Oxpeckers’ latest project, #PowerTracker, brings together journalists from across Southern Africa to investigate financing of renewable energy projects...
12 August, 2022 -
Deep Trouble: research shows coal is still king
While the world is shifting away from fossil fuels, data on planned new mines indicates the coal mining industry might not be winding down any time soon. Andiswa Matikinca reports...
25 June, 2021 -
SA sets hard rules at COP24
South Africa and its allies at the COP24 climate negotiations are pushing for a strong rulebook on the Paris Agreement. Yolandi Groenewald reports from Katowice...
13 December, 2018
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