Eskom’s ‘onerous’ new grid access rules receive cool reception

Eskom’s newly released Interim Grid Capacity Allocation Rules (IGCAR), formulated in response to surging demand for grid access in a context of acute grid scarcity, have received a cool reception... 

Weather and winter tariff on large users helping to moderate electricity demand

Eskom is expecting demand for the rest of South Africa’s winter months to remain below levels initially assumed when the utility finalised its base case for the high-demand season (see graphic... 

Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to 66 GW of wind, solar projects at various stages of development

A new survey of South Africa’s renewable-energy development pipeline, and its potential implications  for grid planning and investment, reveals that there is currently a 66 GW pipeline of wind and... 

Private offtake market adds new impetus to black energy group’s pioneering IPP journey

The journey by South Africa’s Pele Energy Group (PEG) from fledgling energy investor to that of a pioneering black-owned and -managed independent power producer (IPP) is receiving fresh impetus... 

Explaining is losing

The hackneyed political phrase ‘if you're explaining, you're losing’, probably best describes the predicament in which the South African government finds itself currently on a range of topics. The... 

Eskom’s new grid queuing rules governed by ‘first ready, first served’ approach

State-owned electricity utility Eskom is preparing to issue updated grid queuing rules that will outline how it plans to manage scarce grid connection capacity in a way that avoids “hogging” of... 

Climate commission calls for revised IRP to upscale renewables allocation to 60 GW by 2030

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that alternative investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), be explored to expand and strengthen South Africa’s... 

Eskom turns to EPC contracting as it seeks to pick up yearly powerline roll-out pace to 1 500 km

Eskom’s Transmission Division, which will form part of the separated National Transmission Company South Africa once established later this year, will begin relying more heavily on the engineer,... 

Move on

South Africans are beyond exhausted when it comes to power disruptions and are entirely fed up with false promises. Amid the fatigue and annoyance, it is possible to be convinced by solutions that... 

National Logistics Crisis Committee to tackle transport emergencies in parallel to reform agenda

The National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) will adopt a two-pronged approach to addressing the rail, port and road crises currently undermining growth and job creation in South Africa, whereby... 

Presidency outlines criteria to be used before revising coal decommissioning schedule

The Presidency has moved to outline the criteria that will be used before any decision is made to delay the decommissioning of certain coal-fired power stations to take account of the prevailing... 

Namibia signs agreement opening way for feasibility study for $10bn green ammonia project

Namibia has taken another step towards the creation of a green hydrogen industry, after President Hage Geingob’s Cabinet agreed this week to sign a feasibility and implementation agreement (FIA)... 

To unlock scarce grid capacity, South Africa begins rethinking approach to curtailment

With insufficient grid capacity having been identified as the main constraint to the public procurement of the 28 GW of new electricity capacity allowed for by 2030 under various Ministerial... 

Vodacom working with Eskom on platform to enable firms with distributed demand to buy renewable power

Mobile telecoms company Vodacom has approach Eskom with a ‘virtual wheeling platform’ concept that the communications group believes could assist it and other companies with distributed electricity... 

Despite low risk of blackout, Eskom’s restoration protocols should be paired with larger country plan

Amid rising public anxiety over the prospect of a blackout, a former senior Eskom executive has added his voice to those highlighting the low probability of such an eventuality. However, he also... 

Patel outlines ‘step change’ investment, export and jobs targets for 2023/24

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel outlined firm investment, localisation, export and manufacturing jobs targets in his 2023/24 Budget Vote address to Parliament this week. In a... 

Power of reform

For several years, certain forward-looking commentators argued that by making only a minor amendment to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act South Africa could unleash much-needed... 

Top CEOs sign up to help tackle South Africa’s energy, transport and crime crises

CEOs from some of South Africa’s largest companies – including Sasol’s Fleetwood Grobler, Anglo American’s Nolitha Fakude, former Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo, Toyota South Africa’s Andrew Kirby,... 

Private offtake market adds new impetus to black energy group’s pioneering IPP journey

The journey by South Africa’s Pele Energy Group (PEG) from fledgling energy investor to that of a pioneering black-owned and -managed independent power producer (IPP) is receiving fresh impetus... 

