President transfers limited powers to procure new electricity generation from Mantashe to Ramokgopa

Following more than two months of uncertainty and reported Cabinet infighting, President Cyril Ramaphosa has transferred Ministerial powers relating to the procurement of new electricity generation... 

Action, not distraction

Political and social turbulence has swirled fiercely ever since former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter appeared in that explosive television interview in February, and has intensified with the release of... 

Namibia signs agreement opening way for feasibility study of $10bn green ammonia project

Namibia has taken another step towards the creation of a green hydrogen industry, after President Hage Geingob’s Cabinet agreed this week to sign a feasibility and implementation agreement (FIA)... 

Despite low risk of blackout, Eskom’s restoration protocols should be paired with larger country plan

Amid rising public anxiety over the prospect of a blackout, a former senior Eskom executive has added his voice to those highlighting the low probability of such an eventuality. However, he also... 

Enviro department evaluating EIAs for renewables projects with a combined capacity of 9 789 MW

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reports that the department’s environmental impact assessment section is currently processing applications for renewable-energy... 

That blackout feeling

There is justifiable concern that South Africa’s grid could collapsed this winter given ongoing high breakdowns across the Eskom coal fleet, the absence of one Koeberg unit and a rise in demand in... 

Makwana hints at possible legal action against De Ruyter

Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana has indicated that the current board is preparing a possible legal case against former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter for what he describes as “transgressions” arising... 

Eskom warns of Stage 8 loadshedding this winter but insists risk of blackout is low

Eskom has indicated that Stage 8 loadshedding – representing 16 hours of cuts in a 32-hour cycle – is possible this winter if coal plant breakdowns breach 18 000 MW and demand rises in sync with... 

Gordhan refutes claim that he prompted De Ruyter’s private Eskom investigation

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan tore strips off former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter during his appearance before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday,... 

Mantashe outlines procurement schedules, including for nuclear, as he confirms IRP delay

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has pulled back from his statement that the release of the revised Integrated Resource Plan, which he has dubbed IRP 2023, is imminent,... 

Climate commission recommends grid PPPs to speed up just energy transition

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that alternative investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), be explored to expand and strengthen South Africa’s... 

Powerships likely to feature in five-year Eskom emergency procurement

The prospect of South Africa procuring electricity from powerships docked either in South Africa or in a neighbouring country has increased, with the Eskom board having approved three emergency... 

Pregnant pause

It is good news that President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally Gazetted a notice declaring that Section 6 of the National Energy Act, which stipulates that an Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) be crafted in... 

Ramaphosa denies JETP ‘incoherence’ or being forced to transition from coal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that there is any incoherence in his Cabinet regarding the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with developed countries that have agreed to extend... 

Lack of action by law enforcement agencies prompted private Eskom investigation – Makgoba

Former Eskom interim chairperson Professor Malegapuru Makgoba believes there would have been no reason for former CEO André de Ruyter to pursue a privately funded intelligence investigation of... 

Mantashe says release of ‘IRP 2023’ for comment is imminent

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reports that an updated version of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity will be released imminently for public consideration.... 

Treasury says technical assessment of coal stations to be completed by July

The National Treasury has confirmed that the once-off independent review of Eskom’s 14 coal fired power stations is under way and should be concluded by July. The review was announced by Finance... 

Ramokgopa says 'frank' talks held with JETP partners on possible coal decommissioning delay

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that “open and frank” discussions have been held with those countries that have agreed to extended $8.5-billion in concessional funding to... 

Light from the Tower of Babel

South Africa’s electricity discussion has become far less coherent in recent months, taking on all the characteristics of the Tower of Babel, despite the fact that most of the mixed messages have... 

BLSA defends R18m support for private investigation at Eskom

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has defended the organisation’s decision to respond to a request by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to fund a private investigation into... 

More than 200 financial institutions are now pursuing coal exclusion policies

More than 200 financial institutions globally, including five South African banks, have established coal exclusion policies, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial... 

Cabinet targets 1 000 MW of demand-side savings as winter approaches

Cabinet reports that a target has been set to save about 1 000 MW, or the equivalent of one stage of loadshedding, through demand side management (DSM) measures, but has provided no details as to... 

Last out?

Swedish Ambassador to South Africa Håkan Juholt made a profound point at a recent workshop hosted to discuss decarbonisation options for South Africa’s steel value chain, which currently employs... 

De Ruyter continues to draw link between corruption and loadshedding in damp squib Parliamentary appearance

Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter continued to draw a direct link between corruption at the State-owned utility and ongoing loadshedding during his much-anticipated, but ultimately unsatisfactory,... 

No immediate clarity on how coal extensions will be aligned to R254bn debt-relief conditions

No immediate clarity has been provided as to how the current proposal to extend the life of certain coal stations beyond their scheduled retirement dates has been aligned with the conditions of a... 

South African port operator pursuing R8bn OEM strategy in bid to bolster equipment performance

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is optimistic that its emerging strategy of entering into long-term agreements with original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the supply and life-cycle maintenance... 

Ramaphosa seeks to offer just energy transition assurances despite coal-extension proposal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that the current process of re-examining the timeframes for the closure of coal power stations represents a reversal of the country’s position on the just... 

Dimming the light

There was so much to be concerned about after the first formal report back by South Africa’s newly appointed Minister of Electricity earlier this month that it is difficult to know where to begin.... 

PCC underlines support for electricity reforms as govt mulls coal life extensions

Amid a likely proposal that Eskom be allowed to extend the life of certain coal power stations beyond the decommissioning dates outlined in the Integrated Resource Plan, the Presidential Climate... 

South Africa’s green direct reduced iron export potential highlighted as industry mulls decarbonisation options

Government and the steel industry are considering the potential of positioning South Africa as a global exporter of green hydrogen direct reduced iron (GHDRI) as part of a broader discussion to... 

Govt moves to ease enviro path for solar and battery projects

The South African government is moving to exclude solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage facilities from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation in areas where the environmental... 

Bad idea

Given the depth of the electricity crisis and the lack of trust surrounding Eskom and government’s response – a deficit that has arguably been amplified with the declaration of the crisis as a... 

Ramaphosa underlines commitment to energy and freight reforms as he unveils new R2tr investment target

President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled a new investment target of R2-trillion for the five-year period to 2028 at the fifth edition of the South African Investment Conference on Thursday, where he also... 

Ramaphosa to announce new investment target amid confidence-sapping electricity and freight crises

President Cyril Ramaphosa will outline what actions South Africa is taking to tackle its economically debilitating electricity crisis when he addresses investors at the fifth South African... 

South Africa’s new grid company could be operational by mid-year if licence and lender conditions are met

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has hosted public hearings into an application by the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTC) for the three licences it requires to... 

Walk and chew gum

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa may have been making a nuanced point when indicating that his immediate priority was on improving Eskom’s generation performance rather than its... 

Coal life-extensions set to be included in options being prepared by Ramokgopa for Cabinet consideration

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, intends presenting Cabinet with a list of options before the end of April that he says will outline ways to... 

TFR expects borderless train service to Maputo to raise commodity export volumes

South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is preparing to materially increase the number of weekly trains operating on that component of its North East Corridor that transports export commodities... 

Talks under way on next funding flows from Germany to South Africa under JETP

Discussions are under way between the German and South African governments regarding the disbursement of the next tranche of the European country’s concessional funding under the $8.5-billion Just... 

Co-created solutions

Even though South Africa’s just energy transition has not really started, there is already significant cynicism and even resistance. This is to be expected for several reasons, not least the fact...