South Africa’s first Just Transition perception survey highlights low awareness and concern over impacts

A new South Africa-wide survey shows that, while 62% of respondents support the shift from coal to renewable energy, a striking 65% have never heard of the term ‘Just Transition’. In addition, the... 

Creecy sets year-end deadline for rail Network Statement amid ‘complicated tariff balancing act’

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says that, despite Transnet’s turnaround progress, the State-owned enterprise is not able to meet the target of increasing South Africa’s yearly rail volumes to... 

Mix(ed) messages

It’s time for South Africa to interrogate its policy of pursuing a so-called ‘energy mix’, which may sound reasonable, but which has become little more than a convenient fig leaf for policy... 

Phillips says Transnet not yet on track to meet 193Mt rail ‘stretch target’

Meeting the 193-million-ton rail stretch target set under the newly launched second phase of the partnership between business and government would require a significant amount of work and... 

Low-emission hydrogen project approvals double, but demand and cost uncertainties weigh

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows that the number of low-emission hydrogen projects to have advanced to a final investment decision (FID) stage doubled over the last 12 months,... 

Growth target of 3% set for 2025 as business and government relaunch partnership under GNU

A second phase of the partnership launched between government and business to tackle South Africa’s electricity, logistics and crime crises has been launched under the Government of National Unity... 

Nersa committee recommends licensing of four more traders, batting away Eskom objections

The electricity subcommittee of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has recommended the approval of four more electricity trading licences, dismissing the objections raised by... 

Ramokgopa to seek advice from team of experts before taking next nuclear steps

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is assembling a committee of experts to advise him on the role that nuclear could play in South Africa’s future supply before issuing a new... 

EIB, DBSA increase funding for private renewables projects to R11.9bn

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved another €100-million (R1.98-billion) loan in support of the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s (DBSA’s) Embedded Generation Investment Programme,... 

R628m in EU grants for South Africa’s green hydrogen push

The EU has announced R628-million (€32-million) in grant funding to support the development of South Africa’s nascent green-hydrogen industry, as well as to facilitate net-zero-related investments... 

Business calls for soul searching on Nedlac’s future amid big socioeconomic shifts

While reaffirming its commitment to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), organised business has again questioned whether the structure’s current composition and... 

Distribution deadlock

Few would disagree that the current financial and operational model for electricity distribution is no longer fit for purpose. This lack of sustainability is reflected in the continual rise in the... 

Don’t conflate Eskom-Sasol bilateral on LNG with ‘national strategy’ needed to avert gas cliff – IGUA-SA

The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA) has welcomed the attention that South Africa’s impending “gas cliff” is finally enjoying from government through Electricity and... 

Publication of Eskom’s 36% tariff submission by Nersa heralds formal start of consultation showdown

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has formally published Eskom’s much-anticipated and much-criticised allowable revenue application for the coming three years ahead of what is... 

Sasol and Eskom to explore demand anchors for LNG as part of effort to avert ‘gas cliff’

Eskom and Sasol have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore the potential to introduce liquified natural gas (LNG) to replace natural gas imports from southern Mozambique,... 

Financial savings displacing loadshedding as main driver of residential solar market

The South African market drivers for residential, commercial and industrial solar PV and battery installations have started shifting towards cost savings from security of supply as loadshedding... 

DMRE moving with pace on nuclear determination amid mounting technoeconomic questions

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) expects to finalise nuclear-procurement consultations in the coming two to three months before approaching the regulator for its... 

Phillips confirms 193Mt ‘stretch target’ for rail amid criticism that recovery plan lacks ambition

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips has acknowledged criticism over the pace at which it plans to recover rail volumes and has reported that an internal “stretch target” of 193-million tons has been set... 

Hope beyond hype?

The current scepticism surrounding the prospects for green hydrogen in South Africa and globally is only natural. A gap was inevitably going to arise between what many have termed “hydrogen hype”... 