Private sector technical teams to begin work at four troubled coal stations

Private sector support teams, assembled with the support of the R100-million Resource Mobilization Fund (RMF), will be deployed soon across four troubled coal-fired power stations to assist Eskom... 

Mantashe outlines procurement schedules, including for nuclear, as he confirms IRP delay

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has pulled back from his statement that the release of the revised Integrated Resource Plan, which he has dubbed IRP 2023, is imminent,... 

Economic development not a qualifying criterion for 513 MW battery storage bids

Economic development factors have not been included as qualifying criteria for South Africa’s inaugural Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP), through which the... 

Climate commission recommends grid public–private partnerships to speed up just energy transition

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that alternative investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), be explored to expand and strengthen South Africa’s... 

Fuel industry does not foresee loadshedding-induced diesel shortages this winter

The South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) is not anticipating a domestic diesel supply crunch this winter as a result of a spike in generator-related demand, despite ongoing warnings... 

Vital overhaul

One of the ironies about South Africa’s use of competitive bidding for just about all public procurement, from the purchase of office stationery to diesel locomotives, is that it hardly ever... 

Climate commission calls for revised IRP to upscale renewables allocation to 60 GW by 2030

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that the next edition of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is currently under review, caters for the building of between 50 GW and... 

10 GW distributed generation pipeline to help close shortfall in time – Ramaphosa

While warning of a difficult winter for electricity security, President Cyril Ramaphosa has again moved to highlight the success of a recent market reform that has enabled private distributed... 

Limited nature of Electricity Minister’s new powers confirmed by Presidency

The Presidency insists that the transfer of responsibility for Section 34(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act to Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa “provides the Minister with a... 

President transfers limited powers to procure new electricity generation from Mantashe to Ramokgopa

Following more than two months of uncertainty and reported Cabinet infighting, President Cyril Ramaphosa has transferred Ministerial powers relating to the procurement of new electricity generation... 

Private sector injects R340m to support growth of South Africa’s manufacturing sector

A new public-private initiative has been launched in an effort to support the growth and development of South Africa’s manufacturing sector, whose recovery from the Covid lockdowns is currently... 

Powerships likely to feature in five-year Eskom emergency procurement

The prospect of South Africa procuring electricity from powerships docked either in South Africa or in a neighbouring country has increased, with the Eskom board having approved three emergency... 

Action, not distraction

Political and social turbulence has swirled fiercely ever since former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter appeared in that explosive television interview in February, and has intensified with the release of... 

Namibia signs agreement opening way for feasibility study of $10bn green ammonia project

Namibia has taken another step towards the creation of a green hydrogen industry, after President Hage Geingob’s Cabinet agreed this week to sign a feasibility and implementation agreement (FIA)... 

Despite low risk of blackout, Eskom’s restoration protocols should be paired with larger country plan

Amid rising public anxiety over the prospect of a blackout, a former senior Eskom executive has added his voice to those highlighting the low probability of such an eventuality. However, he also... 

Enviro department evaluating EIAs for renewables projects with a combined capacity of 9 789 MW

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reports that the department’s environmental impact assessment section is currently processing applications for renewable-energy... 

More than 200 financial institutions are now pursuing coal exclusion policies

More than 200 financial institutions globally, including five South African banks, have established coal exclusion policies, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial... 

South Africa urged to explore co-location of wind and solar to maximise limited grid capacity

Co-locating wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities at a single grid connection point could help maximise the use of South Africa’s existing, albeit constrained, transmission network capacity... 

Nearly 1 000 MW of private wind projects now registered with the energy regulator

Wind projects with a combined capacity of 984 MW have been registered with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), a development that the South African Wind Energy Association... 

That blackout feeling

There is justifiable concern that South Africa’s grid could collapsed this winter given ongoing high breakdowns across the Eskom coal fleet, the absence of one Koeberg unit and a rise in demand in... 

Makwana hints at possible legal action against De Ruyter

Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana has indicated that the current board is preparing a possible legal case against former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter for what he describes as “transgressions” arising...