filling in nhbrc form

vergal — 2008-05-12T10:08:30Z

Hi, Im starting out in the construction industry and have some difficulties filling in the nhbrc form that i downloaded from their site.Do you need to do projects first before you can fill out the form? How it work if you are just starting out?

Standards

Bantsijang — 2007-11-07T17:48:27Z

We need to harmonise the construction or building standards. Thanks, Matthews Bantsijang

Requirements to become contractor in sa?

halberts — 2007-11-19T21:20:24Z

I'm a South African, currently working in the USA as a building inspector. I would love to come home some day and start a construction company. What is the requirements in South Africa in order to get a contractor's license? Over here all trades are licensed through the state and get assigned a license number that they have to give in order to get a building permit. By what standards do you build? We use the International Codes for building, plumbing, mechanical, and the National Electrical code for elec. I appreciate your input Regards H Alberts

Cogeneration Facts

Bantsijang — 2007-11-07T17:58:48Z

Cogeneration Facts

Matthews Bantsijang

Cogeneration: Simultaneous production of electricity and process heat from a single dynamic plant.

Largely produced from sugarcane bagasse by product.

A number of countries in the Africa region have successfully deployed cogeneration e.g. Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Swaziland, Malawi and Uganda.

Attractive potential for scale-up as most sugar factories already practice cogeneration using low pressure systems – require modest investment to generate excess power

Biomass Cogeneration – Status and Trends
Cogeneration in Mauritius - Lessons for Africa

Successful in sale of power to the grid

Accounts for close to 40% of a 725MW national generation capacity (of which 25% bagasse)

Began with smaller installations (1.5MW - 5MW, now installing 70MW plants)

Others
Sugar Industry

Cogeneration potential in the sugar industry in selected African countries

Feed-in-tariff (or price paid to cogenerators by utilities) not pre-determined and often set too low,

Negotiations of power purchase agreement (PPA) can be too lengthy (took over 10 years to negotiate cogeneration PPA in Uganda),

Two key policy measures:

Pre-defined Feed in tariff

Standard PPA.

Biomass Cogeneration Key Challenges
Bio-ethanol – Key Challenges

Need predetermined price for bio-ethanol

Compulsory requirement for blending

Key policy measures

Set attractive price for bio-ethanol

Establish requirement for blending

Protection and ring-fence away influence of fossil oil companies

Biogas - Challenges Source:The Republic of Uganda, 2007

Substantial water requirements of biogas under-estimated.

High-up front costs that require credit system – principal reason for better performance at institutional level.

For small scale systems, important to limit scope of initial dissemination efforts to minimize maintenance cost.

Bio-diesel - Challenges

Well proven at small scale but jury still out on large scale trials being initiated in various countries.

At large scale, requires significant applied R&D to establishment of new agricultural system.

High costs associated with technology transfer & adaptation.

Possible competition for land between biodiesel feedstock and food crops but can grow in relatively arid areas where access to land is probably less contentious.

Local financiers still uncertain due to unfamiliarity with this option.

Gasification - Barriers

Limited technical expertise on biomass gasification in the region.

High risk perception from potential project implementers and financiers due to unfamiliarity with option.

Need to increase awareness, enhance skills and initiate additional pilot test plants.

Key Sustainability Issues
('http://www.afrepren.org/'>www.afrepren.org & 'http://www.unido.org/'>www.unido.org)

Equity: Will the poor benefit?

Revenue sharing mechanism.

Case of West Kenya sugar factory where cane farmers get 51% of ex-factory sugar price,

Meet energy needs of the poor?

Primarily through increased incomes subject to existence of adequate revenue sharing mechanism.

Modern biofuels cleaner with lower indoor emissions but cost still an issue.

Is there sufficient land?

Most land requirement projections for meeting internal biofuel demand in the near term appear to be manageable.

Less certain if one takes account of biofuel export markets – need additional assessments.

Key Sustainability Issues

Adversely affect food security?

Experience in sugar growing areas indicate increased food security as a result of increased incomes – subject to regular payments for sugar cane delivery and adequate revenue sharing mechanism.

Biodiversity and natural resource management

Biofuels development tends to lead to mono-crop culture and intensive use of fertilzier and pesticides.

Needs additional detailed assessments.
Priority Options

Wetlands (Moist and rainland areas)

Short Term Options

Bioethanol

Cogeneration

Medium to Long Term options

Biodiesel

Biogas

Biomass Gasification

Way Forward

Short Term

Focus on proven options that build on existing agro-industries that use available agro-wastes (such as bioethanol in existing sugar industries) to minimize start-up costs and reduce risk.

Undertake regularly updated detailed resource assessments.

Set pre-determined prices for bioenergy options.

Establish supportive regulatory and policy measures such as standard PPAs and blending requirements.

Concentrate on investment analysis and preparation of “bankable” investment proposals.

Encourage national, regional and international exchange of experience, skills and technologies (regional bioenergy network).

·        Medium to Long Term
o       Finance resource assessments

Support R&D and local adaptation

Initiate pilot and demonstration investments

Strengthen national, regional and global technical exchange of skills, experience and information.

Questions and Comments

filling in nhbrc form

Standards

Requirements to become contractor in sa?

Cogeneration Facts