Ramokgopa seeks to strike ‘delicate balance’ on Eskom tariffs, labelling mooted hikes ‘untenable’

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has labelled a mooted increase in Eskom’s electricity tariff of 36% “untenable” and “unaffordable” and has promised to work on an outcome... 

South Africa’s first Just Transition perception survey highlights low awareness and concern over impacts

A new South Africa-wide survey shows that, while 62% of respondents support the shift from coal to renewable energy, a striking 65% have never heard of the term ‘Just Transition’. In addition, the... 

Sasol appoints Dube as new chair as sustainability pressures rise

JSE-listed chemicals and energy group Sasol has appointed Muriel Dube, a former government climate negotiator, as its new chairperson following the resignation of Sipho Nkosi from the position in... 

Marokane says ‘holistic’ conversation needed on tariff rules and other regulatory gaps

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says the State-owned company is eager to participate in a “holistic conversation” about the gap that has emerged between the changes under way in the electricity sector and... 

IFC confirms eagerness to fund private grid projects in South Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has confirmed that its stands ready to support South Africa’s efforts to facilitate private sector participation in the expansion of the country’s... 

Timeline for inaugural IEP announced as govt sets year-end target for updated IRP

The South African government aims to Gazette an update to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity before the end of the 2024 calendar year and finalise South Africa’s inaugural... 

Square peg

The haste at which the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is moving to remedy the embarrassment of having to withdraw the Ministerial determination opening the way for the... 

R628m in EU grants to support South Africa’s goal of building green-hydrogen ecosystem

The EU has announced R628-million (€32-million) in grant funding to support the development of South Africa’s nascent green-hydrogen industry, as well as to facilitate net-zero-related investments... 

Cabinet committee probing ways to moderate fuel prices set to turn attention to electricity hikes next

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reports that the Cabinet committee set up to consider interventions to moderate fuel price increases is likely to turn its attention to electricity... 

Sasol extends gas supply plateau to June 2027 but only as ‘bridge’ to LNG imports

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has confirmed a yearlong extension, to June 2027, in its gas supply from southern Mozambique to South African industrial customers, which have been warning of a... 

Interest from IPPs aiming to connect renewables to the national transmission grid surges to 133 GW

The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to... 

Potential peril

The assignment of shareholder responsibilities for State-owned enterprises (SOEs) that previously fell under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to line departments is an important, yet... 

Sasol confirms refinements being made to emissions reduction pathway

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has reiterated that its target to reduce its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 remains in place, but has also confirmed that it is refining its... 

Phillips confirms 193Mt ‘stretch target’ for rail amid criticism that recovery plan lacks ambition

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips has acknowledged criticism over the pace at which it plans to recover rail volumes and has reported that an internal “stretch target” of 193-million tons has been set... 

Marokane says ‘holistic’ conversation needed on tariff rules and other regulatory gaps

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says the State-owned company is eager to participate in a “holistic conversation” about the gap that has emerged between the changes under way in the electricity sector and... 

Transnet’s recovery plan seen as lacking ambition

Government and business are urging Transnet to show greater ambition in its plans to recover freight volumes, describing the current recovery plan as falling well short of what is required to... 

‘Necom 2.0’ to focus on system-wide constraints to electricity security and affordability

Amid waning loadshedding, government and business have agreed to begin “repurposing” the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom) to shift focus from interventions aimed at arresting the... 

Transnet Property mulls investment-property vehicle as it moves ahead with sale of residential stock

The property division of Transnet has been given board approval to sell its residential and non-core commercial properties over the coming two years, while moving to package the balance of the... 

DBSA urged to play leading role in fixing municipalities during next phase of Operation Vulindlela

Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo has called on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which is a major lender to local government, to play a leading role in supporting the Government... 

Remedy required

Given the grid-related uncertainties that have overshadowed Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), it was somewhat positive to... 

IDC optimistic of industrial investment recovery following fall in disbursements to R15.9bn

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is optimistic of converting the rise in business confidence that has accompanied the recent easing in loadshedding and visible efforts to...