Policy follow-through needed to ensure electricity reforms are ‘not in name only’

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busisiwe Mavuso has called for policy follow-through to ensure that the restructuring under way in the electricity industry facilitates a transition to a... 

TARIFF TUSSLE

After the US Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs to be invalid, a 10% baseline tariff was then introduced. This tariff is due to expire in July. Now the... 

Bridge, not destination

How do people in Gauteng know when motorists are driving under the influence? They are driving straight! It is to this type of sardonic humour that residents in all three of Gauteng’s metros have... 

Eskom signs agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal as it seeks to advance 3 GW Richards Bay gas-fired power project

Eskom has signed heads of agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) with the intention of becoming the ‘foundation customer’ for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that ZET intends... 

Traxtion says R1.4bn equity raise positions it for more rail investments as market opens

Independent railways operator Traxtion has concluded an $86-million (R1.4-billion) equity capital raise, which the company says has created the financial platform for yet further investments into a... 

NTCSA acknowledges ‘temporary bottleneck’ of R2bn in curtailment payments to IPPs

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has confirmed what it describes as a “temporary bottleneck” in curtailment payments to independent power producers (IPPs), with about... 

Countries prioritising domestic energy options amid ‘largest-ever energy security crisis’

Countries are increasingly prioritising domestic energy resources as they seek to reduce their reliance on imported fuels in response to what the International Energy Agency (IEA)  is describing as... 

Tau says Cabinet-approved industrial strategy to be backed by implementation plan

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says the themes of decarbonisation, diversification, and digitalisation will now anchor South Africa’s Industrial Development Strategy, following... 

Distribution dilemma

During a recent joint meeting of the portfolio committees on electricity and energy and cooperative governance and traditional affairs it became clear there is some sympathy for Eskom when it comes... 

Ramokgopa to seek Cabinet approval soon to extend tariff discounts to more industries

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has indicated that he intends approaching Cabinet in the coming weeks to seek approval to extend concessional electricity tariffs similar to... 

Eskom Green gears up to select private partners for initial 2 GW renewables pipeline

Eskom Green, which has now been officially launched, reports that it intends implementing an initial 2 GW pipeline of advanced utility-scale renewables projects in partnership with private... 

Eskom Restructuring Task Team outlines terms of reference for creation of TSO

The Eskom Restructuring Task Team (ERTT) has outlined the terms of reference guiding its deliberations on the establishment of an independent State-owned Transmission System Operator (TSO) that... 

Standard Bank outlines macroeconomic spinoffs from $30bn Rovuma LNG project

Standard Bank has published a bullish macroeconomic assessment of the giant Rovuma liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in northern Mozambique, which has been described as the largest commercial... 

Eskom signs agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal as it seeks to advance 3 GW Richards Bay gas-fired power project

Eskom has signed heads of agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) with the intention of becoming the ‘foundation customer’ for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that ZET intends... 

Nersa moves to consult on key building blocks in shift to electricity market competition

The outcomes of two public consultation processes initiated recently by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) are likely to have far-reaching implications for the country’s... 

South Africa increases tariffs on wide range of steel products to WTO bound rate

South Africa has officially raised import protection across a wide range of upstream and downstream steel products by between 10% and 30% – rates that are in line with the World Trade Organisation... 

Virtue of necessity

Following an embarrassing false start, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has set a deadline of early next year for the finalisation of a new draft of the national AI policy.... 

EU aims to use investor roadshow to convert €12bn pledge into South African projects

The EU, which announced a €12-billion investment package for South Africa in October, is undertaking investment roadshows in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban this week as part of efforts to... 

Cabinet urged to fast-track electricity reform roadmap as market enters critical phase

Independent power producer and licensed trader NOA has amplified a recent call for the publication of a Cabinet-endorsed electricity reform roadmap to ensure that the shift to the competitive... 

Eleven private train operators gear up for mainline entry after concluding access agreements

The 11 private train operating companies (TOCs), which were last year allocated slots on South Africa’s mainline rail network, have now officially concluded rail access agreements with the Transnet... 

