Rising role of South Africa’s private offtaker market underscored in latest Global Wind Report

The growing role of the private offtaker market in stimulating the South African wind sector has been highlighted in the latest 'Global Wind Report', which has been released by the Global Wind... 

Unavoidable trade-offs

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has initiated two major tariff reviews that could have significant implications for the country’s existing real-economy... 

Concern lingers over both content of updated IRP and lack of consultation

Serious questions continue to be raised about both the content of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity currently being discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour... 

Eskom aims to smooth maintenance profile after difficult summer

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has indicated that the State-owned utility is planning to “smooth” its maintenance profile over a longer horizon to avoid the security-of-supply risks currently associated... 

Ramokgopa announces big increase in gas-to-power load factor to 50%-plus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50%. Speaking... 

Exxaro views collaboration with Eskom as key to lowering of Scope 3 emissions

JSE-listed coal and energy group Exxaro Resources and State-owned electricity producer Eskom have announced they will collaborate on research initiatives and projects to reduce carbon emissions and... 

Aspirant IPP advancing 1 GW flexible gas-engine project in Mpumalanga

Aspirant independent power producer (IPP) FlexED is developing a 1 000 MW gas-engine project in Mpumalanga to provide the flexible generation and ancillary services that will be required as the... 

Window of opportunity

The full implications for South Africa of US President Donald Trump’s untargeted trade and industrial policies are not yet fully known. They are unlikely to be pain-free, however. Besides for the... 

Eskom’s R321bn capex plan has strong focus on grid, renewables and gas

State-owned electricity producer Eskom has unveiled details of a R321.72-billion capital expenditure (capex) plan for the coming five years, which includes plans for a material rise in grid-related... 

Transnet to shortlist bidders ahead of rail leasing company tender

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has initiated a process to select a private partner for a new leasing company, or ‘LeaseCo’, that will lease rail rolling stock to private train... 

R132bn of private renewables to be built in SA by 2030

A new Green Cape report is forecasting that 6 GW of new private solar PV and 3.5 GW of new private wind capacity will be installed in South Africa by 2030, involving total investments of... 

Renewables aspirant

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has outlined the case for why the State-owned utility will be entering the renewable-energy space more assertively over the coming months and years, as well as how the group... 

Procurement of first 1 164 km of powerlines from private investors to be launched in November

South Africa intends launching a pilot programme for the procurement of 1 164 km of 400-kV powerlines, involving seven corridors in three provinces, in November as part of an initiative to mobilise... 

Steel firms run ‘collateral damage’ risk if they fail to respond to big Itac tariff review

A leading trade adviser is urging companies and individuals with interests in South Africa’s steel value chain to respond to the International Trade Administration Commission’s (Itac’s) call for... 

Steady progress

Methodical progress is being made ahead of the launch, later this year, of South Africa’s inaugural procurement of independent transmission projects (ITPs). Following a market-sounding exercise... 

Sasol to buy in more coal amid ongoing quality problems at own mines

Energy and chemicals group Sasol has again reduced its coal production forecast for the current financial year, owing to ongoing quality problems affecting production at its Secunda Operations,... 

Exxaro views collaboration with Eskom as key to lowering of Scope 3 emissions

JSE-listed coal and energy group Exxaro Resources and State-owned electricity producer Eskom have announced they will collaborate on research initiatives and projects to reduce carbon emissions and... 

Marokane says Eskom must be given ‘space’ to pursue renewables strategy

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has appealed for the State-owned utility to be given “space” to implement its renewable-energy strategy, insisting that it is not designed to “crowd out” private competitors... 

Rail industry hails pre-procurement market testing, but calls for urgency to clear way for train operators

The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) has welcomed the launch of a pre-procurement market sounding exercise by the South African government with regard to private sector participation (PSP)... 

South Africa considering export taxes and quotas to revive ferroalloy smelters – Mantashe

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that discussions are under way within government and with manganese and chrome producers in an effort to halt the decline in domestic... 

Back to the future?

