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... 

Big 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands battery storage project achieves commercial close

The 153 MW/ 612 MWh Red Sands battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the Northern Cape has advanced to commercial close, following the signing of project agreements with the Department of... 

NTCSA eyes April 1 electricity market platform debut

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has indicated that it is aiming to have the initial phase of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market, also referred to as the SAWEM,... 

South Africa’s IPP procurement model under review amid sustainability concerns

The South African government has provided an update on the timelines for the launch of the inaugural procurement of independent transmission projects (ITPs), as well as additional insight into the... 

Deadline looms

Memories of that ‘dim-the-lights’ Oval Office ambush have been enveloped in a fog of billionaire-bro brawls, immigrant raids and protests, the militarisation of law enforcement, vaccine-committee... 

South Africa to impose chrome ore export controls and 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... 

Ramokgopa again rebuffs conflict-of-interest allegations in battery storage tender

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has again rebuffed allegations of a conflict of interest in the selection of independent power producer (IPP) Mulilo as a preferred bidder... 

Statistical review highlights scale of energy transition challenge as emissions continue to rise

Global emissions from energy grew 1% to a record 40.8 Gt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2024 as total energy demand rose 2% to a new high of 592 exajoules (EJ), the latest ‘Statistical... 

Ramaphosa backs extension of equity-equivalent scheme to telecoms sector

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his support for extending the use of the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) to the broadband telecommunications sector as proposed in a draft... 

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... 

Hlabisa wants new White Paper to address municipal funding model problem

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa reports that government is aiming to publish an updated White Paper on Local Government by March next year, arguing that... 

$1.5bn World Bank loan to support reforms in South Africa’s energy and transport sectors

The World Bank has approved a $1.5-billion (R27-billion) development policy loan to support the implementation of ongoing structural reform in South Africa’s energy and transport sectors, as well... 

George outlines initiatives speeding up enviro authorisations in lower sensitivity areas

Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George says that making the department’s systems more efficient, transparent and responsive has been a key focus area for him during his... 

OECD urges South Africa to consider municipal electricity distribution concessions

A new Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report recommends allowing South African municipalities to enter into concession agreements with independent electricity... 

Gas users call for fiscal guarantees to advance gas-cliff avoidance projects to ‘transactional level’

Industrial Gas Users Association South Africa (IGUA-SA) CEO Jaco Human has called for the urgent finalisation of a fiscal guarantees framework to help progress, to a “transactional level”, the... 

Godlimpi defends Transformation Fund while admitting it’s no empowerment ‘silver bullet’

While defending the controversial launch of a R100-billion Transformation Fund, Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi has also urged lawmakers not to view the proposed... 

Procurement poser

Few would argue that South Africa’s procurement of electricity generation capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) is one of the country’s very few public procurement success stories. But... 

Globeleq moves to buy majority stake in Zambian hydro company

Independent power producer Globeleq has signed a share purchase agreement with Norwegian development institution Norfund for the acquisition of a 51% equity stake in Zambia’s Lunsemfwa Hydro Power... 

NRWDI outlines plan for new facility to store Koeberg spent fuel offsite 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... 

Nedlac deliberations on IRP to be wrapped up ‘in next week or so’

South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) CEO Dr Titus Mathe reports that consultations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on the latest draft of...