In the news
Roundup of energy and electricity news and developments in South Africa
25 November to 8 December 2024
1. IRP stakeholder engagements resume after minister identifies major deficiencies.
2. NERSA concludes public hearings on Eskom application for 66% price increase.
3. Court sets aside ministerial determination and NERSA concurrence for new coal power.
4. Municipal electricity innovation enabled by dispatchable distributed energy resources.
5. Fossil fuel energy sector in South Africa experiencing governance challenges.
6. Reasonably robust growth expected for the solar PV sector in South Africa.
7. After years of procrastination, Eskom to dispose its home loan portfolio to African Bank.
11 November to 24 November 2024
1. The Eskom and City Power billing dispute is far from resolved.
2. Requirement to update prepayment meter software sparks nationwide panic.
3. Electricity regulator suspended as hearings for 66% electricity price increase start.
4. Utility-scale battery energy storage in South Africa powers ahead in a big way.
5. Flurry of public engagement processes as the summer holiday season approaches.
6. Emerging new business model options for struggling electricity distribution sector.
7. Teraco to wheel power from 120 MW solar PV plant to data centres in South Africa.
28 October to 10 November 2024
1. Eskom threatens City of Johannesburg with “load reduction” due to arrear debt.
2. SolarAfrica Energy selects PowerChina as EPC contractor for 342 MW solar project in SA.
3. AFD to provide €6.5m grant for development of new Eskom pumped storage project.
4. SA spends R17bn on solar PV and battery components in first nine months of 2024.
5. Renergen and SolaGroup in bitter natural gas vs. solar PV land-rights dispute.
6. Eskom to challenge award of electricity trading licences by NERSA in court action.
7. IPP Office to oversee pilot procurement of private independent transmission projects.
8. Minister Mantashe seeks investors in oil and gas for new state petroleum company.
9. Massive electricity revenue losses due to tampering and fraud involving prepaid meters.
14 October to 27 October 2024
1. New report paints bleak future for Sasol’s petrochemical facility in Secunda.
2. Milestone project wheels first wind power across Eskom grid for green hydrogen.
3. Karpowership gas-to-power projects sink after being declared dead in the water.
4. IPP Office pulls bid bonds of failed REIPPPP and RMIPPPP projects despite legal action.
5. Changes mooted for public procurements of renewable energy in South Africa.
6. Surge in registration of new private renewable energy projects in third quarter of 2024.
30 September to 13 October 2024
1. Scepticism over timing of Transnet’s LNG plans for Richards Bay.
2. Relook at onshore and offshore wind energy opportunities in South Africa.
3. Official launch of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA).
4. Credit guarantee and tariff plans to attract new investment in the transmission grid.
5. NERSA committee recommends granting of trading licences to four electricity traders.
6. Breakdown of Eskom's application to NERSA for a price increase of 36% on 1 April 2024.
16 September to 29 September 2024
1. $90bn World Bank and African Development Bank plan on the table to electrify Africa.
2. Eskom and Sasol MoU to pursue plans to end gas cliff and facilitate gas-to-power.
3. Unplanned shutdown of Koeberg Unit 1 leaves Western Cape with no nuclear power.
4. After much speculation, Eskom application for 36% electricity price increase confirmed.
5. Battle over R324m storage costs in DMRE fiasco involving 13 000 solar water heaters.
6. R500m wasted in eThekwini on "smart" electricity meters that don't work properly.
2 September to 15 September 2024
1. State visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa to China strengthens bilateral ties.
2. Former finance, COGTA and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan passes away.
3. Some progress on R8bn arrear debt by Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality to Eskom.
4. No progress on R8bn arrear debt by Emfuleni Municipality to Eskom.
5. NERSA and AfriForum battle over municipal electricity prices proceeds to SCA..
19 August to 1 September 2024
1. Bidders announced for the second IPP Office energy storage procurement round.
2. Eskom summer outlook – the good news and the concerns.
3. National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) shifts focus with new workstreams.
4. Division of responsibilities between Ministers Ramokgopa and Mantashe.
5. Apparent lack of cohesion between the Electricity Regulator and the NERSA board.
6. New Electricity Regulation Act in limbo as SALGA and munics consider legal action.
5 August to 18 August 2024
1. Procurement of 2500 MW of new nuclear power in South Africa deferred again.
2. Electricity Regulation Amendment Act signed into law.
3. South Africa’s draft gas master plan will require major overhaul before finalisation.
4. Solar PV in Bid Window 7 of the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme massively oversubscribed.
22 July to 4 August 2024
1. Climate Change Act – signed into law, but not yet operational
2. Regulator rejects preferential grid access for public sector renewable energy procurements
3. Sasol to appeal judgement declaring energy regulator’s gas pricing methodology unlawful
4. Scandal involving refurbishment of PetroSA’s offshore gas assets for Mossel Bay
5. Gas condensate discoveries off the southern Cape coast abandoned by TotalEnergies
6. Eskom had sufficient generation reserve capacity to place 2000 MW into “cold reserve”
7. Energy poverty and inequality prompts major review of tariffs, pricing and subsidies
8 July to 21 July 2024
1. Government commits to ultra-aggressive approach to rollout of renewable energy
2. Minister vows to confront local government electricity service delivery failures head on
3. Largest wheeling project in South Africa commissioned, with others in the wings
4. Shock opposition by Eskom Distribution to licencing of electricity traders by NERSA
5. Further electricity price increases forecast as Eskom losses continue
6. Government approves life-extension, and plans new nuclear amidst growing opposition
24 June to 7 July 2024
1. Separation of DMRE into DMPR and DEE, and appointment of ministers
2. TotalEnergies may exit gas projects off the southern coast of South Africa
3. NERSA approves municipal electriciy price increases for 1 July 2024
4. Outrage grows at City Power R230 fixed charge for prepaid electricity customers
5. Eskom celebrates 100 days with no loadshedding
6. 10% import duty applied to solar PV modules offset by 10% rebate scheme