Square peg

The haste at which the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is moving to remedy the embarrassment of having to withdraw the Ministerial determination opening the way for the... 

Ramokgopa to seek advice from team of experts before taking next nuclear steps

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is assembling a committee of experts to advise him on the role that nuclear could play in South Africa’s future supply before issuing a new... 

EIB, DBSA increase funding for private renewables projects to R11.9bn

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved another €100-million (R1.98-billion) loan in support of the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s (DBSA’s) Embedded Generation Investment Programme,... 

R628m in EU grants to support South Africa’s goal of building green-hydrogen ecosystem

The EU has announced R628-million (€32-million) in grant funding to support the development of South Africa’s nascent green-hydrogen industry, as well as to facilitate net-zero-related investments... 

Business calls for soul searching on Nedlac’s future amid big socio-economic shifts

While reaffirming its commitment to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), organised business has again questioned whether the structure’s current composition and... 

Cabinet committee probing ways to moderate fuel prices set to turn attention to electricity hikes next

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reports that the Cabinet committee set up to consider interventions to moderate fuel price increases is likely to turn its attention to electricity... 

Sasol extends gas supply plateau to June 2027 but only as ‘bridge’ to LNG imports

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has confirmed a yearlong extension, to June 2027, in its gas supply from southern Mozambique to South African industrial customers, which have been warning of a... 

Interest from IPPs aiming to connect renewables to the national transmission grid surges to 133 GW

The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to... 

Potential peril

The assignment of shareholder responsibilities for State-owned enterprises (SOEs) that previously fell under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to line departments is an important, yet... 

Financial savings displacing loadshedding as main driver of residential solar market

The South African market drivers for residential, commercial and industrial solar PV and battery installations have started shifting towards cost savings from security of supply as loadshedding... 

Eskom says it may apply for second Koeberg extension

Eskom has confirmed that it is likely to apply for a licence to operate the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape, beyond the 20-year envelope that it has secured for Unit 1 and is... 

DMRE moving with pace on nuclear determination amid mounting technoeconomic questions

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) expects to finalise nuclear-procurement consultations in the coming two to three months before approaching the regulator for its... 

Sasol confirms refinements being made to emissions reduction pathway

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has reiterated that its target to reduce its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 remains in place, but has also confirmed that it is refining its... 

Phillips confirms 193Mt ‘stretch target’ for rail amid criticism that recovery plan lacks ambition

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips has acknowledged criticism over the pace at which it plans to recover rail volumes and has reported that an internal “stretch target” of 193-million tons has been set... 

Marokane says ‘holistic’ conversation needed on tariff rules and other regulatory gaps

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says the State-owned company is eager to participate in a “holistic conversation” about the gap that has emerged between the changes under way in the electricity sector and... 

Transnet’s recovery plan seen as lacking ambition

Government and business are urging Transnet to show greater ambition in its plans to recover freight volumes, describing the current recovery plan as falling well short of what is required to... 

‘Necom 2.0’ to focus on system-wide constraints to electricity security and affordability

Amid waning loadshedding, government and business have agreed to begin “repurposing” the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom) to shift focus from interventions aimed at arresting the... 

Transnet Property mulls investment-property vehicle as it moves ahead with sale of residential stock

The property division of Transnet has been given board approval to sell its residential and non-core commercial properties over the coming two years, while moving to package the balance of the... 

DBSA urged to play leading role in fixing municipalities during next phase of Operation Vulindlela

Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo has called on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which is a major lender to local government, to play a leading role in supporting the Government... 

Remedy required

Given the grid-related uncertainties that have overshadowed Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), it was somewhat positive to... 

IDC optimistic of industrial investment recovery following fall in disbursements to R15.9bn

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is optimistic of converting the rise in business confidence that has accompanied the recent easing in loadshedding and visible efforts to... 

Nersa promises ‘utmost transparency’ after confirming receipt of Eskom's MYPD6 submission

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed that it received, on August 16, Eskom’s sixth multiyear price determination (MYPD6) revenue application for the 2025/26, 2026/27... 

Eskom holds back from declaring end to loadshedding pending return of delayed units

Eskom has refrained from officially declaring an end to loadshedding despite having operated for more than 150 days without implementing rotational cuts; a period that coincided with the... 

Clause posing threat to municipal electricity revenues may be excluded when ERA enters into force

President Cyril Ramaphosa has left the door open to excluding a section in the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act that could negatively affect the revenues municipalities raise from... 

IFC confirms eagerness to fund private grid projects in South Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has confirmed that its stands ready to support South Africa’s efforts to facilitate private sector participation in the expansion of the country’s... 

Timeline for inaugural IEP announced as govt sets year-end target for updated IRP

The South African government aims to Gazette an update to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity before the end of the 2024 calendar year and finalise South Africa’s inaugural... 

$613m in JET-IP grants allocated to projects, Presidency reports

The Presidency has released new details showing that $613-million of the $821-million in grants pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) have now been... 

Securing ringfenced revenue for NTCSA seen as pivotal move in tackling R390bn grid backlog

Ringfencing revenue for the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is regarded as a crucial short-term step for ensuring that the newly operationalised Eskom Holdings subsidiary is... 

Eskom releases names of transformer suppliers

Eskom has released the names to Engineering News of the five transformer companies appointed to a panel of suppliers that will compete for upcoming contracts for a total of 101 large-scale... 

Upward pressure

At the first meeting between members of the Cabinet and senior business leaders since the formation of the Government of National Unity it was agreed that the National Energy Crisis Committee... 

Cabinet committee probing ways to moderate fuel prices set to turn attention to electricity hikes next

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reports that the Cabinet committee set up to consider interventions to moderate fuel price increases is likely to turn its attention to electricity... 

Trade and investment to be key themes of Ramaphosa’s upcoming State visit to China

Trade and investment relations will be key themes during President Cyril Ramaphosa State visit to the People’s Republic of China from September 2 to 5, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo... 

NTCSA appoints 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three supplier panels

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has appointed 19 overhead-transmission line contractors to three separate supplier panels as it moves to position itself for a R32-billion... 

Sasol extends gas supply plateau to June 2027 but only as ‘bridge’ to LNG imports

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has confirmed a yearlong extension, to June 2027, in its gas supply from southern Mozambique to South African industrial customers, which have been warning of a... 

Interest from IPPs aiming to connect renewables to grid surges to 133 GW

The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to... 

Wind bids fall well short of BW7 allocation, while PV bids far exceed provision

The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that 48 onshore wind and solar PV bids with a combined capacity of 10 218 MW have been submitted under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the... 

Ramaphosa signs Electricity Regulation Amendment Act into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the much-anticipated Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act, which lays the legislative foundations for the establishment of a fully independent... 

Ramokgopa withdraws 2.5 GW nuclear-procurement determination citing lack of public consultation

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has withdrawn a Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity, which was being contested legally, having... 

Steel giant sees first demand ‘green shoots’ in years as GNU prioritises infrastructure and localisation

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which has been bemoaning weak domestic demand conditions for several years, reports that it is witnessing signs of “green shoots” in manufacturing... 

AECI in early-stage move to produce green explosives as internationalisation drive accelerates

Explosives and mining chemicals group AECI is moving to secure green ammonia for use in the production of lower-carbon explosives, demand for which is expected to grow in some of the mining...