Big few months ahead in countdown to South African Wholesale Electricity Market

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has provided a detailed breakdown of the steps being taken in preparation for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market... 

Nersa’s approval of AMSA applications may spark fresh dispute with Eskom

Another dispute may be looming between Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). This one, over the regulator’s decision to approve ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s)... 

First private train operators expected to enter network over coming 12 to 36 months

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips reports that negotiations are under way to conclude contracts with the first 11 private train operating companies (TOCs) that have qualified to take up slots on the... 

First 11 train operators selected for 41 routes as SA takes big step in opening freight rail to private sector

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced that 11 of the 25 private train operating companies (TOCs) that applied to operate routes on Transnet’s rail network have met the requirements to do... 

EXSA views Seriti Green deal as key milestone as it scales up for pure-play trading role

Licensed electricity trader Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA) describes its recently concluded 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Seriti Green as a major milestone in positioning... 

Decision time

Developments in the South African steel industry offer a glimpse into the pressures being faced by the manufacturing sector as a whole, and the likely industrial and trade policy responses to those... 

B20 South Africa energy task force urges big upscaling in energy transition financing

The B20 South Africa task force on energy has unveiled three recommendations that will be presented to the G20 government leaders when they gather for their yearly meeting in Johannesburg in... 

Large miners and industrial firms want tariff reopener after R54bn settlement creates price-path uncertainty

The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) has called for a reopening of the most recent electricity tariff determination, arguing that a R54-billion behind-closed-doors settlement between the... 

Public hearings to be held on NTCSA’s application for electricity market operator licence

A public hearing into the National Transmission Company South Africa’s (NTCSA’s) application for a market operator licence will be hosted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on... 

Partnership framework being prioritised ahead of Eskom Green launch

Eskom group executive for renewables Rivoningo Mnisi reports that the State-owned company has received a positive response to a tender for companies to support it with the establishment of a... 

Pressure mounting

With industrial and trade policy firmly back on the global agenda, South African industry is becoming more vocal in highlighting the threats posed to South Africa’s industrial capacity by policy... 

IDC says it can’t go it alone in salvaging AMSA’s longs unit

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) says no decision has been made in relation to further support for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) long-steel business, after the State-owned... 

Bigger hikes to follow Nersa’s R54bn behind-closed-doors settlement with Eskom

Eskom’s electricity tariffs are poised to rise by 8.76% on April 1 next year instead of the 5.36% approved previously, and by 8.83% instead of 6.19% in 2027/28 after the National Energy Regulator... 

Sasol wants electricity trading licence to add ‘flexibility’ as it mulls equity in renewables

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi has confirmed that the JSE-listed group has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for an electricity trading licence, and is also planning to take... 

Sasol expects coal destoning investment to lift Secunda volumes

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that construction of its coal destoning plant has been completed and that the facility, which should be ramped up to full production by December, is... 

First 11 train operators selected for 41 routes as South Africa takes big step in opening freight rail to private sector

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced that 11 of the 25 private train operating companies (TOCs) that applied to operate routes on Transnet’s rail network have met the requirements to do... 

South Africa urged to firm up developmental vision for universal electricity access

A leading advocate for the provision of free basic electricity (FBE) to poor South African households has welcomed moves by government to pursue its universal access goal through a “developmental”... 

Policy first

The message delivered by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that the reforms under way in the electricity sector are “irreversible”, is an important one. Doubly so, given that... 

Eskom says 291 MW renewables offtake scheme tailored to decarbonisation needs of large customers

Eskom says its recently published request for proposals (RFP) inviting large power users to bid for 291 MW of solar PV capacity that the State-owned entity is aiming to introduce in phases from the... 

$500m Credit Guarantee Vehicle to be launched in time for first private grid projects

The National Treasury has confirmed that it will inject 20% of the $500-million initial funding required to set up the Credit Guarantee Vehicle (CGV) being established to derisk South African... 

AECI says noncore disposals proceeds nudging R3bn to R4bn target range

Chemicals and mining explosives group AECI says it is on track to realise the R3-billion to R4-billion in proceeds from the sale of noncore businesses it forecast at the start of its far-reaching... 

