Sasol optimistic of 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... 

Mulilo’s Mercury battery storage project achieves financial close

South African independent power producer Mulilo, which announced at the recent South Africa Investment Conference that it would be investing R15-billion in new renewables and storage projects,... 

Big container recovery required if South Africa is to meet 250Mt rail target

Meeting the South African government’s target of moving 250-million tons of freight yearly on rail by 2030 will be achieved only if there is a significant recovery in general freight volumes, which... 

Full disclosure

Given its recent history, the fact that Eskom is even able to contemplate entering into a 62c/kWh tariff deal with the ferrochrome industry is remarkable. It is a clear indication of how far the... 

Eskom says ferrochrome offer will leave it financially better off

Eskom board member Clive Le Roux says the State-owned company will be in a better position financially by selling electricity to the ferrochrome smelters at 62c/kWh than if that demand was lost... 

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... 

Basic Fuel Price formula in focus amid dramatic shift in South Africa’s supply sources

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), which is now preparing for a prolonged period of fuel supply and pricing pressure as a result of the damage to energy infrastructure during... 

National Rail Bill being prepared in bid to embed reforms – Creecy

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reports that she intends seeking Cabinet approval for a new National Rail Bill during the 2026/27 financial year and that the Bill will aim to embed in legislation... 

Big lingering questions

During the most recent energy crisis – triggered by attacks by the US and Israel on Iran that resulted in the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz energy corridor ahead of a tenuous ceasefire – one... 

Nersa aims to decide on Eskom’s 62c/kWh ferrochrome tariff offer by end of June

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed that it received an application from Eskom on April 10 in relation to a 62c/kWh tariff offer for the ferrochrome sector and has... 

IMF cuts South Africa’s growth outlook amid mounting war-linked energy crisis

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2026 growth projection for the South African economy to only 1% from a January projection of 1.4%, as it warned that the outbreak of war in the... 

Eskom and ferrochrome producers strike 62c/kWh deal, with Nersa process to follow

Electricity utility Eskom has announced the conclusion of a much-anticipated 62c/kWh electricity tariff deal with ferrochrome producers Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture and Samancor Chrome. The... 

Launch of SAWEM delayed, but NTCSA says preparations are well advanced

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has confirmed that the target date of April 1, 2026, for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) will not be met,... 

Transnet expects to report rail volumes of 168 Mt in 2025/26, with reforms key to meeting 250 Mt goal

Transnet is expecting to report rail volumes of about 168-million tons for the 2025/26 financial year, above the 160.1-million tons of the prior year but below the “stretch target” of 180-million... 

Power play

A stand-out statement in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s February 12 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) was the following: “We are restructuring Eskom and establishing a fully independent State-owned... 

Ferrochrome venture again extends retrenchment deadline following Eskom request

The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture has agreed to further extend the date for the termination of Section 189 retrenchment consultations under way with workers at its ferrochrome smelters – this time... 

PPC says ‘more to come’ from turnaround even if market remains subdued

PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli says there is “more to come” from the cement producer’s operational and financial turnaround regardless of whether market conditions, which have remained subdued during... 

Anthem already mulling addition of batteries at 475 MW Notsi PV project

Anthem CEO James Cumming says there is a “high probability” of a battery energy storage system (BESS) being integrated into its massive 475 MWac (620 MWdc) Notsi solar PV project in the Free State,... 

Time to get serious

The discussion about the future of South Africa's domestic oil refinery fleet is a long and complicated one. It has naturally flared again because of the security of supply concerns associated with... 

Ramaphosa highlights the investment prospects being unlocked by ‘irreversible’ reforms

President Cyril Ramaphosa used the 2026 edition of the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) to highlight the new prospects being opened to domestic and foreign investors by the country’s... 

Optimistic of ‘workable’ tariff solution, Glencore Merafe agrees to week-long Section 189 extension

The Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture has agreed to again delay a retrenchment process under way at its ferrochrome smelters after Eskom formally requested an extension to conclude internal governance... 

