Nuclear regulator grants NRWDI licence to operate Vaalputs radioactive waste facility

South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) the nuclear licence to manage and operate the Vaalputs National Radioactive... 

Macpherson aims to restructure State property portfolio into ‘investible’ entity

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has used his Budget Vote speech to unpack a vision for migrating government departments that collectively spend R6-billion yearly on private... 

Emerging pictures

A picture has started to emerge of the potential economic fallout of America’s existing, as well as potentially imminent, tariffs on South African goods. Recent econometric modelling has helped to... 

Licensed electricity traders see Nersa rules process as opportunity to bolster certainty

Several licensed electricity traders canvassed by Engineering News have welcomed the decision by the regulator to initiate a process to finalise rules for domestic and cross-border trading and have... 

Eskom says standalone renewables unit could seek to tap market appetite for green electricity

Eskom group executive for strategy and sustainability Nontokoza Hadebe says the decision to establish a ‘GreenCo’ renewables business as a standalone subsidiary separated from Eskom Generation is... 

Six new solar projects selected and talks continue on eight more, including four wind projects

Six solar PV projects, with a combined capacity of 1 290 MW, have been named as preferred bidders following the seventh bid window (BW7) of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power... 

Transnet insists it is making ‘considerable progress’ on reforms following business criticism

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet insists that it has made “considerable progress” in implementing reforms in line with government policy changes. It also argues that government... 

Southern Sun signs 10-year renewables supply deal with Discovery Green for flagship resorts

Licensed electricity trader Discovery Green has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Southern Sun, under which more than 90% of the hospitality group’s consumption across seven flagship... 

Envusa extends platform to more hard-to-abate sectors as 520 MW Koruson 2 moves towards operation

Independent power producer (IPP) and licensed trader Envusa Energy reports that its 520 MW Koruson 2 project cluster is nearing commercial operation – a milestone that Envusa says will position it... 

Carbon budget and mitigation regulations to be released for comment in August

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has approved the publication of the draft ‘National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan Regulations’ for public comment.... 

Concerns raised over pace of power and rail reform while Ramaphosa lauds progress

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered an optimistic assessment of the economic reforms being undertaken in South Africa’s electricity and freight logistics sectors, amid growing concern about the... 

Energy Council views launch of wholesale electricity market as key to sustaining reform momentum

The Energy Council of South Africa is strongly supportive of the goal of launching the initial phase of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market  (SAWEM) in early 2026, arguing that the... 

AECI mulling future of historic Modderfontein site after difficult few months

Explosives and chemicals group AECI is expecting an operational recovery at its iconic Modderfontein plant in the second half of 2025, following a difficult first few months to the year when output... 

Broken wing

The decision by US President Donald Trump to implement ‘reciprocal tariffs’ of 30% on those South African goods not specifically exempted or subject to sector-specific duties is a major blow... 

AECI confirms three more disposals, including Schirm USA

JSE-listed AECI has confirmed the sale of three more noncore businesses in the US, Germany and South Africa as part of a far-reaching restructuring initiated in 2023 to focus the company on its... 

Nersa outlines 11-month process for finalising electricity trading rules

In a belated move, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has announced an 11-month process to set rules for electricity trading, having already licensed ten trading entities, while... 

Eskom finalising PPP framework for 5 GW just energy transition pipeline

Eskom reports that repowering projects with a combined capacity of 5 GW are currently under development across six coal power station sites and that it is aiming to implement 2 GW by 2026, mostly... 

Eskom insists delayed return of Koeberg Unit 1 won’t increase loadshedding risk

Eskom has announced a delay to the return of Koeberg Unit 1 from another extended maintenance outage, but insists that the risk of loadshedding this winter has not increased as a result. The unit... 

AMSA may initiate wind down of longs unit well ahead of Sept deferral deadline

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it may begin taking operational steps to prepare for the wind down of its beleaguered long-products business well ahead of the current September 30 deadline –... 

South African exports to America could slump by up to $2.3bn under new tariffs

Econometric modelling of the impact on South Africa of US tariffs  – including the proposed 30% reciprocal tariff on all non-exempted goods, the 25% tariff on automotives and automotive components,... 