Reset needed

There has been an important, yet largely overlooked, shift in South Africa’s approach to meeting its goal of providing universal electricity access by 2030. A proposed revision to the delivery... 

Electricity reform ‘irreversible’, Ramokgopa insists as he again urges Eskom not to pursue legal case against traders

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa insists that the reforms under way in the electricity sector are “irreversible”, and has again confirmed that he has asked the Eskom board... 

Ramokgopa urges Eskom to withdraw legal case against traders

Electricity and Energy Miniter Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has urged Eskom to stay or withdraw its court action to have the National Energy Regulator of South Afirca’s (Nersa’s) licensing of five... 

Licensed electricity traders see Nersa rules process as opportunity to bolster certainty

Several licensed electricity traders canvassed by Engineering News have welcomed the decision by the regulator to initiate a process to finalise rules for domestic and cross-border trading and have... 

Six new solar projects selected and talks continue on eight more, including four wind projects

Six solar PV projects, with a combined capacity of 1 290 MW, have been named as preferred bidders following the seventh bid window (BW7) of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power... 

Two steps back?

The idiom ‘one step forward, two steps back’ has surely arisen in the minds of those who have been monitoring developments in the electricity industry over the recent past. It is undeniable that... 

EXSA-Seriti Green deal opens way for 155 MW Mpumalanga wind project

A 155 MW Mpumalanga wind energy project has reached financial close, following the signing of a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between Seriti Green and licensed energy trader Energy... 

Cabinet approves support package for exporters exposed to US tariffs as talks continue

The South African government will on Monday August 11 unveil the support measures for companies and workers affected by the imposition of 30% reciprocal tariffs by the US on South African exports... 

Pan African signs ten-year renewable supply deal with NOA Trading

Gold producer Pan African Resources has signed a ten-year renewables supply agreement with licensed electricity trader NOA Group Trading for 10% of its total yearly electricity load of 112 GWh. The... 

Cabinet to meet on support package for firms and workers exposed to 30% US tariffs

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau will present Cabinet with a proposed support package for South African companies and workers that will be negatively affected by the 30%... 

Eskom finalising PPP framework for 5 GW just energy transition pipeline

Eskom reports that repowering projects with a combined capacity of 5 GW are currently under development across six coal power station sites and that it is aiming to implement 2 GW by 2026, mostly... 

Ramokgopa outlines plan for blended-finance structure to meet 2030 universal access-to-electricity goal

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has provided the outline for an overhauled universal access strategy that employs a blended financing approach to electrify, by 2030, the... 

Reform backsliding?

There are worrying signs that the economic reforms under way in the electricity sector are stalling, or are even facing active resistance. Arguably, this development is predictable given the... 

$500m Credit Guarantee Vehicle to be launched in time for first private grid projects

The National Treasury has confirmed that it will inject 20% of the $500-million initial funding required to set up the Credit Guarantee Vehicle (CGV) being established to derisk South African... 

AECI says noncore disposals proceeds nudging R3bn to R4bn target range

Chemicals and mining explosives group AECI says it is on track to realise the R3-billion to R4-billion in proceeds from the sale of noncore businesses it forecast at the start of its far-reaching... 

Macpherson aims to restructure State property portfolio into ‘investible’ entity

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has used his Budget Vote speech to unpack a vision for migrating government departments that collectively spend R6-billion yearly on private... 

Emerging pictures

A picture has started to emerge of the potential economic fallout of America’s existing, as well as potentially imminent, tariffs on South African goods. Recent econometric modelling has helped to... 

Licensed electricity traders see Nersa rules process as opportunity to bolster certainty

Several licensed electricity traders canvassed by Engineering News have welcomed the decision by the regulator to initiate a process to finalise rules for domestic and cross-border trading and have... 

Eskom says standalone renewables unit could seek to tap market appetite for green electricity

Eskom group executive for strategy and sustainability Nontokoza Hadebe says the decision to establish a ‘GreenCo’ renewables business as a standalone subsidiary separated from Eskom Generation is...