Salga energy head calls for post-election review of free basic electricity scheme

The head of energy at the South African Local Government Association (Salga) has called for a review of both the size of the free basic electricity (FBE) allocation as well as the way the grant is... 

Worth the ink?

The National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP’s) recent approval of the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill has far-reaching implications for the future structure and operation of an industry... 

Delayed coal decommissioning won’t ‘collapse our climate commitments’

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is currently assessing the impact of South Africa’s decision to delay the decommissioning of the Hendrina, Grootvlei and Camden coal-fired power stations... 

Deadline for latest battery procurement extended as IPPs adjust to Eskom’s new grid access rules

The deadline for South Africa’s recently launched third battery energy storage bidding round, or bid window three (BW3), has been extended by three months to October 31, following a recent deadline... 

TPT to continue to invest in Durban Pier 2 while legal spat over private partner plays out

South Africa’s Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says it will continue to invest in Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 while legal proceedings around its selection of International Container... 

Climate commission model points to the growth potential of green industrialisation

The initial direct cost of placing South Africa on an energy transition pathway over the coming five years in line with its decarbonisation targets is calculated at a hefty R1.5-trillion in the... 

Unintended consequences?

It is highly unlikely that South Africa would have made the progress it has in stabilising electricity supply and setting in place initiatives to halt the collapse of the country’s... 

Eskom seeks Nersa permission to reserve grid capacity for public IPP procurement rounds

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has invited comment on Eskom’s application to preserve and reserve grid connection capacity for independent power producers (IPPs)... 

Eskom board approves plan to operate Camden, Grootvlei and Hendrina to 2030

The Eskom board has given its approval for the continued operation of the Camden, Grootvlei and Hendrina power stations to 2030 – a departure from the original decommissioning schedule that has... 

Today’s well-supplied market for critical minerals ‘may not be a good guide for future’

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report describes the sharp decline in critical mineral prices over the past year as a double-edged sword, cautioning that, while it has been a boon for clean... 

Two BW6 solar projects with a combined capacity of 360 MW reach commercial close

Two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects selected as preferred bids under Bid Window 6 (BW6) of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE’s) renewable energy procurement programme reached... 

City Power seeks funding, manufacturing partners for informal settlement ‘energy box’

Johannesburg’s City Power is seeking manufacturing and venture capital partners to further develop and pilot a rugged ‘energy box’ concept in one of the city’s 312 informal settlements as a... 

Solar rental firm begins testing roll-out model for underserved communities

Local solar-as-a-subscription service provider Wetility is deploying a rooftop solar solution in a lower-income community as part of a proof-of-concept study to firm up the feasibility of extending... 

Green stimulus

South Africa’s manufacturing sector is in dire need of stimulus. In its recently released ‘Industrial Policy & Strategy Review’, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) confirmed... 

Eyes turn to Union Buildings after NCOP approves Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill, which has far-reaching implications for the future structure and operation of an electricity... 

Ramaphosa denies pre-election loadshedding respite is a ‘political ploy’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has entered the politically charged discussion on the reasons behind the recent dramatic reduction in loadshedding ahead of what is expected to be a highly competition... 

South Africa aims to set up three JET-aligned skills development zones

Three Just Energy Transition (JET) skills development zones focusing on renewables and grids, electric vehicles and green hydrogen value chains are proposed for implementation under the larger JET... 

IEA expects another record year for EVs in 2024

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects electric vehicle (EV) sales to rise to a record 17-million in 2024, representing more than one in every five passenger cars sold, but with sales likely... 

NTCSA begins consultations on market code to govern shift towards competitive electricity industry

With the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) currently scheduled to be operationalised in July and efforts under way to ensure that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) Amendment... 

Private renewables procurement may mitigate boom-bust cycles curbing South Africa’s green industrialisation

The combination of public and private procurement of large-scale renewables in South Africa signals increased stability for manufacturers of key components, a new GreenCape report argues. Published... 

