Kusile unit 5 enters commercial operation

Following six months of testing and optimisation, State-owned Eskom has transferred Unit 5 of the Kusile Power Station to its Generation division, and this unit will now begin contributing power, increasing Kusile Power Station’s total output to 4 000 MW. Over the past six months, Kusile Unit 5 has undergone a series of tests while intermittently supplying electricity. Since its synchronisation in December 2023, the unit has met performance expectations, supported the grid and helped to reduce loadshedding.
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NTCSA starts trading

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has officially begun trading, establishing the NTCSA as a duly constituted separate, distinct and wholly owned subsidiary of State-owned utility Eskom. This marks a significant step in the Department of Public Enterprises’ (DPE’s) roadmap for Eskom towards a reformed electricity supply industry.
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Separation of energy portfolio and Ramokgopa’s appointment praised amid rising …

The decision to establish a separate energy portfolio with the African National Congress’s Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister and the Democratic Alliance’s Samantha Graham as Deputy Minister has been welcomed by stakeholders and commentators alike. There are already warnings, however, that the success of the new Electricity and Energy Ministry will be judged not only on ensuring a permanent end to loadshedding but on whether it is able to shepherd South Africa, justly, through the unfolding energy transition in a way that addresses not only the immediate threats to security of supply and affordability but also long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
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