South Africa’s 2030 decarbonisation target at risk, climate commission warns

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is cautioning that South Africa may miss its 2030 decarbonisation target in light of a decision to further delay the decommissioning of three aged coal... 

Standard Bank backs 500-MW-worth of decentralised electricity projects post reforms

Standard Bank reports that it has provided funding to South African decentralised electricity projects with a combined capacity of more than 500 MW over the past two years, following regulatory... 

SOEs to report to line departments while reform unit oversees creation of Holdco

The State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) that were previously under the stewardship of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) will report to their respective line departments in terms of policy and... 

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... 

Ramaphosa signs legislation establishing single public procurement framework

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Public Procurement Bill, which aims to create a single framework for the procurement of goods and services by all organs of state in a manner that... 

Growth and transformation two sides of one coin, Ramaphosa insists as he takes on GNU critics

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again underlined the need for higher levels of economic growth, urging lawmakers not to allow themselves “to be led into a false choice between policies that are... 

Leveraging firms

South Africa, everyone agrees, has a growth problem. The country has performed poorly when compared with its middle-income peers for more than a decade, averaging growth of only 1.1%. There is also... 

Decision to impose duties on PV modules met with surprise and support

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has expressed surprise at government’s decision to introduce a 10% import duty and rebate on “photovoltaic cells assembled in modules or... 

Vulindlela 2.0, green industrialisation, infrastructure at centre of GNU’s growth vision

A second round of economic reforms under Operation Vulindlela, together with green industrialisation and scaled-up infrastructure development have been placed at the centre of the Government of... 

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... 

Ramokgopa urges ‘timeous’ passage of Bill to usher in new SOE shareholder management model

Minister in the Presidency of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa, who has taken over the coordination of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) that previously fell under the... 

Treasury to sign agreements in transport and water sectors aimed at fast-tracking private investment

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana reports that the National Treasury is working on signing memoranda of agreement in the transport and water sectors with the goal of fast-tracking private sector... 

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... 

George promises wide consultation on 2025 decarbonisation pledge

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has promised “wide consultation” on South Africa’s next nationally determined contribution (NDC) decarbonisation pledge that will be... 

Nuclear 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,... 

Carbon intensity of our economy has become unsustainable - Ramaphosa

The carbon intensity of our economy has become unsustainable, President Cyril Ramaphosa writes in his latest weekly newsletter, published ahead of his address to a climate finance symposium being... 

South Africa continues to push for long extension to Agoa well ahead of 2025 expiry

With the expiry of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act 15 months away, South Africa is continuing to call for an early and substantial extension of the preferential trade arrangement, which has... 

'Second wave' of Operation Vulindlela set to prioritise ‘green and digital’ growth

The ‘second wave’ of government’s Operation Vulindlela initiative is poised to be widened to include additional structural reforms to those that have been pursued to date in electricity, freight... 

Eskom issues tender for 26 large transformers

Eskom reports that it has appointed five transformer companies to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale transformers that will be installed... 

Rewards and risks

The decision to again uncouple the energy portfolio from mineral resources and appoint Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the new Electricity and Energy Minister in the government of national unity has... 

Grindrod chosen for Richards Bay Port container facility

South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed Grindrod South Africa as the preferred bidder to develop and operate a container handling facility at the Port of Richards Bay,... 

City of Tshwane pushing ahead with plan to procure 1 000 MW by 2026

The City of Tshwane is signalling its intention to proceed with plans to procure and/or revive 1 000 MW of electricity generation capacity by 2026 as part of a strategy aimed at improving security... 

Eskom targets JETP funds, partnerships for 2 GW clean-energy pipeline

Having recently confirmed a decoupling of its just energy transition strategy from the decommissioning of its coal-fired power stations, Eskom is aiming to finalise business cases for a pipeline of... 

Moment of consequence?

As is the case for the country as a whole, South Africa’s industrial development is at “a moment of fundamental consequence”, to borrow a line from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration speech.... 

Ramaphosa to issue Gazette notice to clarify Presidency’s role in coordination of SOEs

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has reaffirmed that the coordination of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) previously falling under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), which is... 

Energy Regulator rescinds decision on new tariff-setting rules as Eskom prepares to apply for big hike

The Energy Regulator has rescinded its approval, made in December, of the so-called Electricity Price Determination Methodology Rules (EPDMR), which were proposed for implementation in the 2025/26... 

Decision to impose duties on PV modules met with mixture of surprise and support

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has expressed surprise at government’s decision to introduce a 10% import duty and rebate on “photovoltaic cells assembled in modules or... 

AMSA to continue operating longs business, but instability at flats unit hits earnings

Despite a negative trading update, steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has announced that it will continue to operate its longs business, the closure of which was deferred earlier this... 

New trade and industry leadership expected to use industrial policy levers to support key sectors

With industrial policy back in fashion in many economies, business and policy specialists expect new Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to prioritise measures to support key... 

Separation of energy portfolio and Ramokgopa’s appointment praised amid rising energy-transition complexity

The decision to establish a separate energy portfolio with the African National Congress’s Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister and the Democratic Alliance’s Samantha Graham as Deputy Minister has... 

South Africa preparing to pilot independent transmission projects to bolster grid’s renewables capacity

The National Treasury has confirmed that South Africa is moving to pilot a model that will enable the private sector to participate directly in the development and operation of transmission grid... 

Benchmarking study highlights slow pace of South Africa’s grid-connection system

A new benchmarking assessment of South Africa’s electricity grid access queueing mechanisms indicates that Eskom’s systems are slower and less transparent than those being implemented in developed... 

Integrate global grid-battery strategies to support roll-out, South Africa urged

South Africa should consider ways to replicate strategies employed in regions such as South Australia and California to facilitate an accelerated uptake of grid batteries, which a new International... 

Lack of transparency

The tapering of loadshedding has arguably provided the Eskom board and executive team with some much-needed time and space to consider the future of the business without the daily distraction of... 

South Africa continues to push for long extension to Agoa well ahead of 2025 expiry

With the expiry of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act 15 months away, South Africa is continuing to call for an early and substantial extension of the preferential trade arrangement, which has... 

‘Second wave’ of Operation Vulindlela set to prioritise ‘green and digital’ growth

The ‘second wave’ of government’s Operation Vulindlela initiative is poised to be widened to include additional structural reforms to those that have been pursued to date in electricity, freight... 

Eskom issues tender for 26 large transformers to panel of five selected suppliers

Eskom reports that it has appointed five transformer companies to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale transformers that will be installed... 

Eskom to apply for MES exemptions for four coal stations that will operate beyond 2030

Having secured permission to operate five aged power stations under existing minimum emission standards (MES) plant limits until their closure in 2030, Eskom has confirmed that it will be applying... 

Eskom ‘decouples’ renewables roll-out from coal-fired power station closure plan

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that a decision has been made to “decouple” the closure of its coal stations from the building, in partnership, of new renewable energy generation capacity linked to...