Eskom says delayed Medupi FGD report to be submitted to Minister in early April

Eskom expects to submit its final benefit-cost analysis (BCA) report on flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) at the Medupi power station, in Limpopo, to Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister... 

Performance focus

That many of South Africa’s 257 municipalities are in crisis is not in question. Also painfully clear is that many metropolitan councils, which oversee the country’s six largest cities of... 

Diesel disruptions and early hikes point to possible gap in pricing framework

Government and the liquid fuels industry insist that recent disruptions to diesel supply in parts of South Africa are not related to a physical shortage of the fuel in the country. However, the... 

Glencore Merafe confirms counter proposal to Eskom’s ‘unworkable’ 62c/kWh conditions

The Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture has confirmed that it has submitted a “final counterproposal” to Eskom in relation to the terms and conditions associated with the electricity utility’s 62c/kWh... 

Anthem moves ahead with giant Free State PV project following offtake agreements

Leading South African independent power producer Anthem has announced that its giant 475 MWac (620 MWdc) Notsi solar PV project in the Free State has advanced to financial close after concluding... 

Fundamentally disrupted

Peace is not merely the absence of war. Yet when conflicts rage, the foremost priority is always to find ways to stop the killing and the destruction of infrastructure. Only then is there any... 

Renewables-battery scenario proposed for saving ferrochrome while sustaining Eskom and reform momentum

A new analysis of the crisis being faced by South Africa’s ferrochrome industry as a result of uncompetitive electricity tariffs, outlines a possible renewables-battery-led scenario for meeting the... 

Rail localisation study launched as public and private train operators gear up to meet 250Mt target

A study has been launched to assess South Africa’s existing railways manufacturing capacity and capability and to make recommendations on how policy and procurement can be leveraged to bolster... 

Sasol to begin reducing external coal purchases as destoning plant raises quality

Energy and chemicals group Sasol is aiming to begin ramping up internal coal production and reducing external coal purchases after its destoning plant reached beneficial operation in December. CEO... 

Lucky for some

On Friday March 13, 1981, the first edition of Engineering News, then a fortnightly tabloid newspaper, officially made its debut as a specialist business-to-business publication. The date itself... 

TRIM invites private firms to bid to operate three rail sidings for ten years

South Africa’s Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has initiated a process for private-sector entities to bid to operate and invest in three siding facilities for a period of ten years in... 

Eskom says delayed Medupi FGD report to be submitted to Minister in early April

Eskom expects to submit its final benefit-cost analysis (BCA) report on flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) at the Medupi power station, in Limpopo, to Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister... 

Nersa approves higher electricity hikes for 2026/27 after R54.7bn error

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has officially confirmed that the average tariff increase for Eskom direct customers will rise by 8.76% on April 1 and by 9.01% for... 

Transnet starts process to find private partner for Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has initiated the first stage of a process to select a private partner for the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal (RBDBT), a key export terminal in... 

Urgent implementation of PPP investment model needed to halt multiyear slump – Seifsa

The multiyear slide in South Africa’s metals and engineering sector, which makes up about 25% of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and 5% of GDP, continued last year, the Steel and Engineering... 

Important shifts

The overarching theme of last week’s Budget was definitely the fiscal turning point that has now finally been reached. Debt is being stabilised and the trajectory of the deficit is narrowing,... 

Glencore-Merafe pauses retrenchments until end-March as it weighs Eskom’s 62c/kWh offer

The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture has paused a retrenchment process at its ferrochrome smelters by a month to March 31 after Eskom made a 62c/kWh tariff offer on the eve of its previous February... 

Details of Eskom’s eleventh-hour 62c/kWh offer to ferrochrome smelters to be provided in Nersa submission

Eskom announced on Friday that it had extended an eleventh-hour 62c/kWh tariff offer to ferrochrome producers Glencore‑Merafe Chrome Venture and Samancor, but indicated that negotiations on the... 

Eskom stays legal action to allow Nersa-led process on trading rules to unfold

Eskom has reached an agreement to suspend legal proceedings instituted against the granting of trading licences in 2024 to allow the current regulatory process to draft new trading rules to proceed...