Aspirant IPP advancing 1 GW flexible gas-engine project in Mpumalanga

Aspirant independent power producer (IPP) FlexED is developing a 1 000 MW gas-engine project in Mpumalanga to provide the flexible generation and ancillary services that will be required as the... 

Rail industry hails pre-procurement market testing, but calls for urgency to clear way for train operators

The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) has welcomed the launch of a pre-procurement market sounding exercise by the South African government with regard to private sector participation (PSP)... 

South Africa considering export taxes and quotas to revive ferroalloy smelters – Mantashe

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that discussions are under way within government and with manganese and chrome producers in an effort to halt the decline in domestic... 

Back to the future?

There’s some concern that government is delaying the inevitable, after more support was extended to ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to facilitate a six-month pause of the shutdown of its longs... 

South Africa aims to use US tariff pause to have formal talks on ‘mutually beneficial’ trade deal

Having received confirmation that the 30% reciprocal tariffs imposed on South African exports by President Donald Trump have been paused, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says... 

America’s application of tariff-setting formula ‘hugely inflated’ South Africa’s trade surplus

South Africa’s trade surplus with the US, which was used to calculate the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, has been “hugely inflated”, says Professor Lawrence... 

Transnet moves to shortlist bidders ahead of rail leasing company tender

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has initiated a process to select a private partner for a new leasing company, or ‘LeaseCo’, that will lease rail rolling stock to private train... 

B20 task forces aiming to finalise policy recommendations for G20 by September

The eight B20 South Africa task forces set up to make business-led policy proposals for consideration at the G20 Summit in November aim to finalise their recommendations by September. The B20 is... 

R132bn of private renewables to be built in South Africa by 2030 – report

A new Green Cape report is forecasting that 6 GW of new private solar PV and 3.5 GW of new private wind capacity will be installed in South Africa by 2030, involving total investments of... 

Draft regulations mark yet another step towards private grid investment

In yet another step towards clearing the path for South Africa’s inaugural procurement of independent transmission projects (ITPs), draft regulations have been published for a 30-day public comment... 

Auto council urges urgent trade talks, as Trump’s tariffs imperil R35bn in exports

The industry body that represents South African carmakers has called on government to initiate urgent trade discussions with the US, warning that the costs associated with the 25% tariffs being... 

Retaliatory tariffs against US would be ‘counterproductive’, South Africa’s Tau says

South Africa has confirmed that it has no intention of imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US after President Donald Trump announced that South African imports faced so-called “reciprocal tariffs”... 

75 MW Northern Cape solar project advances

A 75 MW solar PV project being developed near De Aar in the Northern Cape to supply an energy aggregator has advanced to financial close. The Du Plessis Dam Solar PV2 facility is being built by... 

Electricity demand fell again last year amid rapid growth of solar installations

Demand for electricity in South Africa continued to trend down in 2024, a new Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) report confirms. It shows that peak demand was a per cent lower... 

TRIM confirms 98 applications for rail slots but new tariff uncertainty clouds third-party outlook

The newly established Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has confirmed that it received 98 applications for slots being made available across the network to private train operating... 

New narrative

Developments in those transport sectors hitherto dominated by Transnet reflect not only a belated acknowledgement of South Africa’s fiscal predicament, but also a growing awareness of the risk... 

Auto council urges urgent trade talks, as Trump’s tariffs imperil R35bn in exports

The industry body that represents South African carmakers has called on government to initiate urgent trade discussions with the US, warning that the costs associated with the 25% tariffs being... 

As US imposes 30% tariff on South African exports, Presidency reiterates desire for new bilateral trade deal

South Africa’s Presidency has expressed concern over new tariffs that have been imposed on South African exports to the US following President Donald Trump’s April 2 'Liberation Day' announcement.... 

IDC mulls bigger AMSA stake after granting R1.68bn loan to halt longs closure for six months

Steel group ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has confirmed that the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is considering taking a larger equity stake in the JSE-listed group and will conduct a... 

Pilot procurement of 1 164 km of powerlines from private investors to be launched in Nov

South Africa intends launching a pilot programme for the procurement of 1 164 km of 400-kV powerlines, involving seven corridors in three provinces, in November as part of an initiative to mobilise... 

