Eskom now targeting full year loadshedding-free milestone as it breaches 300-day mark

Eskom group executive for generation Bheki Nxumalo says the utility is focussed on ensuring that South Africa achieves a full year without loadshedding at midnight on March 26, after the 300-day... 

Global gas markets set to remain tight in 2025 – IEA

Global natural gas markets reached an all-time high last year and are set to remain tight in 2025 despite an ongoing rebalancing following the supply shock of 2022/23, the International Energy... 

Ramokgopa to showcase South Africa’s energy investment prospects at Davos

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that South Africa’s energy market reforms and investment opportunities will be showcased at the World Economic Forum in Davos,... 

Eskom appoints renewables executive as it targets initial 2 GW by 2026

Eskom has appointed Exxaro’s Rivoningo Mnisi as its new group executive for renewables in line with the coal-dominant utility’s stated goal of becoming a “significant player” in the renewable... 

Senior National Treasury official Lekhethe to lead IDC

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, a senior official from the National Treasury, as the first woman CEO of the State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).... 

Eskom outlines ‘aspirational’ generation vision in meeting with lawmakers

Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane has outlined an “aspirational” and largely unfunded new generation project pipeline to progressively replace its aged and polluting coal fleet. Having previously... 

100 MW Free State solar project represents IPP empowerment landmark

The selection of Pele Green Energy (PGE) to supply renewable energy to the South African ferrochrome smelters operated by the Glencore Merafe Venture represents an important milestone in the steady... 

Unsurprising yet painful

News that the struggling Newcastle Works will close at the end of this month is yet another painful reminder of South Africa’s ongoing deindustrialisation. The development itself is not surprising,... 

IEA report points to revival in nuclear interest

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report argues that nuclear capacity could double to 870 GW by 2050 in light of renewed interest in the building of new nuclear plants, including small... 

Much at stake as Itac moves on ‘flagship’ review of steel tariffs

The review of South Africa’s steel tariff structure set to be undertaken by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has been described as the largest ever and is,... 

Inland port body dubs publication of Network Statement as ‘transformative moment’

The Multi-Modal Inland Port Association (MIPA), which represents six inland ports in South Africa and one in Namibia, has added its voice to a growing chorus of support for the newly released rail... 

Itac expects to finalise review of scrap export regulations during first half of 2025

International Trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) chief commissioner Ayabonga Cawe reports that a summary report relating to the commission’s review of the Price Preference System (PPS) for... 

Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager gears up to allocate first rail slots to private operators

South Africa’s recently established Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) is gearing up for the allocation of the first route slots to private train operating companies (TOCs) in line with... 

The dtic says it will continue to seek ‘workable resolution’ to closure of AMSA’s longs unit

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) says it intends to continue its engagements with ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) “until a workable resolution to the problems faced by... 

Itac confirms review of steel tariff structure amid ‘regrettable’ Newcastle closure

The International trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) has confirmed that it is undertaking a review of the steel tariff structure alongside surveillance of the upstream, midstream and... 

No reprieve likely this time after talks on Newcastle mill’s survival fail

The failure of a task team established to chart a survival strategy for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) Newcastle Works, in KwaZulu-Natal, culminated in the JSE-listed steel group notifying... 

AMSA confirms closure of Newcastle Works as it issues profit warning

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has announced that it will close its long-products business in a move that will affect 3 500 direct and indirect jobs and which is likely to have... 

Updated IRP report to be released ahead of Cabinet approval, Mathe confirms

South African National Energy Development Institute CEO Dr Titus Mathe has confirmed that a report containing a remodelled Integrated Resource Plan for 2024 (IRP2024) and incorporating stakeholder... 

Trading blows

Trade and industrial policy will play a more prominent and potentially more destabilising role given that President-elect Donald Trump has signalled his intention to leverage tariffs as part of his... 

100 MW Free State solar project represents IPP empowerment landmark

The selection of Pele Green Energy (PGE) to supply renewable energy to the South African ferrochrome smelters operated by the Glencore Merafe Venture represents an important milestone in the steady... 

