SAWEM market code and rules to be first order of business for new Nersa advisory forum

The immediate priority of the Electricity Market Advisory Forum (EMAF), which was appointed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in December, will be to offer input on the... 

Solar body concerned that revised Eskom unbundling plan could stymie crucial grid investment

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has added its voice to those expressing concern about the potential negative consequences arising from the revised unbundling plan for... 

Central defensive midfield

In his prime, it was typical for fans of those teams in which French international footballer N'Golo Kanté played, including Chelsea, to quip that “70% of the Earth is covered by water, the rest by... 

Draft amendments to B-BBEE codes open way for Transformation Fund

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has Gazetted proposed amendments to the existing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes of good practice in a bid to open the way... 

Energy Regulator grants 87c/kWh tariff relief to ferrochrome smelters

The Electricity Regulator has approved an application by Eskom to extend temporary tariff relief to ferrochrome producers Samancor Chrome and the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture for a period of 12... 

Sanedi exec floats idea of zero-rated electricity as affordability concerns grow

Amid growing concern over the affordability of electricity for businesses and households, the head of the energy secretariat at the South Africa National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) has... 

Creation of ‘competitive’ electricity, logistics markets key next priorities for Government Business Partnership

Implementing reforms in the electricity and logistics sectors to facilitate the establishment of “commercially viable, competitive markets in these network industries”, has been identified as a key... 

Nersa mulls interim tariff solution for ferrochrome smelters amid parallel work targeting 62c/kWh

Eskom has requested the energy regulator to approve an interim tariff of 87c/kWh in favour of Samancor Chrome and the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture as a temporary measure to sustain smelter... 

New dashboard confirms strong pipeline of advanced grid-connected projects

A total of 332 generation and storage projects with a combined nameplate of 31.7 GW have either received budget quotes for grid connection in South Africa or have budget-quote applications pending... 

Germany reaffirms €2.68bn commitment to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition

Germany's special envoy for the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa Rainer Baake says his country’s ongoing commitment to the initiative is reflected by the fact that Germany has... 

New analysis points to dramatic reshaping of trade lanes amid tariffs and geopolitical tensions

A new scenario analysis of global trade points to ongoing trade growth over the coming decade despite the imposition of tariffs and rising geopolitical fragmentation. However, it also suggests that... 

Stability versus resilience

The revised Eskom unbundling strategy announced is emerging as something of a touchstone for government’s commitment – or otherwise – to reforming the structure of an electricity industry that has... 

Presidency official says unbundling of Eskom should not be pursued ‘half-heartedly’

The Presidency’s Rudi Dicks, who is overseeing the economic reforms being implemented under Operation Vulindlela, says the unbundling of Eskom’s transmission business cannot be done... 

New online tool offers instant assessment of a project’s ‘just transition’ credentials

A new online portal has been launched to enable project originators and/or financiers to determine quickly whether the project being assessed aligns with the principles of South Africa’s just... 

Cost of ferrochrome electricity deal cannot be ‘socialised’, Ramokgopa reiterates

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reiterated that the cost of the solution being pursued to salvage South Africa’s ferrochrome smelters, most of which have been closed on... 

IMF forecasts 1.4% growth for South Africa in 2026, while highlighting risks to global growth outlook

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made a small 0.2 percentage point upward revision to South Africa’s projected growth for 2026 in its January World Economic Outlook (WEO), forecasting that... 

Unilever South Africa lifts local content to 80% as it moves to embed supply-chain resilience

The producer of a diverse range of well-known household brands – from Sunlight soap and OMO washing powder, to Vaseline and Robertsons Spices – reports that it has increased the local content in... 

New battery manufacturing body wants local content designated in large industrial and utility-scale projects

Six local lithium battery and inverter manufacturers have joined forces to form the South African Battery Manufacturers Association (SABMA) in an effort to raise awareness of the country’s energy... 

SAPVIA sees ongoing solar market recovery laying basis for industrialisation, but warns against narrow focus on modules

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says demand for solar PV in 2025 continued to recover from the 2024 slowdown, which followed on from the loadshedding-induced surge of... 

Danger signs

“We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time,”... 

