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... 

First 11 train operators selected for 41 routes as SA takes big step in opening freight rail to private sector

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced that 11 of the 25 private train operating companies (TOCs) that applied to operate routes on Transnet’s rail network have met the requirements to do... 

EXSA views Seriti Green deal as key milestone as it scales up for pure-play trading role

Licensed electricity trader Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA) describes its recently concluded 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Seriti Green as a major milestone in positioning... 

Decision time

Developments in the South African steel industry offer a glimpse into the pressures being faced by the manufacturing sector as a whole, and the likely industrial and trade policy responses to those... 

New independent directors must be appointed for Necsa board to be quorate

Following the resignation of five board members from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) last week, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will need to appoint... 

B20 South Africa energy task force urges big upscaling in energy transition financing

The B20 South Africa task force on energy has unveiled three recommendations that will be presented to the G20 government leaders when they gather for their yearly meeting in Johannesburg in... 

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... 

Newcastle mill placed into care and maintenance

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has confirmed that the Newcastle blast furnace has been placed into temporary care and maintenance and that it is taking preparatory steps towards the potential... 

Large miners and industrial firms want tariff reopener after R54bn settlement creates price-path uncertainty

The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) has called for a reopening of the most recent electricity tariff determination, arguing that a R54-billion behind-closed-doors settlement between the... 

DEE outlines expanded role for IPPO as it appoints new head

The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) has appointed Precious Mmabakwena Edward as the new head of the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO). The appointment became effective on... 

Public hearings to be held on NTCSA’s application for electricity market operator licence

A public hearing into the National Transmission Company South Africa’s (NTCSA’s) application for a market operator licence will be hosted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on... 

Announcement on inflation target to be made ‘as soon as is practical’

The National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) have issued a rare joint statement to provide an update regarding the progress being made in ongoing deliberations over the future of... 

Partnership framework being prioritised ahead of Eskom Green launch

Eskom group executive for renewables Rivoningo Mnisi reports that the State-owned company has received a positive response to a tender for companies to support it with the establishment of a... 

Pressure mounting

With industrial and trade policy firmly back on the global agenda, South African industry is becoming more vocal in highlighting the threats posed to South Africa’s industrial capacity by policy... 

IDC says it can’t go it alone in salvaging AMSA’s longs unit

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) says no decision has been made in relation to further support for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) long-steel business, after the State-owned... 

Bigger hikes to follow Nersa’s R54bn behind-closed-doors settlement with Eskom

Eskom’s electricity tariffs are poised to rise by 8.76% on April 1 next year instead of the 5.36% approved previously, and by 8.83% instead of 6.19% in 2027/28 after the National Energy Regulator... 

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... 

Sasol wants electricity trading licence to add ‘flexibility’ as it mulls equity in renewables

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi has confirmed that the JSE-listed group has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for an electricity trading licence, and is also planning to take... 

Sasol expects coal destoning investment to lift Secunda volumes

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... 

First 11 train operators selected for 41 routes as South Africa takes big step in opening freight rail to private sector

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced that 11 of the 25 private train operating companies (TOCs) that applied to operate routes on Transnet’s rail network have met the requirements to do... 

South Africa urged to firm up developmental vision for universal electricity access

A leading advocate for the provision of free basic electricity (FBE) to poor South African households has welcomed moves by government to pursue its universal access goal through a “developmental”... 

Policy first

The message delivered by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that the reforms under way in the electricity sector are “irreversible”, is an important one. Doubly so, given that... 

TNPA, Nersa move to streamline regulatory frameworks for energy projects at ports

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in a bid to improve alignment on... 

Ramaphosa outlines vision for leveraging AfCFTA to support reindustrialisation

President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined how South Africa hopes to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to support the country’s reindustrialisation. Speaking at the ninth Tokyo... 

Public procurement uncertainty undermining industrialisation potential of big grid roll-out – Seifsa

Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) CEO-designate Tafadzwa Chibanguza says the prevailing uncertainty surrounding South Africa’s public procurement rules in... 

Eskom says 291 MW renewables offtake scheme tailored to decarbonisation needs of large customers

Eskom says its recently published request for proposals (RFP) inviting large power users to bid for 291 MW of solar PV capacity that the State-owned entity is aiming to introduce in phases from the... 

EXSA views Seriti Green deal as key milestone as it scales up for pure-play trading role

Licensed electricity trader Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA) describes its recently concluded 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Seriti Green as a major milestone in positioning... 

$500m Credit Guarantee Vehicle to be launched in time for first private grid projects

The National Treasury has confirmed that it will inject 20% of the $500-million initial funding required to set up the Credit Guarantee Vehicle (CGV) being established to derisk South African... 

AECI says noncore disposals proceeds nudging R3bn to R4bn target range

Chemicals and mining explosives group AECI says it is on track to realise the R3-billion to R4-billion in proceeds from the sale of noncore businesses it forecast at the start of its far-reaching... 

Reset needed

There has been an important, yet largely overlooked, shift in South Africa’s approach to meeting its goal of providing universal electricity access by 2030. A proposed revision to the delivery... 

New online tracker provides updated dashboard of South Africa’s reform progress

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has officially launched a free online platform that provides a regularly updated view of the progress, or otherwise, government is making in implementing... 

Electricity reform ‘irreversible’, Ramokgopa insists as he again urges Eskom not to pursue legal case against traders

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa insists that the reforms under way in the electricity sector are “irreversible”, and has again confirmed that he has asked the Eskom board... 

South Africa’s revised trade offer to the US described as ‘broad, generous, open and ambitious’

South Africa submitted a revised trade offer to the US on August 12, after its previous ‘Framework Agreement’ submitted in May failed to avert the institution of 30% ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on South...