South Africa tests market appetite for Independent Transmission Projects ahead of pilot

South Africa has issued a request for information (RFI) to gauge the level of interest and readiness of industry to participate in Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) as it prepares to launch... 

Ramokgopa seeks to catalyse Japanese finance for green hydrogen projects

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is in Japan this week in a bid to secure financial backing for flagship South African green-hydrogen projects in the Eastern and Northern... 

Eskom provides update on coal plants where decommissioning has been delayed to 2030

State-owned electricity utility Eskom has provided some additional detail regarding the decision to continue operating 17 coal units across five power stations beyond their original decommissioning... 

Senior National Treasury official Lekhethe appointed to lead IDC

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, a senior official from the National Treasury, as the first woman CEO of the State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).... 

NTCSA says independent transmission projects must not reflect as balance-sheet liability

The head of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has confirmed that the entity’s board will insist that any independent transmission projects (ITPs) procured in the coming years... 

Ramokgopa again proposes relief from Eskom hike

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who is Eskom’s shareholder Minister, has reiterated his opposition to the utility receiving a 36.15% tariff hike next year, while also... 

Time to make IRP updating routine

After the false start of January when the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 (IRP2023) was released to much criticism and even incredulity, an effort is now under way to have a revamped IRP2024... 

Eskom outlines ‘aspirational’ generation vision in meeting with lawmakers

Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane has outlined an “aspirational” and largely unfunded new generation project pipeline to progressively replace its aged and polluting coal fleet. Having previously... 

NTCSA still mulling private participation in grid roll-out but confirms deployment ‘step change’ needed

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has told lawmakers that a “step change” will be needed in the delivery of new grid infrastructure if 14 500 km of new powerlines and 133 000... 

Germany commits R5.2bn to South Africa and promises to deepen cooperation ahead of Joburg G20

Germany has committed further funding of €276.5-million (about R5.2-billion) to South Africa for the period to 2026 to support several initiatives, including skills development and South Africa’s... 

Simmering steel tensions coming to boil as Newcastle mill’s survival comes under spotlight again

Long simmering tensions in South Africa’s steel sector appear to be coming to a boil following a joint statement by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and ArcelorMittal... 

South Africa’s third battery bidding round attracts 33 project submissions

A total of 33 bids have been submitted for South Africa’s latest bidding round for 616 MW/2 464 MWh of utility-scale battery storage capacity that is being procured across five pre-selected... 

Energy council calls for overhaul of public IPP procurement model

The Energy Council of South Africa has called for an overhaul of the way government procures new electricity generation and storage capacity from independent power producers (IPPs), describing the... 

First hot-rolled coil produced at Scaw’s new R5bn mill

The first hot-rolled coil (HRC) has been produced at Scaw Metals’ Union Junction complex in Ekurhuleni, heralding the reintroduction of competition into South Africa’s flat-steel market. The... 

From crisis to . . .

It was fascinating to listen to Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati outline, in a recent exchange with the Centre for Development and Enterprises’ Ann Bernstein, why he believed the latest turnaround... 

Updated IRP report to be released ahead of Cabinet approval, Mathe confirms

South African National Energy Development Institute CEO Dr Titus Mathe has confirmed that a report containing a remodelled Integrated Resource Plan for 2024 (IRP2024) and incorporating stakeholder... 

IMF urges South Africa to prioritise ongoing electricity and logistics reform to enhance growth prospects

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has again urged South Africa to implement its economic reforms “ambitiously”, while arguing for priority to be given to reforms in the electricity and... 

DMRE to push for Cabinet approval of new-look IRP by end-March despite big revisions

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has reiterated its aim of securing Cabinet approval for a new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity by the end of March after... 

Scatec’s new sub-Saharan Africa head keen to advance 5GW project pipeline

The newly appointed head of Scatec’s sub-Saharan Africa business, Alberto Gambacorta, says the group is pursuing a 5 GW pipeline of renewable energy and storage opportunities in the region and... 

Green-hydrogen secretariat being set up at IDC as single point of contact for public and private coordination

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is in the process of setting up the institutional capacity to house the Green Hydrogen Just Energy Transition (JET) Secretariat, which is...