No one entity can meet South Africa’s energy investment needs, report argues

No one entity has the resources, funding or execution capability to address South Africa’s multitrillion-rand energy investment needs, a new PWC report argues, while calling for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the challenge. The ‘Africa Energy Review 2024’ report follows government’s release of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, which highlighted the need to scale up private-sector participation in the delivery of public infrastructure, including energy infrastructure.
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DA urges ‘anti-competitive’ Eskom to withdraw legal proceedings against Nersa

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday urged State power utility Eskom to withdraw its “futile and costly” legal dispute and support the transformation of South Africa’s energy sector. Eskom has approached the High Court to review the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) decision to grant four trading licences in what it describes as its area of supply.
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South Africa seeks billions in climate funds as it keeps coal plants open

South Africa pledged to slash emissions across its fleet of coal-fired power plants in a bid to secure $2.6-billion in climate finance. That’s despite seeking to alter the terms of a 2022 agreement by delaying the outright closure of three of the facilities. The plan, which involves the reduction of emissions at a number of units at the 14 plants operated by the state utility Eskom, was submitted to the World Bank affiliated Climate Investment Funds on Wednesday, South Africa’s presidency said in a response to queries. The country has now said it will close the Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden plants at a later stage after initially agreeing to begin shutting them down from as early as next year.
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In another shock move, Eskom seeks review of Nersa decision to issue four new trading licences

In another surprise move, Eskom has taken the seemingly regressive step of approaching the High Court for a review of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) decision to grant four trading licenses in what it describes as its area of supply. In a statement released a day after the Energy Regulator, Nersa’s top decision-making structure, approved trading licences in favour of CBI Electric Apollo, Discovery Green, Green Electron Market and GreenCo Power Services, Eskom reiterated objections first raised during public hearings on July 18.
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