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... 

Eskom warns of Stage 8 loadshedding this winter but insists risk of blackout is low

Eskom has indicated that Stage 8 loadshedding – representing 16 hours of cuts in a 32-hour cycle – is possible this winter if coal plant breakdowns breach 18 000 MW and demand rises in sync with... 

Gordhan refutes claim that he prompted De Ruyter’s private Eskom investigation

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan tore strips off former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter during his appearance before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday,... 

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,... 

Climate commission recommends grid PPPs 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... 

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... 

Bill opening the way for competitive electricity market forwarded to Parliament

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has published an explanatory summary of the much-anticipated Electricity Regulation Act Amendment Bill, which is now poised to be introduced to... 

South African port operator pursuing R8bn OEM strategy to bolster equipment performance

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is optimistic that its emerging strategy of entering into long-term agreements with original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the supply and life-cycle maintenance... 

Pregnant pause

It is good news that President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally Gazetted a notice declaring that Section 6 of the National Energy Act, which stipulates that an Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) be crafted in... 

Ramaphosa denies JETP ‘incoherence’ or being forced to transition from coal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that there is any incoherence in his Cabinet regarding the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with developed countries that have agreed to extend... 

Lack of action by law enforcement agencies prompted private Eskom investigation – Makgoba

Former Eskom interim chairperson Professor Malegapuru Makgoba believes there would have been no reason for former CEO André de Ruyter to pursue a privately funded intelligence investigation of... 

Mantashe says release of ‘IRP 2023’ for comment is imminent

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that an updated version of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity will be released imminently for public consideration.... 

Treasury says technical assessment of coal stations to be completed by July

The National Treasury has confirmed that the once-off independent review of Eskom’s 14 coal fired power stations is under way and should be concluded by July. The review was announced by Finance... 

Ramokgopa says 'frank' talks held with JETP partners on possible coal decommissioning delay

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that “open and frank” discussions have been held with those countries that have agreed to extended $8.5-billion in concessional funding to... 

Auto industry, govt still at odds over demand-side electric-vehicle incentives

The South African automotive industry has again appealed for the inclusion of demand-side incentives to stimulate the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), notwithstanding government’s... 

South Africa’s green direct reduced iron export potential highlighted as industry mulls decarbonisation options

Government and the steel industry are considering the potential of positioning South Africa as a global exporter of green hydrogen direct reduced iron (GHDRI) as part of a broader discussion to... 

Light from the Tower of Babel

South Africa’s electricity discussion has become far less coherent in recent months, taking on all the characteristics of the Tower of Babel, despite the fact that most of the mixed messages have... 

BLSA defends R18m support for private investigation at Eskom

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has defended the organisation’s decision to respond to a request by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to fund a private investigation into... 

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... 

Cabinet targets 1 000 MW of demand-side savings as winter approaches

Cabinet reports that a target has been set to save about 1 000 MW, or the equivalent of one stage of loadshedding, through demand side management (DSM) measures, but has provided no details as to... 

Ramaphosa underlines commitment to energy and freight reforms as he unveils new R2tr investment target

President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled a new investment target of R2-trillion for the five-year period to 2028 at the fifth edition of the South African Investment Conference on Thursday, where he also... 

Last out?

Swedish Ambassador to South Africa Håkan Juholt made a profound point at a recent workshop hosted to discuss decarbonisation options for South Africa’s steel value chain, which currently employs... 

De Ruyter continues to draw link between corruption and loadshedding in damp squib Parliamentary appearance

Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter continued to draw a direct link between corruption at the State-owned utility and ongoing loadshedding during his much-anticipated, but ultimately unsatisfactory,... 

No immediate clarity on how coal extensions will be aligned to R254bn debt-relief conditions

No immediate clarity has been provided as to how the current proposal to extend the life of certain coal stations beyond their scheduled retirement dates has been aligned with the conditions of a...