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... 

IPP Office to defend legal attempt by BW5 preferred bidders to prevent payout of bid bonds

The Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office has confirmed that it will oppose a legal attempt by two renewables consortia to prevent the payout of preferred-bidder guarantees called after their... 

Far-reaching consequences

By the time you read this, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will be about halfway through its nationwide public hearings into Eskom’s sixth multiyear price determination... 

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 moots policy interventions to provide 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... 

Remodelled draft IRP to be unveiled next week for limited public consultation

A remodelled Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity will be released to the public next week and is expected to deviate materially from the heavily criticised draft IRP2023, which was... 

Two more battery projects achieve financial close, next set of bidders to be announced within weeks

Two more battery storage projects selected as preferred bids under South Africa’s first public procurement bid window (BW1) for the technology have achieved commercial close. The projects have a... 

Affordability and Eskom inefficiencies come under scrutiny as Nersa hearings kick off

The issues of electricity affordability and Eskom’s inefficiencies emerged as recurring themes as the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) kicked off nationwide public hearings in Cape... 

South Africa to seek rise in yearly climate finance pledge to $1.3tr at COP29

South Africa will call for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to be set at $1.3-trillion yearly during the upcoming COP29 climate negotiations, which will be held in Baku,... 

New Just Energy Transition matchmaking platform aiming for R600m in grant disbursements in 2025

A new matchmaking platform to directly link providers of grant funding pledged to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) with domestic beneficiaries is aiming to ensure the... 

Trading in focus

Few would disagree that aggregators and traders will have an important and increasing role in South Africa’s future electricity market. Even in the current environment, where the industry is still... 

AFD approves another €400m JET-linked policy loan to South Africa

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has approved another €400-million policy-based loan to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET), increasing its approvals to €700-million out of... 

IPP Office confirms ongoing dispute with 13 projects over payment of bid bonds

The head of South Africa’s Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that it has called the bid bonds for 14 projects that failed to advance to commercial close during the fifth bid... 

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... 

Hearing into Eskom’s far-reaching retail tariff plan set for Dec 18

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has published timelines for the processing Eskom’s retail tariff plan (RTP) application, in which potentially far-reaching changes to the... 

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

IPP Office to oversee pilot procurement of private independent transmission projects

Government has confirmed that the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO), which has overseen the public procurement of more than 7 300 MW of operational renewable-energy capacity since 2011, will... 

‘Deep collaboration’ through regional value chains could unlock rapid African industrialisation

There is potential to catalyse rapid industrialisation in Africa by pursuing policies that  actively leverage both existing demand and continental moves towards trade integration to increase the... 

IPP sourcing tweaks to unlock 10 GW of renewables amid grid pressures and green industrialisation vision mulled

The South African government is considering far-reaching changes to the way public procurement of independent power producer (IPP) generation capacity is being carried out so as to accelerate...