SAWEM market code and rules to be first order of business for new Nersa advisory forum

The immediate priority of the Electricity Market Advisory Forum (EMAF), which was appointed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in December, will be to offer input on the... 

Solar body concerned that revised Eskom unbundling plan could stymie crucial grid investment

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has added its voice to those expressing concern about the potential negative consequences arising from the revised unbundling plan for... 

Eskom’s revised unbundling plan in focus as grid constraint continues to weigh on outlook

Eskom has offered assurances that the power system is more stable and predictable than it has been for the past five years in light of a strong recovery in the energy availability factor, a decline... 

New analysis points to dramatic reshaping of trade lanes amid tariffs and geopolitical tensions

A new scenario analysis of global trade points to ongoing trade growth over the coming decade despite the imposition of tariffs and rising geopolitical fragmentation. However, it also suggests that... 

DBSA says $200m Lobito loan in line with regional integration strategy

South Africa’s State-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) says its $200-million funding contribution to a larger $753-million loan agreement with the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR)... 

Eskom offers more details on envisaged roles of the NTCSA and the TSO

Eskom has provided further details on the distinctive roles it envisages being performed by the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) in relation to the transmission system when... 

NTCSA says any electricity deal to salvage Mozal must ensure its financial sustainability

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) reports that it remains open to finding a solution for the Mozal aluminium smelter. But it also insists that any new electricity supply... 

ENGIE expects to start construction of 240 MW Corona PV project in late 2026

International energy company ENGIE reports that construction of its 240 MW Corona solar PV project in the Free State should begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, after the project was named as a... 

IEA still expecting coal demand to fall by 2030 despite record 2025 demand

Global coal demand is on course to rise by 0.5% in 2025, reaching a record 8.85-billion tonnes, the ‘Coal 2025’ report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows. Nevertheless, the... 

Seven international-led consortia prequalify to bid for $1bn inaugural private grid build programme

South Africa has named seven pre-qualified bidders from an initial list of 17 respondents to the prequalification phase of the country’s inaugural independent transmission project (ITP) programme.... 

25-year deal signed for new Port of Durban LPG terminal

A 25-year terminal operator agreement to develop and operate a new R1.4-billion liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal at the Port of Durban’s Island View precinct has been concluded. The deal was... 

Nersa reinforces shift to competitive electricity market as it approves market operator licence and new grid rules

The Energy Regulator, which is the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) highest decision-making body, has made three landmark decisions in support of the country’s legislated... 

I saw the crescent . . .

As the sun sets on 2025, South Africa’s long-awaited recovery is becoming visible like the first sliver of a waxing crescent days after a new moon. While still modest, the 0.5% GDP expansion in the... 

Umoyilanga hybrid power station targets full operations in 2026 as Dassiesridge is completed

The 75 MW Umoyilanga hybrid project, which combines solar, wind and battery storage technologies across two sites to produce dispatchable electricity, has taken a step closer to its full commercial... 

Cabinet backs six-pillar Critical Minerals Strategy Implementation Plan

South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy Implementation Plan has been approved by Cabinet, which claims it will significantly contribute to economic growth and job creation. In May, Cabinet... 

Cabinet approves draft Gas Bill for processing by Parliament

Cabinet approved the submission of the draft Gas Bill 2025 to Parliament for further processing at its last scheduled meeting for 2025, which took place on December 5. Minister in The Presidency... 

DCT Pier 2 partnership with ICTSI to begin in Jan as 25-year deal is inked

An agreement has been signed opening the way for the launch on January 1 of the much-delayed 25-year private sector participation (PSP) deal between International Container Terminal Services... 

NTCSA outlines envisaged role for new TSO sans grid assets

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), which is set to remain an Eskom Holdings subsidiary and owner of the transmission assets, has moved to explain the role of the... 

New Eskom unbundling strategy delinks grid assets from future transmission system operator

A new Eskom unbundling strategy, which uncouples the grid assets from the system operator role to be performed by a separate and yet-to-be-established transmission system operator (TSO), has been... 

SAPVIA sees ongoing solar market recovery laying basis for industrialisation, but warns against narrow focus on modules

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says demand for solar PV in 2025 continued to recover from the 2024 slowdown, which followed on from the loadshedding-induced surge of...