BFI funding crucial for unlocking short-term freight investments while long-gestation private projects evolve

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has underlined the importance of the National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure in helping Transnet to fund the near-term rail and port investments... 

Transparency needed

South Africa’s recent trade policy interventions have been nowhere near as attention grabbing as President Donald Trump’s April 2 Rose Garden performance that included a giant cardboard chart... 

South Africa will continue to pursue trade deal with US despite Trump’s letter confirming 30% tariff

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US after having received a letter... 

Good, bad, disturbing

One of the marvels of the post-Covid era is the ongoing ability to participate in live events that are many miles away. Although technology fails from time to time, there are several government... 

Offsite Koeberg spent fuel storage planned from 2030

The National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) is moving ahead with preliminary designs for a so-called Centralised Interim Storage Facility (CISF) at the Vaalputs site in the Northern... 

Eskom reports progress on 5 GW ‘repowering’ pipeline as $2.6bn CIF approval is secured

Eskom has confirmed that it has a 5 GW pipeline of so-called ‘repowering’ projects at various stages of development on the sites of six coal power stations, including Komati, which has already... 

Energy Council views launch of wholesale electricity market as key to sustaining reform momentum

The Energy Council of South Africa is strongly supportive of the goal of launching the initial phase of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market  (SAWEM) in early 2026, arguing that the... 

AECI mulling future of historic Modderfontein site after difficult few months

Explosives and chemicals group AECI is expecting an operational recovery at its iconic Modderfontein plant in the second half of 2025, following a difficult first few months to the year when output... 

NTCSA eyes April 1 electricity market platform debut

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has indicated that it is aiming to have the initial phase of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market, also referred to as the SAWEM,... 

South Africa’s IPP procurement model under review amid sustainability concerns

The South African government has provided an update on the timelines for the launch of the inaugural procurement of independent transmission projects (ITPs), as well as additional insight into the... 

Deadline looms

Memories of that ‘dim-the-lights’ Oval Office ambush have been enveloped in a fog of billionaire-bro brawls, immigrant raids and protests, the militarisation of law enforcement, vaccine-committee... 

South Africa to impose chrome ore export controls and approves power incentive in bid to arrest ferrochrome decline

Cabinet has approved export controls and an electricity incentive for South Africa’s ferrochrome industry after receiving an update on the socioeconomic impact of the continued decline of the... 

Statistical review highlights scale of energy transition challenge as emissions continue to rise

Global emissions from energy grew 1% to a record 40.8 Gt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2024 as total energy demand rose 2% to a new high of 592 exajoules (EJ), the latest ‘Statistical... 

OECD urges South Africa to consider municipal electricity distribution concessions

A new Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report recommends allowing South African municipalities to enter into concession agreements with independent electricity... 

Gas users call for fiscal guarantees to advance gas-cliff avoidance projects to ‘transactional level’

Industrial Gas Users Association South Africa (IGUA-SA) CEO Jaco Human has called for the urgent finalisation of a fiscal guarantees framework to help progress, to a “transactional level”, the... 

Godlimpi defends Transformation Fund while admitting it’s no empowerment ‘silver bullet’

While defending the controversial launch of a R100-billion Transformation Fund, Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi has also urged lawmakers not to view the proposed... 

Procurement poser

Few would argue that South Africa’s procurement of electricity generation capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) is one of the country’s very few public procurement success stories. But... 

Nedlac deliberations on IRP to be wrapped up ‘in next week or so’

South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) CEO Dr Titus Mathe reports that consultations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on the latest draft of... 

Eskom reports progress on 5 GW 'repowering' pipeline as $2.6bn CIF approval is secured

Eskom has confirmed that it has a 5 GW pipeline of so-called ‘repowering’ projects at various stages of development on the sites of six coal power stations, including Komati, which has already... 

Mantashe wants newly launched SANPC to lead oil refining revival

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has indicated that he wants the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) to play a central role in reviving domestic... 

Too sluggish

The fact that it takes an exceedingly long time in South Africa for policy decisions to be made let alone implemented is something of a doubled-edged sword. On the positive side, it can sometimes... 

Ramaphosa aims to use G20 platform to clear hurdles to African green hydrogen, just energy investments

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again underlined the industrialisation potential of green hydrogen, and has stressed that South Africa will use its G20 Presidency as well as its participation in the... 

Sasol slashes emission-reduction capex but insists 30% target remains intact

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has announced a dramatic 70% cut to the capital expenditure (capex) budget associated with its greenhouse-gas emission reduction roadmap to 2030, while still... 

South Africa’s township entrepreneurs begin adopting plug-and-play solar solution

The market for a pioneering solar-battery solution tailored to meet the needs of informal businesses such as spaza shops, salons, tailors, mechanics and restaurants operating in South Africa’s... 

Unworkable shortcuts

If there were but one lesson to draw from the 2025 Budget, it must be that inadequate consultation seriously reduces the chances of navigating the new normal of coalition governance. To their... 

DoT confirms 162 responses to RFI for private freight rail and port projects

The Department of Transport (DoT) reports that it received 162 formal responses to a request for information (RFI) launched by Minister Barbara Creecy in March to test the market appetite for... 

Gas users call for fiscal guarantees to advance gas-cliff avoidance projects to ‘transactional level’

Industrial Gas Users Association South Africa (IGUA-SA) CEO Jaco Human has called for the urgent finalisation of a fiscal guarantees framework to help progress, to a “transactional level”, the... 

‘Landmark’ Discovery Green offtake deal with Red Rocket unlocks 150 MW wind project

Electricity trader Discovery Green has signed a power purchase agreement with Red Rocket that unlocks the second phase of the independent power producer’s (IPP’s) 150 MW Overberg Wind Farm, located... 

Discovery Green, Sasol team up to offer wheeled green electricity to SMEs

Energy trader Discovery Green and fuels and chemical group Sasol have teamed up to form a new venture that will supply wheeled renewable electricity to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)... 

Nersa’s approval of curtailment rules expected to unlock wind projects in Eastern and Western Cape provinces

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says the decision by the Energy Regulator to approve a curtailment framework will help unlock scarce grid connection capacity for wind projects... 

New normal loading

In a world turned upside down by the performative antics of US President Donald Trump, it is easy to lose one’s bearings and one’s cool. And while the South Africans that entered the White House... 

Soweto’s Nasrec Expo Centre named as venue for G20 Leaders Summit

Cabinet has endorsed the selection of the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Soweto, as the venue for the G20 Leaders Summit, which will be hosted in November. Located alongside the iconic Soccer City stadium,... 

Ramaphosa says Trump agreed to US attending G20 Summit in Joburg

Writing in his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that President Donald Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders’... 

Mantashe wants newly launched SANPC to lead oil refining revival

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has indicated that he wants the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) to play a central role in reviving domestic... 

Operation Vulindlela to now include municipal rescue, urban densification and digital transformation

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate... 

Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while... 

Less haste, more speed?

Updating South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity has always been a perilous endeavour. Despite various attempts, it took nearly ten years for the 2010 edition to be updated,... 

Sasol slashes emission-reduction capex but insists 30% target remains intact

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has announced a dramatic 70% cut to the capital expenditure (capex) budget associated with its greenhouse-gas emission reduction roadmap to 2030, while still... 

Tau insists participating in R100bn Transformation Fund will be entirely voluntary

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has again insisted that no new demands will be imposed on business and industry because of the establishment of the R100-billion Transformation... 

Review of 82 tariff codes for solar, wind and battery inputs could have far-reaching implications

A tariff review by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) of input materials and components used in wind, solar PV and battery storage facilities could have...