Clause posing threat to municipal electricity revenues may be excluded when ERA enters into force

President Cyril Ramaphosa has left the door open to excluding a section in the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act that could negatively affect the revenues municipalities raise from... 

IFC confirms eagerness to fund private grid projects in South Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has confirmed that its stands ready to support South Africa’s efforts to facilitate private sector participation in the expansion of the country’s... 

Timeline for inaugural IEP announced as govt sets year-end target for updated IRP

The South African government aims to Gazette an update to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity before the end of the 2024 calendar year and finalise South Africa’s inaugural... 

$613m in JET-IP grants allocated to projects, Presidency reports

The Presidency has released new details showing that $613-million of the $821-million in grants pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) have now been... 

Securing ringfenced revenue for NTCSA seen as pivotal move in tackling R390bn grid backlog

Ringfencing revenue for the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is regarded as a crucial short-term step for ensuring that the newly operationalised Eskom Holdings subsidiary is... 

Eskom releases names of transformer suppliers

Eskom has released the names to Engineering News of the five transformer companies appointed to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale... 

Upward pressure

At the first meeting between members of the Cabinet and senior business leaders since the formation of the Government of National Unity it was agreed that the National Energy Crisis Committee... 

Cabinet committee probing ways to moderate fuel prices set to turn attention to electricity hikes next

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reports that the Cabinet committee set up to consider interventions to moderate fuel price increases is likely to turn its attention to electricity... 

Trade and investment to be key themes of Ramaphosa’s upcoming State visit to China

Trade and investment relations will be key themes during President Cyril Ramaphosa State visit to the People’s Republic of China from September 2 to 5, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo... 

NTCSA appoints 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three supplier panels

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has appointed 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three separate supplier panels as it moves to position itself for a R32-billion... 

Sasol extends gas supply plateau to June 2027 but only as ‘bridge’ to LNG imports

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has confirmed a yearlong extension, to June 2027, in its gas supply from southern Mozambique to South African industrial customers, which have been warning of a... 

Interest from IPPs aiming to connect renewables to grid surges to 133 GW

The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to... 

Wind bids fall well short of BW7 allocation, while PV bids far exceed provision

The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that 48 onshore wind and solar PV bids with a combined capacity of 10 218 MW have been submitted under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the... 

Ramaphosa signs Electricity Regulation Amendment Act into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the much-anticipated Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act, which lays the legislative foundations for the establishment of a fully independent... 

Ramokgopa withdraws 2.5 GW nuclear-procurement determination citing lack of public consultation

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has withdrawn a Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity, which was being contested legally, having... 

Steel giant sees first demand ‘green shoots’ in years as GNU prioritises infrastructure and localisation

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which has been bemoaning weak domestic demand conditions for several years, reports that it is witnessing signs of “green shoots” in manufacturing... 

AECI in early-stage move to produce green explosives as internationalisation drive accelerates

Explosives and mining chemicals group AECI is moving to secure green ammonia for use in the production of lower-carbon explosives, demand for which is expected to grow in some of the mining... 

Grid rules must prioritise all shovel ready projects

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa indicates that he is in favour of grid-access rules that ensure as much new capacity is added as quickly as possible regardless of whether... 

Vertical integration costs

For some, the unbundling of South Africa’s vertically integrated electricity utility is viewed as a wonkish problem somewhat akin to insisting that line departments should not have shareholder... 

Transnet’s recovery plan lacks the ambition needed for higher growth, government and business warn

Government and business are urging Transnet to show greater ambition in its plans to recover freight volumes, describing the current recovery plan as falling well short of what is required to... 

‘Necom 2.0’ to focus on system-wide constraints to electricity security and affordability

Amid waning loadshedding, government and business have agreed to begin “repurposing” the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom) to shift focus from interventions aimed at arresting the... 

DBSA urged to play leading role in fixing municipalities during next phase of Operation Vulindlela

Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo has called on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which is a major lender to local government, to play a leading role in supporting the Government... 

Transnet Property mulls investment-property vehicle as it moves ahead with sale of residential stock

The property division of Transnet has been given board approval to sell its residential and non-core commercial properties over the coming two years, while moving to package the balance of the... 

Expanded pilot project planned to help munis pay Eskom as arrear debt continues to rise

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that a new pilot project is being prepared to further “stress test” an initiative aimed at ensuring that municipalities settle their... 

Port of Richards Bay moves to diversify beyond bulk exports while bolstering climate resilience

The Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal, is progressing with planning for infrastructure and terminal investments aimed at consolidating its position as a bulk export hub for key minerals such... 

Eskom again moots 20 GW clean-energy build programme

Eskom will replace its declining coal capacity with clean-energy options in line with country policy and the Just Energy Transition, Eskom GM for primary energy Dan Mashigo told participants at a... 

No easy road ahead

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is correct when he says South Africa’s electricity pricing policy is in need of review, including the approach being taken to set tariffs... 

Cabinet questions EU citrus restrictions as South Africa moves ahead with formal WTO dispute

Cabinet has questioned the imposition by the European Union (EU) of what it describes as “stringent” restrictions on South Africa’s citrus exports, which are now the subject of a formal dispute... 

$613m in JET-IP grants have been allocated to projects, Presidency reports

The Presidency has released new details showing that $613-million of the $821-million in grants pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) have now been... 

Securing ringfenced revenue for NTCSA seen as key first step for tackling R390bn grid backlog

Ringfencing revenue for the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is regarded as a crucial short-term step for ensuring that the newly operationalised Eskom Holdings subsidiary is... 

Eskom releases names of transformer suppliers amid rising localisation pressures

Eskom has released the names to Engineering News of the five transformer companies appointed to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale... 

NTCSA to make own application to Nersa in bid to secure dedicated revenue to maintain and expand grid

National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) interim CEO Segomoco Scheppers has confirmed that the newly operationalised entity is making an allowable revenue application to the regulator... 

Eskom makes shock objection to issuance of trading licences

Eskom has lodged a surprise objection to the issuance of licences to private traders in areas where its distribution entity currently holds a licence, arguing that the current rules of the National... 

Localisation to be used to create early stage demand in targeted sectors – Tau

While proclaiming industrial policy to be the “centre piece” of the government of national unity’s economic development strategy, new Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau indicated he... 

Regulator grants Eskom permission to extend life of Koeberg Unit 1 to July 2044

South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board has approved a 20-year life extension for Koeberg Unit 1, but has deferred a decision on the nuclear power station’s Unit 2 until late 2025,... 

Confidence or arrogance

As loadshedding wanes, Eskom’s confidence is growing. This is not a bad thing, as South Africa needs its State-owned companies to be places of delivery and, eventually, even centres of excellence.... 

Steel giant sees first demand ‘green shoots’ in years as GNU prioritises infrastructure and localisation

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which has been bemoaning weak domestic demand conditions for several years, reports that it is witnessing signs of “green shoots” in manufacturing... 

AECI in early-stage move to produce green explosives as internationalisation drive accelerates

Explosives and mining chemicals group AECI is moving to secure green ammonia for use in the production of lower-carbon explosives, demand for which is expected to grow in some of the mining... 

Transnet says reforms advancing to enable third-party rail access

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet reports that the vertical separation of its rail business is on track and that the operating models and organisational designs for the rail operating... 

Grid rules should favour shovel-ready projects whether public or private – Minister

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa indicates that he is in favour of grid-access rules that ensure as much new capacity is added as quickly as possible regardless of whether...