Coalitions and reform

With the 2024 election days away, attention is turning to the governance arrangements that will prevail nationally and in key battleground provinces following the poll and what these outcomes will... 

Ramokgopa insists loadshedding not being ‘stage managed’ ahead of May 29 poll

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa denies that the prevailing reprieve from loadshedding has been “stage managed” to improve the prospects of the governing African National Congress ahead... 

Eskom says RCA application for only R9m not a signal of alignment with Nersa on calculations

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has initiated consultations on Eskom’s latest Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) application for the 2022/23 financial year, where Eskom is... 

Stage 16 loadshedding code seeks to reduce human error, not a signal for imminent surge in cuts – Nersa

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has belatedly moved to quell concern that its recent approval of a new loadshedding code of practice, which increases the number of potential... 

South Africa falls in World Energy Trilemma Index

South Africa has fallen to sixty-ninth from sixty-fourth on the World Energy Council’s (WEC’s) latest World Energy Trilemma Index which ranks more than 100 countries against the three key... 

In the weeds

South Africa has gone some way in starting to reform its electricity industry, which has been failing the country visibly for nearly two decades. As these changes are published, consulted and... 

Contract negotiations for Secunda sustainable aviation fuel project may be concluded by mid-2024

Contractual negotiations are under way between the developers of the HySHiFT sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project, in Mpumalanga, and the intermediary company set up under Germany’s H2Global... 

South African fossil fuel subsidies hit record R118bn in 2023 – IISD

A new study has found that South Africa's fossil fuel subsidies tripled between 2018 and 2023, rising to R118-billion from R39-billion over the period, with subsidies having been increased largely... 

Globeleq says R5.7bn Red Sands will be largest standalone battery storage project in Africa

Leading African independent power producer Globeleq says the 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands project, which was recently awarded preferred bidder status under South Africa’s inaugural battery storage... 

Can South Africa turn around 30 years of real economy underperformance?

In this essay, Terence Creamer reflects on the factors that have shaped South Africa’s real-economy sectors of manufacturing, mining and agriculture over the past 30 years and considers ways to end... 

Reflect and recommit

Memories are short and it often feels like they are becoming shorter not only because of the flood of information associated with the 24-hour news cycle but also second-by-second social media... 

Can South Africa turn around 30 years of real economy underperformance?

In this essay, Terence Creamer reflects on the factors that have shaped South Africa’s real-economy sectors of manufacturing, mining and agriculture over the past 30 years and considers ways to end... 

Ramokgopa describes IPP surpluses as low-hanging fruit amid delay in finding contractual solution

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa describes surplus electricity arising from existing renewable energy facilities as “low hanging fruit” in improving the supply-demand balance and reports... 

NTCSA begins consultations on market code to govern shift towards competitive electricity industry

With the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) currently scheduled to be operationalised in July and efforts under way to ensure that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) Amendment... 

Concrete towers for Impofu wind farm to bolster local content

Enel Green Power South Africa has confirmed that the Nordex manufacturing facility being set up in Humansdorp, in the Eastern Cape, will produce concrete wind tower sections for the three new wind... 

BLSA calls for immediate reworking of IRP, describing its assumptions as ‘spurious’

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), whose members include the largest domestic and foreign companies operating in South Africa, has added its voice to a growing chorus of opposition to the... 

Third battery storage programme seeks bids for five sites in the Free State

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has launched South Africa’s third public procurement round for utility-scale batteries, while also extending the bid submission deadline for... 

Mixed outlook

The recent period of decreased loadshedding has been met with tremendous scepticism by a South African public who have been burnt more times over the past 15-plus years than a lump of wet coal.... 

Stage 16 loadshedding code seeks to reduce human error not signal imminent surge in cuts – Nersa

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has belatedly moved to quell concern that its recent approval of a new loadshedding code of practice, which increases the number of potential... 

South Africa’s ranking in World Energy Trilemma Index falls

South Africa has fallen to sixty-ninth from sixty-fourth on the World Energy Council’s (WEC’s) latest World Energy Trilemma Index which ranks more than 100 countries against the three key...