A policy decision to allow electricity-intensive companies operating in South Africa to enter into negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Eskom is set to contribute 5.7% to any tariff increase approved for implementation on standard-tariff customers on April 1 next year. Eskom has included an application for 10 additional NPAs in its larger submission to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for allowable revenue of R445.6-billion for its 2026 financial year. If approved in full, this would translate to a 36.15% tariff hike next year and raise the standard tariff to 266.78c/kWh from 195.74c/kWh.
Nonprofit organisation The Green Connection has welcomed Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa’s announcement this week that the Karpowership deal is officially “dead in the water”. Turkish energy company Karpowership had been seeking to implement three ship-based power projects in South Africa after being named one of the preferred bidders in the government’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.