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... 

Transnet insists it is making ‘considerable progress’ on reforms following business criticism

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet insists that it has made “considerable progress” in implementing reforms in line with government policy changes. It also argues that government... 

Envusa extends platform to more hard-to-abate sectors as 520 MW Koruson 2 moves towards operation

Independent power producer (IPP) and licensed trader Envusa Energy reports that its 520 MW Koruson 2 project cluster is nearing commercial operation – a milestone that Envusa says will position it... 

Concerns raised over pace of power and rail reform while Ramaphosa lauds progress

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered an optimistic assessment of the economic reforms being undertaken in South Africa’s electricity and freight logistics sectors, amid growing concern about the... 

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... 

Broken wing

The decision by US President Donald Trump to implement ‘reciprocal tariffs’ of 30% on those South African goods not specifically exempted or subject to sector-specific duties is a major blow... 

Nersa outlines 11-month process for finalising electricity trading rules

In a belated move, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has announced an 11-month process to set rules for electricity trading, having already licensed ten trading entities, while... 

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... 

Eskom insists delayed return of Koeberg Unit 1 won’t increase loadshedding risk

Eskom has announced a delay to the return of Koeberg Unit 1 from another extended maintenance outage, but insists that the risk of loadshedding this winter has not increased as a result. The unit... 

AMSA may initiate wind down of longs unit well ahead of Sept deferral deadline

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it may begin taking operational steps to prepare for the wind down of its beleaguered long-products business well ahead of the current September 30 deadline –...