Solar PV installations expected to recover strongly this year after marked decline

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) is expecting the domestic market to recover this year to the record installation levels achieved two years ago, following a marked... 

SA to impose chrome ore export controls, approves power incentive in bid to arrest ferrochrome decline

Cabinet has approved export controls and an electricity incentive for South Africa’s ferrochrome industry after receiving an update on the socioeconomic impact of the continued decline of the... 

BFI funding crucial for unlocking short-term freight investments while long-gestation private projects evolve

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has underlined the importance of the National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure in helping Transnet to fund the near-term rail and port investments... 

Transparency needed

South Africa’s recent trade policy interventions have been nowhere near as attention grabbing as President Donald Trump’s April 2 Rose Garden performance that included a giant cardboard chart... 

Ramokgopa outlines plan for blended-finance structure to meet 2030 universal access goal

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has provided the outline for an overhauled universal access strategy that employs a blended financing approach to electrify, by 2030, the... 

Macpherson aims to restructure State property portfolio into ‘investible’ entity

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has used his Budget Vote speech to unpack a vision for migrating government departments that collectively spend R6-billion yearly on private... 

Grid, market and skills identified by energy council as key reform priorities

Energy Council of South Africa CEO James Mackay has highlighted three priorities for the organisation, whose public and private member companies have seconded some 300 professionals to support the... 

Godongwana says decision on inflation-target policy is his and will not be made in haste

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana used his Budget Vote address to underline that the responsibility for setting the inflation-target policy resided with himself and indicated that any changes to... 

South Africa will continue to pursue trade deal with US despite Trump’s letter confirming 30% tariff

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US after having received a letter... 

Tau defends IDC board appointees with ANC ties

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has dismissed as “disingenuous” calls for the exclusion of individuals with links to the African National Congress (ANC) from being appointed to... 

South Africa reaffirms ‘butterfly’ export strategy amid rising global trade tensions

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has reaffirmed South Africa’s ‘Butterfly Strategy’ for trade and exports, amid ongoing uncertainty over the future of trade relations with the US... 

Good, bad, disturbing

One of the marvels of the post-Covid era is the ongoing ability to participate in live events that are many miles away. Although technology fails from time to time, there are several government... 

Offsite Koeberg spent fuel storage planned from 2030

The National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) is moving ahead with preliminary designs for a so-called Centralised Interim Storage Facility (CISF) at the Vaalputs site in the Northern... 

Eskom reports progress on 5 GW ‘repowering’ pipeline as $2.6bn CIF approval is secured

Eskom has confirmed that it has a 5 GW pipeline of so-called ‘repowering’ projects at various stages of development on the sites of six coal power stations, including Komati, which has already... 

South Africa set to test private sector appetite for long-distance passenger rail routes

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that a request for information (RFI) will be launched in July to assess the potential for private sector participation (PSP) investments in the... 

Procurement of private rail and port infrastructure to be launched in Aug

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that Transnet will issue requests for proposals (RFPs) from the end of August to begin the formal procurement process for private sector participation... 

Energy Council views launch of wholesale electricity market as key to sustaining reform momentum

The Energy Council of South Africa is strongly supportive of the goal of launching the initial phase of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market  (SAWEM) in early 2026, arguing that the... 

South Africa’s largest standalone battery storage project advances to financial close

Africa’s largest standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) project, the 153 MW/ 612 MWh Red Sands project in the Northern Cape, has reached financial close, having raised some R5.4-billion in... 

South Africa reiterates call for extension of 90-day reciprocal tariff pause while US finalises trade matters ‘template’ for Africa

The South African government has confirmed that it has reiterated its request for an extension of a prevailing 90-day pause on the imposition of reciprocal tariffs of 31% on South African exports... 

AECI mulling future of historic Modderfontein site after difficult few months

Explosives and chemicals group AECI is expecting an operational recovery at its iconic Modderfontein plant in the second half of 2025, following a difficult first few months to the year when output...