Private embrace

Building much-needed public infrastructure and scaling up private sector participation in the delivery of such infrastructure emerged as the key theme of the first Medium-Term Budget Policy... 

Eskom secures R125m grant from AFD to advance Tubatse pumped storage project

Eskom has signed a R125-million grant agreement with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to support the development of the proposed Tubatse pumped storage system project, located in the Elias... 

Nersa calls those wanting to make presentations on Eskom’s tariff hike to apply immediately

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has called on stakeholders wanting to make oral presentations on Eskom’s sixth multiyear price determination (MYPD6) to submit their requests... 

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... 

Sasol not in ‘sunset’ phase but transition plans cannot outpace market demand – Baloyi

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi has acknowledged that the group stands at the “threshold” of a potentially difficult energy transition but he has also disputed assertions that the carbon-heavy chemicals and... 

Eskom’s revenue application displays ‘cavalier disregard’ for negative economic and social impacts

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has urged the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to reject Eskom’s latest revenue application, which Outa says “displays a cavalier... 

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... 

Africa’s critical-minerals role highlighted as world moves into ‘Age of Electricity’

With the global energy system moving into the “Age of Electricity”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has again highlighted the central role of Africa in producing the critical minerals... 

Eskom’s tariff application reflects big rise in subsidy support for energy-intensive firms

A policy decision to allow electricity-intensive companies operating in South Africa to enter into negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Eskom is set to contribute 5.7% to any tariff increase... 

Ongoing adaptation

It is positive that the current framework used by government to procure new generation capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) is under review. These programmes have been struggling to... 

No one entity can meet South Africa’s energy investment needs, report argues

No one entity has the resources, funding or execution capability to address South Africa’s multitrillion-rand energy investment needs, a new PWC report argues, while calling for collaboration... 

In another shock move, Eskom seeks review of Nersa decision to issue four new trading licences

In another surprise move, Eskom has taken the seemingly regressive step of approaching the High Court for a review of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) decision to grant... 

R390bn in electricity investment ‘tangible evidence’ of benefits of reforms

The first phase of Operation Vulindlela, which was set up jointly by the Presidency and the National Treasury to oversee structural economic reforms, unlocked R390-billion worth of investment in... 

National Treasury still consulting on fiscal anchor policy options

The National Treasury reports that technical work is continuing on permanent measures to anchor fiscal policy and ensure debt sustainability and that a discussion document on the controversial... 

New strategies explored to address big Eskom defaulters, as Rand West City shows way under current relief scheme

The National Treasury reports that additional strategies are being explored together with stakeholder departments and Eskom to address the “critical” financial situation of the top 14 Eskom... 

Unlocking private participation in infrastructure, starting with grid, at heart of Godongwana’s ‘pro-growth agenda’

Scaling up private-sector participation (PSP) in the delivery of infrastructure emerged as a central component of the “pro-growth agenda” outlined by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his first... 

Batting away Eskom objections, Nersa approves four new electricity traders and first private import/export licence

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved four new electricity trading licences, the issuance of which had been opposed by Eskom, along with the country’s first-ever... 

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... 

Business sees third-party rail access as crucial to meeting 250Mt volume target

An initial assessment by business into what it would involve to raise yearly freight rail volumes to 250-million tons, estimates that Transnet’s recovery alone could lift yearly volumes to about... 

Danish Energy Agency backing project to validate wind resources of South Africa’s coal heartland

The Danish and South African governments are partnering on a project to map the wind resources of the coal region of Mpumalanga, where access to the grid for new renewables projects is less... 

Ramokgopa convinced ‘sweet spot’ will be found to unlock Independent Power Transmission projects

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed confidence that government and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) are close to finding the “sweet spot”... 

Age of Electricity

The recent claim made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that humanity is “moving at speed into the Age of Electricity” may not seem especially profound given that electricity has been a key... 

Carbon taxes to add further upward pressure on electricity costs, Discovery Green warns

South Africa’s disproportionate reliance on coal for electricity generation is poised to add further upward pressure on tariffs by exposing local businesses to carbon taxes that could make up over... 

Surge in Q3 renewables registrations to 2GW may signal market shift from loadshedding to economics

Despite welcome relief from loadshedding in South Africa, a total of 3.3 GW of renewable-energy projects were registered with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) this year, with... 

‘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 procurement changes mulled to unlock 10 GW of renewables amid grid pressures and green industrialisation ambitions

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... 

Scatec making final preparations for construction of R3bn Northern Cape battery project

Renewable-energy group Scatec says it is making final preparations to start construction of the R3-billion Mogobe battery energy storage system (BESS) project, which reached financial close on... 

Phillips says Transnet not yet on track to meet 193Mt rail ‘stretch target’

Meeting the 193-million-ton rail stretch target set under the newly launched second phase of the partnership between business and government would require a significant amount of work and... 

Nersa committee recommends licensing of four more traders, batting away Eskom objections

The electricity subcommittee of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has recommended the approval of four more electricity trading licences, dismissing the objections raised by... 

Low-emission hydrogen project approvals double

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows that the number of low-emission hydrogen projects to have advanced to a final investment decision (FID) stage doubled over the last 12 months,... 

Whole greater than sum of parts

The official launch of the National Transmission Company South Africa as an independent subsidiary of Eskom Holdings did indeed represent an important milestone in the restructuring of South... 

First two private utility-scale battery projects reach commercial close

Two projects selected as preferred bidders under South Africa’s inaugural Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) bidding round have advanced to... 

Africa’s critical-minerals role highlighted as world moves into ‘Age of Electricity’

With the global energy system moving into the “Age of Electricity”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has again highlighted the central role of Africa in producing the critical minerals... 

Eskom’s tariff application reflects big rise in subsidy support for energy-intensive firms

A policy decision to allow electricity-intensive companies operating in South Africa to enter into negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Eskom is set to contribute 5.7% to any tariff increase... 

As Eskom confirms 2 GW renewables plan, role of tariffs in funding roll-out comes into focus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed confidence that tariff and non-tariff solutions can be found to ensure that Eskom is able to meet the obligations set by the... 

Upcoming mini-Budget to include details on Independent Power Transmission pilot project

Details on the approach South Africa will be taking to piloting Independent Power Transmission (IPT) projects as part of a strategy to accelerate the expansion of its electricity grid will be... 

Don’t conflate Eskom-Sasol bilateral on LNG with ‘national strategy’ needed to avert gas cliff – IGUA-SA

The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA) has welcomed the attention that South Africa’s impending “gas cliff” is finally enjoying from government through Electricity and... 

Next round of NDCs key to tripling renewables – IEA

The next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will be a critical test for the implementation of the COP28 pledge, made by nearly 200 countries in the United Arab Emirates last year,...