Tau says Cabinet-approved industrial strategy to be backed by implementation plan

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says the themes of decarbonisation, diversification, and digitalisation will now anchor South Africa’s Industrial Development Strategy, following... 

Distribution dilemma

During a recent joint meeting of the portfolio committees on electricity and energy and cooperative governance and traditional affairs it became clear there is some sympathy for Eskom when it comes... 

Ramokgopa to seek Cabinet approval soon to extend tariff discounts to more industries

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has indicated that he intends approaching Cabinet in the coming weeks to seek approval to extend concessional electricity tariffs similar to... 

South African steel sector at deindustrialisation ‘inflection point’

The South African steel industry – encompassing the full value chain, from upstream producers to downstream manufacturers and fabricators – has been described as being at a deindustrialisation... 

Eskom Green gears up to select private partners for initial 2 GW renewables pipeline

Eskom Green, which has now been officially launched, reports that it intends implementing an initial 2 GW pipeline of advanced utility-scale renewables projects in partnership with private... 

Eskom Restructuring Task Team outlines terms of reference for creation of TSO

The Eskom Restructuring Task Team (ERTT) has outlined the terms of reference guiding its deliberations on the establishment of an independent State-owned Transmission System Operator (TSO) that... 

Industrial strategy outlines ‘3Ds’ vision while fighting deindustrialisation rearguard action

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has released a new Industrial Development Strategy (IDS) “anchored” by the so-called ‘3Ds’ of decarbonisation, diversification and... 

Standard Bank outlines macroeconomic spinoffs from $30bn Rovuma LNG project

Standard Bank has published a bullish macroeconomic assessment of the giant Rovuma liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in northern Mozambique, which has been described as the largest commercial... 

Eskom signs agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal as it seeks to advance 3 GW Richards Bay gas-fired power project

Eskom has signed heads of agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) with the intention of becoming the ‘foundation customer’ for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that ZET intends... 

Nersa moves to consult on key building blocks in shift to electricity market competition

The outcomes of two public consultation processes initiated recently by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) are likely to have far-reaching implications for the country’s... 

South Africa increases tariffs on wide range of steel products to WTO bound rate

South Africa has officially raised import protection across a wide range of upstream and downstream steel products by between 10% and 30% – rates that are in line with the World Trade Organisation... 

Virtue of necessity

Following an embarrassing false start, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has set a deadline of early next year for the finalisation of a new draft of the national AI policy.... 

Business defends making Joburg partnership offer ahead of crucial elections

The business formations that have formally offered to extend the Government-Business Partnership model – hitherto used to tackle national crises such as loadshedding – to the City of Johannesburg... 

September Distribution Agency Agreement deadline looms for Eskom-indebted municipalities

The National Treasury has issued termination letters to 13 municipalities and is preparing to issue similar notices to 14 others in relation to their continued participation in a scheme set up in... 

Traxtion says R1.4bn equity raise positions it for yet more rail investments as market opens

Independent railways operator Traxtion has concluded an $86-million (R1.4-billion) equity capital raise, which the company says has created the financial platform for yet further investments into a... 

UCT overcomes rooftop PV limitations with electricity wheeling deal

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has signed a power purchase agreement with Discovery Green for wheeled renewable electricity that will account for up to 90% of the electricity consumed across the... 

EU aims to use investor roadshow to convert €12bn pledge into South African projects

The EU, which announced a €12-billion investment package for South Africa in October, is undertaking investment roadshows in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban this week as part of efforts to... 

SABS outlines actions being taken after forensic probe confirms serious breaches

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) says it has accepted the findings of a much-delayed forensic investigation confirming many of the serious governance, procurement, labour and... 

Cabinet urged to fast-track electricity reform roadmap as market enters critical phase

Independent power producer and licensed trader NOA has amplified a recent call for the publication of a Cabinet-endorsed electricity reform roadmap to ensure that the shift to the competitive... 

Eleven private train operators gear up for mainline entry after concluding access agreements

The 11 private train operating companies (TOCs), which were last year allocated slots on South Africa’s mainline rail network, have now officially concluded rail access agreements with the Transnet... 

