Eskom says maintenance focus to shift to balance of plant, after failures lead to shock Stage 6 return

After taking the shock decision to ramp up loadshedding to Stage 6 in the early hours of Sunday February 23 - having declared Stage 3 on Saturday - Eskom is aiming to bring a halt to rotational... 

Ramokgopa hints that new IRP includes 10-year delay to coal shutdowns

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has given the strongest indication yet that the next edition of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) will include a 10-year delay to the... 

AMSA postpones longs wind-down by month amid intense rescue talks with government

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has postponed the wind down of its longs business by a month to allow talks with government on possible ways to prevent the closure to progress, as... 

Closing date for rail-slot bids extended to Feb 27

The Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has announced an extension, from February 7 to February 27, to the closing date for slot applications under the recently published Network Statement,... 

New Nordex head says South Africa remains key market, despite recent headwinds

Newly appointed Nordex Energy South Africa MD Robert Timmers says that South Africa is poised to be one of the multinational’s largest markets outside of North America and Europe in 2025. This,... 

What next?

Amid much hand wringing over President Donald Trump’s hostility towards South Africa, some clear-eyed analysis has emerged confirming that Trump’s enmity has not been triggered only by the new... 

RFP for multi-line transmission package to be released in Nov – Budget docs

Note: This article has been written partly using information from documents provided to the media during the 2025 Budget lock-up prior to the cancellation of the Budget Speech on February 19. The... 

The Budget trade-offs that will now come into focus ahead of March 12

Note: Some of the information in this article has been written on the basis of documents provided to the media during the 2025 Budget lock-up prior to the cancellation of the Budget Speech on... 

Carbon tax electricity price neutrality extended to end 2030

As anticipated, the 2025 Budget offered fresh guidance on South Africa’s approach to carbon taxes, including confirmation of government’s decision to extend the commitment to electricity price... 

Budget postponed to March 12 after GNU Cabinet fails to agree on two-percentage-point VAT hike

In an unprecedented development, the speaker of Parliament Thoko Didiza was forced to postpone the 2025 Budget address by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday. This, after Cabinet failed... 

South Africa again flags mega oil refinery plan and expresses desire for regional partnership

The South African government has reiterated its stance that South African needs a mega oil refinery despite “fundamental changes” under way globally, including the transition to electric mobility.... 

NOA Group gearing up to supply wheeled electricity after securing trading licence

The trading arm of private energy company NOA is gearing up to supply wheeled renewable electricity to multiple customers in South Africa following the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s... 

JUWI building 340 MW of solar PV to supply SA corporates

Leading global builder and operator of renewable-energy projects JUWI Renewable Energies has announced that it is building three utility scale solar PV projects in South Africa with a combined... 

Discovery Green concludes five wheeling deals across resources, property and hospitality sectors

South African electricity trader Discovery Green has confirmed that it has signed supply agreements for wheeled electricity with five companies in the mining, property and hospitality sectors,... 

Eskom says delaying update to tariff structure will entrench incorrect price signals

Eskom has appealed to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) not to again postpone the implementation of a new retail tariff plan (RTP), warning that any delay would further entrench... 

New abnormal

In normal times, the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) would be the dominant political event in South Africa during the week of its delivery. These are far from normal times, however, so the SoNA... 

Forced removals will never again be allowed, Ramaphosa insists as Trump’s order places spotlight on land rights

President Cyril Ramaphosa insists that South Africans know the pain of forced removals and will, thus, never again allow land to be confiscated – a position that he said was enshrined in the... 

Soon to be launched grid-funding instrument can be private participation template for all SoEs – Ramokgopa

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the private sector participation framework being developed for the transmission sector will be unveiled within five weeks, while... 

Steenhuisen urges unity in face of ‘new threat’ from US, while calling for changes to expropriation law and equity rules

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has called on the country to unite in the face of a “new threat” of possible US tariffs and even sanctions, following a rapid deterioration in relations... 

Energy council launches ‘Energise Mzansi’ information campaign

The Energy Council of South Africa has launched a communications campaign dubbed ‘Energise Mzansi’, which it says will seek to improve “energy transition literacy” amid rapid structural changes in... 