George insists new air-pollution exemptions for eight Eskom coal stations not a ‘blanket reprieve’

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has granted Eskom air-pollution exemptions for eight power stations that would otherwise have been forced to close on April 1. He... 

Steel firms run ‘collateral damage’ risk if they fail to respond to big Itac tariff review

A leading trade adviser is urging companies and individuals with interests in South Africa’s steel value chain to respond to the International Trade Administration Commission’s (Itac’s) call for... 

New credit guarantee vehicle to derisk grid projects to be launched in 2026

A credit guarantee vehicle to mobilise private sector capital by derisking projects will be launched in 2026, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his delayed Budget speech. He confirmed... 

Equipment revival at South African port terminals underpinning move from stabilisation to recovery

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) CEO Jabu Mdaki believes the steady flow of new equipment, together with improved relations with key original equipment and part suppliers as well as shipping lines,... 

CONCESSION CALL

A request for proposals has been issued for companies to bid for a 25-year concession at the Port of Durban’s Maydon Wharf precinct. The precinct covers 145 ha and has 15 berths with a yearly... 

Striking the right Budget balance

There are arguably three ways to view recent developments around South Africa’s Budget process. The first, is to lament. 

Cabinet to consider new Economic Growth Plan, as it mulls including gas in Operation Vulindlela

South Africa’s Cabinet is planning to hold a special meeting on an ‘Economic Growth Plan’ for the country, while it will also consider additional reforms to fall under Operation Vulindlela, the... 

Rail industry hails pre-procurement market testing, but calls for urgency to clear way for train operators

The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) has welcomed the launch of a pre-procurement market sounding exercise by the South African government with regard to private sector participation (PSP)... 

South African Renewable Energy Masterplan approved for implementation by Cabinet

Cabinet has finally approved the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), which will seek to leverage green industrialisation opportunities from the country’s deployment of wind, solar... 

Ivanplats signs ten-year green-electricity deal with Enpower for Platreef

Registered energy trader Enpower Trading has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with platinum mine developer Ivanplats for the yearly delivery of 48.30 GWh of renewable electricity to... 

Decision on Eskom’s application for more air pollution exemptions to be announced on March 31

Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George will on March 31 announce a decision regarding Eskom’s application for additional minimum emission standards (MES) exemptions for... 

South Africa considering export taxes and quotas to revive ferroalloy smelters – Mantashe

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that discussions are under way within government and with manganese and chrome producers in an effort to halt the decline in domestic... 

PPC concludes long-term contract for supply of wheeled solar electricity to four plants

JSE-listed cement producer PPC has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Yellow Door Energy (YDE) for the supply of renewable electricity, wheeled through the Eskom grid, to four of... 

Creecy moves to test private sector appetite for rail and port partnerships

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has launched an online request for information (RFI) process to test market appetite for potential private sector participation (PSP) investments in selected rail... 

Cape Town moves to open electricity grid to traders after pilot

After the conclusion of a year-long electricity ‘wheeling’ pilot project, the City of Cape Town is opening its electricity grid to private electricity sales and trading. During the pilot phase, 562... 

R40bn Eastern Cape green energy cluster expected to reach financial close in 2027

Emerging electricity retail brand Earth & Wire is aiming to achieve financial close on a R40-billion renewables and storage cluster in the Eastern Cape by the third quarter of 2027 and begin... 

New World Bank report proposes four priorities for accelerating South Africa’s growth

A new World Bank report argues that South Africa can raise growth and employment by pursuing four priorities aimed primarily at stimulating market competition and bolstering the efficiency of... 

Eskom’s four seasons

Listening recently to a live rendition of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as South Africa descended into yet another unwelcome bout of loadshedding, it did not require much imagination to compare... 

Comment sought on proposed R100bn Transformation Fund to support black-owned firms

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has released draft details of a plan to establish a new R100-billion Transformation Fund, which will aggregate private, public and developmental... 

Eskom describes implementation of structural tariff changes as necessary shock to system

Eskom has acknowledged that there will be differentiated tariff impacts for various categories of electricity customers following the regulator’s approval of a new retail tariff plan (RTP) for...