Nersa’s approval of curtailment rules expected to unlock wind projects in Eastern and Western Cape provinces

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says the decision by the Energy Regulator to approve a curtailment framework will help unlock scarce grid connection capacity for wind projects... 

New normal loading

In a world turned upside down by the performative antics of US President Donald Trump, it is easy to lose one’s bearings and one’s cool. And while the South Africans that entered the White House... 

Soweto’s Nasrec Expo Centre named as venue for G20 Leaders Summit

Cabinet has endorsed the selection of the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Soweto, as the venue for the G20 Leaders Summit, which will be hosted in November. Located alongside the iconic Soccer City stadium,... 

Lawmakers updated on plans to procure first independent transmission projects

The Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office has confirmed that a request for qualification will be issued in July in preparation for the first phase of the procurement of independent transmission... 

Ramaphosa insists relations with the US have been ‘reset’ despite tense Oval Office meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa insisted on Tuesday that South Africa’s deteriorating relationship with the US had been “reset” following recent meetings with President Donald Trump, notwithstanding an... 

Malatsi insists transformation ‘sacrosanct’ as he comes under fire from lawmakers over equity equivalent directive

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi faced fierce push back from lawmakers on Tuesday to his proposed policy direction opening the way for multinational broadband service... 

DBSA invests R100m into EV charging station company

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has made a R100-million equity investment into electric vehicle (EV) charging station company CHARGE, which aims to develop a network of ultra-fast... 

Ramaphosa says Trump agreed to US attending G20 Summit in Joburg

Writing in his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that President Donald Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders’... 

Mantashe wants newly launched SANPC to lead oil refining revival

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has indicated that he wants the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) to play a central role in reviving domestic... 

Operation Vulindlela to now include municipal rescue, urban densification and digital transformation

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate... 

Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while... 

Less haste, more speed?

Updating South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity has always been a perilous endeavour. Despite various attempts, it took nearly ten years for the 2010 edition to be updated,... 

Promises of major reforms to Budget process and spending as Godongwana tables Budget 3.0

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana indicated that major reforms are being considered to both State spending and the actual Budget process when tabling a third version of the contentious 2025 Budget... 

R285m Port of Richards Bay container facility to be operational in 2028

A R285-million container handling facility will be developed at the Port of Richards Bay’s Bayvue precinct, following the signing of an agreement between the Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture and... 

Sasol slashes emission-reduction capex but insists 30% target remains intact

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has announced a dramatic 70% cut to the capital expenditure (capex) budget associated with its greenhouse-gas emission reduction roadmap to 2030, while still... 

Township entrepreneurs begin adopting plug-and-play solar solution

The market for a pioneering solar-battery solution tailored to meet the needs of informal businesses such as spaza shops, salons, tailors, mechanics and restaurants operating in South Africa’s... 

Tau insists participating in R100bn Transformation Fund will be entirely voluntary

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has again insisted that no new demands will be imposed on business and industry because of the establishment of the R100-billion Transformation... 

Review of 82 tariff codes for solar, wind and battery inputs could have far-reaching implications

A tariff review by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) of input materials and components used in wind, solar PV and battery storage facilities could have... 

Eskom’s R321bn capex plan has strong focus on grid, renewables and gas

State-owned electricity producer Eskom has unveiled details of a R321.72-billion capital expenditure (capex) plan for the coming five years, which includes plans for a material rise in grid-related... 

Opaque policymaking

The announcement by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50% was... 

Discovery Green, Sasol team up to offer wheeled green electricity to SMEs

Energy trader Discovery Green and fuels and chemical group Sasol have teamed up to form a new venture that will supply wheeled renewable electricity to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)... 

Ramokgopa reaffirms Nedlac deliberations on IRP to be ‘last step’ before Cabinet approval

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokogopa has reaffirmed that deliberations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) are the “last step left” ahead of... 

Outage slippages blamed for sixth bout of loadshedding of 2025

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has fingered cumulative outage slippages of 3 100 MW as the reason behind South Africa’s latest bout of loadshedding – the sixth this year.... 

Greencoat Renewables aims to make JSE debut in June

European renewable energy infrastructure company Greencoat Renewables is seeking a secondary listing on the JSE’s Alternative Exchange, or AltX. The company is already listed on the Alternative... 

Transport department extends deadline for response to rail, ports RFI to May 30

The Department of Transport (DoT) has extended, to May 30, a deadline for responses to a request for information (RFI) on potential private sector participation (PSP) projects in the rail and port... 

Government Business Partnership commits to ‘intensified phase’ amid growth headwinds

The Government Business Partnership has agreed to what is being described as an “intensified phase” of delivery on the priority interventions vital to economic growth and job creation following a... 

Nersa’s approval of curtailment rules expected to unlock wind projects in Eastern and Western Cape

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says the decision by the Energy Regulator to approve a curtailment framework will help unlock scarce grid connection capacity for wind projects... 

Eskom planning ‘open day’ to market newly launched virtual wheeling solution

Eskom intends hosting an open day for independent power producers (IPPs) and aggregators in the near future to market its virtual wheeling solution, which was officially launched at the end of... 

Newly minted electricity department outlines grid and renewables targets to lawmakers

The newly separated Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) has outlined its vision and mission to lawmakers, listing among its priorities for the coming five years the procurement of 20 GW of... 

Rising role of South Africa’s private offtaker market underscored in latest Global Wind Report

The growing role of the private offtaker market in stimulating the South African wind sector has been highlighted in the latest 'Global Wind Report', which has been released by the Global Wind... 

Unavoidable trade-offs

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has initiated two major tariff reviews that could have significant implications for the country’s existing real-economy... 

Concern lingers over both content of updated IRP and lack of consultation

Serious questions continue to be raised about both the content of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity currently being discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour... 

Operation Vulindela’s reform lens widened to include municipal rescue, urban densification and digital transformation

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate... 

Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use without harming supply resilience

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while... 

New wheeling framework will stimulate generation competition, Ramokgopa states

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has described the wheeling framework approved by the regulator as highly “consequential” for the sector, as well as for meeting government’s... 

Eskom aims to smooth maintenance profile after difficult summer

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has indicated that the State-owned utility is planning to “smooth” its maintenance profile over a longer horizon to avoid the security-of-supply risks currently associated... 

Ramokgopa announces big increase in gas-to-power load factor to 50%-plus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50%. Speaking... 

Exxaro views collaboration with Eskom as key to lowering of Scope 3 emissions

JSE-listed coal and energy group Exxaro Resources and State-owned electricity producer Eskom have announced they will collaborate on research initiatives and projects to reduce carbon emissions and... 

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... 

Window of opportunity

The full implications for South Africa of US President Donald Trump’s untargeted trade and industrial policies are not yet fully known. They are unlikely to be pain-free, however. Besides for the...