There’s some concern that government is delaying the inevitable, after more support was extended to ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to facilitate a six-month pause of the shutdown of its longs... 

America’s application of tariff-setting formula ‘hugely inflated’ South Africa’s trade surplus

South Africa’s trade surplus with the US, which was used to calculate the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, has been “hugely inflated”, says Professor Lawrence... 

Auto council urges urgent trade talks, as Trump’s tariffs imperil R35bn in exports

The industry body that represents South African carmakers has called on government to initiate urgent trade discussions with the US, warning that the costs associated with the 25% tariffs being... 

Retaliatory tariffs against US would be ‘counterproductive’, South Africa’s Tau says

South Africa has confirmed that it has no intention of imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US after President Donald Trump announced that South African imports faced so-called “reciprocal tariffs”... 

75 MW Northern Cape solar project advances

A 75 MW solar PV project being developed near De Aar in the Northern Cape to supply an energy aggregator has advanced to financial close. The Du Plessis Dam Solar PV2 facility is being built by... 

Electricity demand fell again last year amid rapid growth of solar installations

Demand for electricity in South Africa continued to trend down in 2024, a new Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) report confirms. It shows that peak demand was a per cent lower... 

TRIM confirms 98 applications for rail slots but new tariff uncertainty clouds third-party outlook

The newly established Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has confirmed that it received 98 applications for slots being made available across the network to private train operating... 

New narrative

Developments in those transport sectors hitherto dominated by Transnet reflect not only a belated acknowledgement of South Africa’s fiscal predicament, but also a growing awareness of the risk... 

As US imposes 30% tariff on South African exports, Presidency reiterates desire for new bilateral trade deal

South Africa’s Presidency has expressed concern over new tariffs that have been imposed on South African exports to the US following President Donald Trump’s April 2 'Liberation Day' announcement.... 

IDC mulls bigger AMSA stake after granting R1.68bn loan to halt longs closure for six months

Steel group ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has confirmed that the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is considering taking a larger equity stake in the JSE-listed group and will conduct a... 

George insists new air-pollution exemptions for eight Eskom coal stations not a ‘blanket reprieve’

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has granted Eskom air-pollution exemptions for eight power stations that would otherwise have been forced to close on April 1. He... 

New credit guarantee vehicle to derisk grid projects to be launched in 2026

A credit guarantee vehicle to mobilise private sector capital by derisking projects will be launched in 2026, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his delayed Budget speech. He confirmed... 

Equipment revival at South African port terminals underpinning move from stabilisation to recovery

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) CEO Jabu Mdaki believes the steady flow of new equipment, together with improved relations with key original equipment and part suppliers as well as shipping lines,... 

CONCESSION CALL

A request for proposals has been issued for companies to bid for a 25-year concession at the Port of Durban’s Maydon Wharf precinct. The precinct covers 145 ha and has 15 berths with a yearly... 

Striking the right Budget balance

There are arguably three ways to view recent developments around South Africa’s Budget process. The first, is to lament. 

Ivanplats signs ten-year green-electricity deal with Enpower for Platreef

Registered energy trader Enpower Trading has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with platinum mine developer Ivanplats for the yearly delivery of 48.30 GWh of renewable electricity to... 

Decision on Eskom’s application for more air pollution exemptions to be announced on March 31

Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George will on March 31 announce a decision regarding Eskom’s application for additional minimum emission standards (MES) exemptions for... 

South Africa considering export taxes and quotas to revive ferroalloy smelters – Mantashe

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that discussions are under way within government and with manganese and chrome producers in an effort to halt the decline in domestic... 

Cape Town moves to open electricity grid to traders after pilot

After the conclusion of a year-long electricity ‘wheeling’ pilot project, the City of Cape Town is opening its electricity grid to private electricity sales and trading. During the pilot phase, 562... 

R40bn Eastern Cape green energy cluster expected to reach financial close in 2027

Emerging electricity retail brand Earth & Wire is aiming to achieve financial close on a R40-billion renewables and storage cluster in the Eastern Cape by the third quarter of 2027 and begin...