Big and small pictures

Much has been written in recent weeks about the geopolitical factors now driving the energy transition. Particular attention has been given to how the attack on Iran by the US and Israel, which... 

Countries prioritising domestic energy options amid ‘largest-ever energy security crisis’

Countries are increasingly prioritising domestic energy resources as they seek to reduce their reliance on imported fuels in response to what the International Energy Agency (IEA)  is describing as... 

TNPA signs 25-year LNG terminal agreement for Port of Ngqura

South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a 25-year terminal operator agreement with Ukwanda LNG, to develop an onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification facility... 

Eskom flags big renewables ambitions as it starts work on 75 MW solar project alongside Lethabo coal station

Eskom has started construction of a 75 MW solar PV project alongside its Lethabo coal-fired power station in the Free State, which is expected to generate some 147 GWh yearly once at full... 

Tau says Cabinet-approved industrial strategy to be backed by implementation plan

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says the themes of decarbonisation, diversification, and digitalisation will now anchor South Africa’s Industrial Development Strategy, following... 

Nersa extends deadline for comments on electricity market code and rules

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has extended the deadline for written comments on the Market Code and Market Rules needed before the South African Electricity Wholesale Market... 

Eskom and ferrochrome smelters make case for ‘win-win’ 62c/kWh tariff, amid transparency concerns

Although Eskom confirmed that it would not make a profit from the sale of electricity to two ferrochrome producers at a tariff of 62c/kWh, the State-owned company nevertheless argued that the costs... 

PPC issues positive trading update as turnaround strategy continues

JSE-listed cement producer PPC has issued a positive trading update ahead of its full-year financial results in June, attributing the improvement to its ongoing turnaround strategy. The statement... 

Treasury to start deducting money owed to municipalities by provincial and national departments

The National Treasury has taken a decision to deduct monetary amounts owed to municipalities by national and provincial government departments to settle outstanding debts, Finance Minister Enoch... 

New initiative aims to grow pipeline of ‘bankable’ water and sanitation projects

A newly formed government agency set up to mobilise private sector participation in public infrastructure has concluded a cooperation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a... 

South Africa poised for record IPP deployments in 2026

South Africa’s utility-scale renewables and battery storage market is poised for a record year of installations, a new research note produced by the Power Futures Lab at the UCT Graduate School of... 

Risks to reform

The economic reform agenda has emerged as the defining feature of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency, especially the reforms under way to open the electricity and freight logistics markets to... 

Nersa moves to consult on key building blocks in shift to electricity market competition

The outcomes of two public consultation processes initiated recently by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) are likely to have far-reaching implications for the country’s... 

Joburg residents should not be ‘collateral damage’ in R5.2bn Eskom debt dispute

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has called on Eskom to pursue the recovery of R5.2-billion in outstanding debt owed to it by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) without interrupting power... 

South Africa increases tariffs on wide range of steel products to WTO bound rate

South Africa has officially raised import protection across a wide range of upstream and downstream steel products by between 10% and 30% – rates that are in line with the World Trade Organisation... 

Industrial gas users outline policy actions needed to avert gas cliff

The Industrial Gas Users Association-Southern Africa (IGUA-SA) has outlined the policy requirements it believes are now required to mitigate what would otherwise be a steep decline in gas supply to... 

Eskom warns of Joburg power cuts after city ‘fails to honour terms of court order’

Eskom has issued a public notice warning of possible electricity supply interruptions in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) from July 8, owing to an alleged failure by the municipality to honour the... 

Nersa aims to make ferrochrome tariff call by end May as it launches public consultations

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has set aside May 25 for public hearings into Eskom’s application to amend negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Samancor Chrome and... 

Sasol upbeat on market demand for Natref’s premium SAF and renewable diesel

Energy and chemicals group Sasol, which recently secured product-sustainability certification for jet fuel and diesel produced from used cooking oil and vegetable oils at its Natref refinery, says... 

Don’t waste the crisis

South Africa is experiencing its third energy crisis of this decade. While electricity loadshedding has been a threat for far longer, the most extreme phase was definitely during 2022 and 2023,...