Mantashe wants newly launched SANPC to lead oil refining revival

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has indicated that he wants the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) to play a central role in reviving domestic... 

Too sluggish

The fact that it takes an exceedingly long time in South Africa for policy decisions to be made let alone implemented is something of a doubled-edged sword. On the positive side, it can sometimes... 

Ramaphosa aims to use G20 platform to clear hurdles to African green hydrogen, just energy investments

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again underlined the industrialisation potential of green hydrogen, and has stressed that South Africa will use its G20 Presidency as well as its participation in the... 

NTCSA aiming to launch electricity market platform on April 1

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 asks US not to hike tariffs to 30% on July 9 if talks on new trade framework still ongoing

South Africa has requested that the US refrain from raising tariffs above the prevailing 10% level should negotiations on a new trade framework not be concluded by July 9, when a 90-day pause on... 

Mulilo emerges as battery-storage force, participating in 65% of projects awarded

South African independent power producer (IPP) Mulilo has emerged as a leading battery storage project sponsor following three public procurement bidding rounds. It is participating in 12 of the 18... 

South Africa provides details on Credit Guarantee Vehicle as it confirms ITP procurement timelines

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... 

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

South Africa’s Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that it is undertaking a comprehensive review of the country’s public procurement framework for independent power producers... 

Sasol slashes emission-reduction capex but insists 30% target remains intact

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has announced a dramatic 70% cut to the capital expenditure (capex) budget associated with its greenhouse-gas emission reduction roadmap to 2030, while still... 

South Africa’s township entrepreneurs begin adopting plug-and-play solar solution

The market for a pioneering solar-battery solution tailored to meet the needs of informal businesses such as spaza shops, salons, tailors, mechanics and restaurants operating in South Africa’s... 

Unworkable shortcuts

If there were but one lesson to draw from the 2025 Budget, it must be that inadequate consultation seriously reduces the chances of navigating the new normal of coalition governance. To their... 

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... 

DoT confirms 162 responses to RFI for private freight rail and port projects

The Department of Transport (DoT) reports that it received 162 formal responses to a request for information (RFI) launched by Minister Barbara Creecy in March to test the market appetite for... 

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... 

‘Landmark’ Discovery Green offtake deal with Red Rocket unlocks 150 MW wind project

Electricity trader Discovery Green has signed a power purchase agreement with Red Rocket that unlocks the second phase of the independent power producer’s (IPP’s) 150 MW Overberg Wind Farm, located... 

Mulilo and Scatec emerge as preferred bidders for R9.5bn battery storage projects

Independent power producers (IPPs) Mulilo and Scatec have been named as preferred bidders to develop 616 MW/2 464 MWh of new battery storage capacity at a cost of R9.5-billion across five... 

Discovery Green, Sasol team up to offer wheeled green electricity to SMEs

Energy trader Discovery Green and fuels and chemical group Sasol have teamed up to form a new venture that will supply wheeled renewable electricity to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)... 

Nersa’s approval of curtailment rules expected to unlock wind projects in Eastern and Western Cape provinces

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says the decision by the Energy Regulator to approve a curtailment framework will help unlock scarce grid connection capacity for wind projects... 

New normal loading

In a world turned upside down by the performative antics of US President Donald Trump, it is easy to lose one’s bearings and one’s cool. And while the South Africans that entered the White House... 

Soweto’s Nasrec Expo Centre named as venue for G20 Leaders Summit

Cabinet has endorsed the selection of the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Soweto, as the venue for the G20 Leaders Summit, which will be hosted in November. Located alongside the iconic Soccer City stadium,... 

Lawmakers updated on plans to procure first independent transmission projects

The Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office has confirmed that a request for qualification will be issued in July in preparation for the first phase of the procurement of independent transmission... 

Ramaphosa insists relations with the US have been ‘reset’ despite tense Oval Office meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa insisted on Tuesday that South Africa’s deteriorating relationship with the US had been “reset” following recent meetings with President Donald Trump, notwithstanding an... 

Malatsi insists transformation ‘sacrosanct’ as he comes under fire from lawmakers over equity equivalent directive

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi faced fierce push back from lawmakers on Tuesday to his proposed policy direction opening the way for multinational broadband service... 

DBSA invests R100m into EV charging station company

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has made a R100-million equity investment into electric vehicle (EV) charging station company CHARGE, which aims to develop a network of ultra-fast... 

Ramaphosa says Trump agreed to US attending G20 Summit in Joburg

Writing in his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that President Donald Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders’... 

Mantashe wants newly launched SANPC to lead oil refining revival

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has indicated that he wants the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) to play a central role in reviving domestic... 

Operation Vulindlela to now include municipal rescue, urban densification and digital transformation

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate... 

Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while... 

Less haste, more speed?

Updating South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity has always been a perilous endeavour. Despite various attempts, it took nearly ten years for the 2010 edition to be updated,... 

Promises of major reforms to Budget process and spending as Godongwana tables Budget 3.0

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana indicated that major reforms are being considered to both State spending and the actual Budget process when tabling a third version of the contentious 2025 Budget... 

R285m Port of Richards Bay container facility to be operational in 2028

A R285-million container handling facility will be developed at the Port of Richards Bay’s Bayvue precinct, following the signing of an agreement between the Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture and... 

Sasol slashes emission-reduction capex but insists 30% target remains intact

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has announced a dramatic 70% cut to the capital expenditure (capex) budget associated with its greenhouse-gas emission reduction roadmap to 2030, while still... 

Township entrepreneurs begin adopting plug-and-play solar solution

The market for a pioneering solar-battery solution tailored to meet the needs of informal businesses such as spaza shops, salons, tailors, mechanics and restaurants operating in South Africa’s... 

Tau insists participating in R100bn Transformation Fund will be entirely voluntary

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has again insisted that no new demands will be imposed on business and industry because of the establishment of the R100-billion Transformation... 

Review of 82 tariff codes for solar, wind and battery inputs could have far-reaching implications

A tariff review by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) of input materials and components used in wind, solar PV and battery storage facilities could have... 

Eskom’s R321bn capex plan has strong focus on grid, renewables and gas

State-owned electricity producer Eskom has unveiled details of a R321.72-billion capital expenditure (capex) plan for the coming five years, which includes plans for a material rise in grid-related... 

Opaque policymaking

The announcement by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50% was... 

Discovery Green, Sasol team up to offer wheeled green electricity to SMEs

Energy trader Discovery Green and fuels and chemical group Sasol have teamed up to form a new venture that will supply wheeled renewable electricity to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)... 

Ramokgopa reaffirms Nedlac deliberations on IRP to be ‘last step’ before Cabinet approval

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokogopa has reaffirmed that deliberations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) are the “last step left” ahead of...