Exploration-driven mining revival would reignite industrialisation

Rather than focusing narrowly on minerals beneficiation, South African policymakers have been urged to pay much closer attention to reigniting and expanding the market for the country’s already... 

Additional reforms needed to tackle South Africa's ‘unemployment catastrophe’, think tank argues

A new report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) calls for additional policy reforms to tackle the country’s “unemployment catastrophe”, which is excluding more than 12.5-million... 

Despite some immediate CBAM reprieve, South African industry warns of serious potential fallout

A postponement from incorporating indirect carbon emissions into the European Union’s (EU’s) calculation of a product’s embedded emissions under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will... 

Classifying Eskom’s coal fuel costs as fixed would damage SAWEM

Allowing Eskom Generation to classify the primary energy used by its coal power stations as fixed costs will undermine the objective of using the upcoming launch of the South African Wholesale... 

Mega-scale 506 MW Free State solar cluster takes another big step forward

A mega-scale solar and battery storage hub is under construction on a 560 ha site in the grid-ready Free State province – a development that comprises two solar PV farms with a combined capacity of... 

25-year extensions of Island View liquid-bulk terminal leases to boost fuel security – Creecy

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has issued a directive instructing the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to renew the leases of existing liquid-bulk terminal operators in the Island View... 

When to intervene?

When should a Minister intervene at a State-owned company or independent regulator? It’s a difficult question to answer, and will remain so for as long as Ministers have shareholder... 

Bala appointed as NTCSA CEO as decision on ‘end state’ nears

Eskom veteran Monde Bala has been appointed as CEO of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), effective October 1, having served in the position on an interim basis for the past two... 

Eskom outlines R320bn capex plan, as it signals 2028 return to capital markets

Having finally announced the completion at the end of September of its generation build programme, which included two mega coal projects that ran years behind schedule and tens of billions over... 

Eskom warns that municipal debt could climb to R300bn by 2030

Eskom CFO Calib Cassim warns that municipal arrear debt owing to Eskom could exceed R300-billion by 2030, while once again highlighting the failure of the current National Treasury initiative to... 

Eskom stays legal case against traders, says it has faith in Nersa process

Eskom has announced a stay in its legal action to have the regulator’s decision to licence five electricity traders in 2024 reviewed and set aside. In July, Eskom launched its long-threatened legal... 

Eskom now modelling single-digit tariff hikes, Marokane reports

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that the State-owned company is being geared towards receiving no more than single-digit tariff increases in future in recognition of the affordability pressures... 

Eskom chair says future tariff hikes should be in line with inflation

Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati says the next mission of the board is to drive electricity affordability in a way that ensures that future electricity tariff increases do not exceed the rate of... 

Nersa launches market inquiry into impact of fixed charges on electricity customers

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has launched a market inquiry into the impact of fixed charges being levied by Eskom and municipal electricity distributors, which it claims... 

Fraught Eskom build programme completed as Kusile Unit 6 enters commercial operation

Unit 6 at Kusile power station has officially entered into commercial operation, which Eskom says marks the end of its multi-decade build programme – one which experienced well-publicised delays,... 

Ramokgopa says electricity package for ferrochrome smelters to include ‘significant concessions’

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has confirmed that government is finalising an electricity package for the ferrochrome sector that goes beyond the negotiated pricing agreement... 

Business considers partnership to halt Joburg’s decline along lines of loadshedding intervention

The CEO-led business partnership that is currently assisting the South African government with the implementation of turnaround initiatives in electricity, transport, crime and youth unemployment... 

Big few months ahead in countdown to South African Wholesale Electricity Market

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has provided a detailed breakdown of the steps being taken in preparation for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market... 

First private train operators expected to enter network over coming 12 to 36 months

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips reports that negotiations are under way to conclude contracts with the first 11 private train operating companies (TOCs) that have qualified to take up slots on the... 