Big and small pictures

Much has been written in recent weeks about the geopolitical factors now driving the energy transition. Particular attention has been given to how the attack on Iran by the US and Israel, which... 

Eskom flags big renewables ambitions as it starts work on 75 MW solar project alongside Lethabo coal station

Eskom has started construction of a 75 MW solar PV project alongside its Lethabo coal-fired power station in the Free State, which is expected to generate some 147 GWh yearly once at full... 

Eskom and ferrochrome smelters make case for ‘win-win’ 62c/kWh tariff, amid transparency concerns

Although Eskom confirmed that it would not make a profit from the sale of electricity to two ferrochrome producers at a tariff of 62c/kWh, the State-owned company nevertheless argued that the costs... 

New initiative aims to grow pipeline of ‘bankable’ water and sanitation projects

A newly formed government agency set up to mobilise private sector participation in public infrastructure has concluded a cooperation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a... 

South Africa poised for record IPP deployments in 2026

South Africa’s utility-scale renewables and battery storage market is poised for a record year of installations, a new research note produced by the Power Futures Lab at the UCT Graduate School of... 

Risks to reform

The economic reform agenda has emerged as the defining feature of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency, especially the reforms under way to open the electricity and freight logistics markets to... 

Nersa moves to consult on key building blocks in shift to electricity market competition

The outcomes of two public consultation processes initiated recently by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) are likely to have far-reaching implications for the country’s... 

Nersa aims to make ferrochrome tariff call by end May as it launches public consultations

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has set aside May 25 for public hearings into Eskom’s application to amend negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Samancor Chrome and... 

Sasol upbeat on market demand for Natref’s premium SAF and renewable diesel

Energy and chemicals group Sasol, which recently secured product-sustainability certification for jet fuel and diesel produced from used cooking oil and vegetable oils at its Natref refinery, says... 

Don’t waste the crisis

South Africa is experiencing its third energy crisis of this decade. While electricity loadshedding has been a threat for far longer, the most extreme phase was definitely during 2022 and 2023,... 

Eleven private train operators gear up for mainline entry after concluding access agreements

The 11 private train operating companies (TOCs), which were last year allocated slots on South Africa’s mainline rail network, have now officially concluded rail access agreements with the Transnet... 

Ramokgopa promises ‘sequenced’ roadmap for wholesale electricity market roll-out

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that his department will publish a “sequenced” implementation roadmap for the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) so... 

Creecy highlights private prospects in freight logistics on eve of rail announcement

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that major private sector participation (PSP) projects in the freight logistics sector will be brought to market in the current financial year and... 

Draft masterplan outlines R2-trillion vision for restoring rail as ‘backbone’ by 2050

The Draft National Rail Master Plan released by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy for public comment outlines an ambitious R2-trillion vision for repositioning South Africa’s underperforming rail... 

New policy paper to offer ‘single window’ into South Africa’s electricity reform agenda

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that government is finalising an electricity reform policy paper in a bid to offer a “single-window overview of the sector's reform... 

Policy conundrum

At the start of South Africa’s democratic era, the availability of cheap coal-fired electricity emerged as the country’s main instrument for attracting investors. It seems almost unbelievable now,... 

€300m AFD loan to assist Transnet’s transition to low-carbon operating model

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has signed a €300-million (R5.8-billion) with Agence française de développement (AFD) to support its transition to a low-carbon operating model. The... 

IMF says Middle East war should spur faster adoption of renewable energy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the war in the Middle East, which has precipitated an energy crisis similar in scale to the 1970s oil crisis, should spur countries to accelerate their... 

Mulilo says Middlepunt PV plant to supply cheapest REIPPPP-procured electricity

South African independent power producer Mulilo reports that its 337 MWdc Middlepunt solar PV plant will deliver electricity at R458/MWh when it enters into commercial operation in the coming 24... 

Supply lines

South Africa has not escaped the fuel price shocks associated with disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz energy corridor and the damage to refinery and other infrastructure in the Gulf....