TNPA signs 25-year operator agreement for South Africa’s first LNG import terminal

South Africa’s State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a 25-year terminal operator agreement with Zululand Energy Terminals (ZET) for the development of the country's first... 

Medium-Term Development Plan to incorporate 3% growth target

South Africa’s Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the five-year period to 2029 will incorporate the 3% GDP growth target announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation... 

Nersa’s carbon tax decision may signal extension of prevailing approach to electricity price neutrality

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) recent decision to disallow Eskom from raising revenue through the tariff for carbon taxes may indicate that the National Treasury has... 

Mulilo gears up for big year of execution as it accelerates transition to integrated IPP

With several new renewables and battery storage projects under construction or being advanced to financial close, 2025 is poised to be a significant year in Mulilo’s ongoing transition from an... 

Gas markets set to stay tight in 2025 – IEA

Global natural gas markets reached an all-time high last year and are set to remain tight in 2025 despite an ongoing rebalancing following the supply shock of 2022/23, the International Energy... 

Transition momentum

Recent developments in South Africa’s electricity market point to there being growing, albeit still nascent, momentum behind the country’s energy transition. They also suggest that the transition... 

Ramaphosa says South Africa won’t ‘be bullied’ in SoNA overshadowed by tensions with US

In a State of the Nation Address (SoNA) overshadowed by diplomatic tensions between South Africa and  the US over land, social inclusion and climate policies, President Cyril Ramaphosa said South... 

AMSA postpones longs wind down by month amid intense rescue talks with government

Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has postponed the wind down of its longs business by a month to allow talks with government on possible ways to prevent the closure to progress, as... 

Closing date for rail-slot bids extended to Feb 27 after updates are made to Network Statement

The Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has announced an extension, from February 7 to February 27, to the closing date for slot applications under the recently published Network Statement,... 

New Nordex head says South Africa remains key market, despite recent headwinds

Newly appointed Nordex Energy South Africa MD Robert Timmers says that South Africa is poised to be one of the multinational’s largest markets outside of North America and Europe in 2025. This,... 

Bate still expects to play role in green transition following IDC departure

Former Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) COO Joanne Bate, who departed the development financier at the end of January, expects to continue to play some role in South Africa’s green energy... 

South Africa’s energy and transport reforms could create 500 000 jobs – World Bank

South Africa could increase its GDP growth by 1% in the short term and up to 3% in the medium term by addressing persistent energy and freight logistics constraints, the World Bank’s latest ‘South... 

Ramaphosa responds to Trump’s land-confiscation claims, says he looks forward to bilateral engagement

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a swift response to US President Donald Trump’s threat that aid from that country could be withdrawn, owing to his view that South Africa’s... 

Eskom falls painfully short of going 365 days loadshedding-free

After having operated South Africa’s electricity system without resorting to rotational power cuts for 310 days, Eskom declared Stage 3 loadshedding at 17:00 on January 31, after the loss of 3 600... 

Eskom forecasting full-year profit of R10bn, as it digests Nersa decision

Eskom has confirmed that it is forecasting to make a full-year profit of more that R10-billion for 2024/25, having reported a R17-billion profit for the interim period, up from the R1.6-billion... 

Much at stake as Itac moves on ‘flagship’ review of South Africa’s steel tariff structure

The review of South Africa’s steel tariff structure set to be undertaken by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has been described as the largest ever and is,... 

Inland port body dubs publication of Network Statement as ‘transformative moment’

The Multi-Modal Inland Port Association (MIPA), which represents six inland ports in South Africa and one in Namibia, has added its voice to a growing chorus of support for the newly released rail... 

Itac expects to finalise review of scrap export regulations during first half of 2025

International Trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) chief commissioner Ayabonga Cawe reports that a summary report relating to the commission’s review of the Price Preference System (PPS) for... 

How should SA respond?

Be it apartheid, State capture or even the government of national unity, South Africans know firsthand the importance and influence of politics on all aspects of life. There is a strong... 

Nersa approves 12.74% tariff hike for April 1, as Eskom reports R16bn interim profit

The Energy Regulator, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) highest decision-making body, has granted Eskom a 12.74% tariff increase for implementation on April 1. The...