Electrotech vision

South Africa is thankfully surfacing from a of period of prolonged electricity disruption that all but stripped the country of its ability to grow and create jobs for more than a decade. But this... 

New smart meter-led strategy unveiled to tackle load reduction scourge

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has unveiled a new smart meter-led strategy to address the ongoing problem of load reduction, where the supply of electricity to poor... 

Tariff investigations now taking 27 months on average to complete, report shows

Import duty investigations in South Africa are currently taking an average of 27 months to complete – more than four times the official target of six months, and with the oldest open tariff probe... 

Newly consolidated renewables major, Anthem, sets 6 GW goal for 2030

Two well-established South African renewables companies – African Clean Energy Developments and EIMS Africa – have officially combined to form a new large-scale independent power producer (IPP)... 

Ramokgopa says inquorate Necsa board to be replaced by new board within three weeks

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says a new board will be appointed at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) before the middle of October, replacing the... 

Treasury optimistic R2bn smart-meter scheme can help arrest Eskom arrear debt crisis

Having rolled-out 67 000 smart meters across eight pilot municipalities in 2024/25 as part of an effort to improve revenue management at municipalities that owe Eskom billions in outstanding arear... 

Market countdown

It is understandable that few are fully aware of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) and the likely significance of this complex reform, which represents an important... 

25-year extensions of Island View liquid-bulk terminal leases to boost fuel security – Creecy

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has issued a directive instructing the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to renew the leases of existing liquid-bulk terminal operators in the Island View... 

Tribunal dismisses predatory pricing complaint against AMSA, as longs wind-down deadline nears

The Competition Tribunal has dismissed an application for interim relief against ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) sought by steel producers Cape Gate and Scaw South Africa, which alleged that AMSA... 

Mega-scale 506 MW Free State solar cluster takes another big step forward

A mega-scale solar and battery storage hub is under construction on a 560 ha site in the grid-ready Free State province – a development that comprises two solar PV farms with a combined capacity of... 

Failure to strike right tariff restructuring balance will undermine SAWEM

With preparations under way for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) in 2026, new research highlights how decisions on the future regulated tariff structure,... 

IEA lowers 2030 low-emissions hydrogen production outlook

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has lowered its outlook for the amount of low-emissions hydrogen it expects will be produced yearly by 2030, following recent project delays and cancellations.... 

Firms across steel value chain gear up to reply to Itac’s sweeping tariff proposal

Companies across South Africa’s steel value chain are gearing up to submit responses to a preliminary determination by the International Trade Commission of South Africa (Itac) that proposes the... 

Warning that qualifying criteria for private grid procurement could sideline domestic industry

Concern continues to be raised over the technical and financial criteria being used to prequalify bidders for South Africa’s inaugural independent transmission project (ITP) tender, which critics... 

Coal destoning investment to lift Secunda volumes – Sasol

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that construction of its coal destoning plant has been completed and that the facility, which should be ramped up to full production by December, is... 

HARD TIMES

ArcelorMittal South Africa announced earlier this month that it had placed the Newcastle blast furnace into temporary care and maintenance and had initiated retrenchment processes. While... 

Tariff pushback

The extreme pace of the 2025 news cycle has made it difficult to remember even the most important developments. For instance, it is difficult to recall the immediate concern raised in January over... 

Big few months ahead in countdown to South African Wholesale Electricity Market

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has provided a detailed breakdown of the steps being taken in preparation for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market... 

Ramaphosa calls for collective BRICS response to ‘seismic shifts’ in global trade

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the increasingly protectionist environment arising from unilateral tariff actions pose great dangers for countries such as South Africa, and has called for BRICS... 

Nersa’s approval of AMSA applications may spark fresh dispute with Eskom

Another dispute may be looming between Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). This one, over the regulator’s decision to approve ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s)... 

First private train operators expected to enter network over coming 12 to 36 months

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips reports that negotiations are under way to conclude contracts with the first 11 private train operating companies (TOCs) that have qualified to take up slots on the...