State-of-the-art tech on display at Enlit

Products and solutions such as the Blue gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), Internet-of-Things-based decision-making tools and digital integration process technologies are only a few of the state-of-the-art technologies on display at technology giant Siemens South Africa’s stand at Enlit Africa 2025. Siemens will also be highlighting its holistic Security Circle offering and its robust communication networks, which are designed to enhance operational resilience and cybersecurity.
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Organisers hope to drive shift to practicable solutions

Cape Town-based event and media agency VUKA Group says “business as usual” is no longer an option, commenting on this year’s Enlit Africa 2025 theme of ‘Challenge the Status Quo’. “Industry needs to shift the conversation from theoretical to practical while focusing on actionable outcomes and developing clear insights into the next steps to bring projects to fruition or close a financing gap,” says Enlit Africa group director Chanelle Hingston.
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Cooling giant to unveil rebrand at event

Instead of simply highlighting its capabilities and technologies at this year’s Enlit Africa, industrial cooling specialists Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) will use the opportunity to make a statement by, for the first time, exhibiting under its new trade name NEXT Cooling. In February, IWC and its affiliate AS Cooling Technologies India (ASCTI) officially joined the NEXT Cooling family, a member of Nooter/Eriksen, a global leader in Heat Recovery Steam Generators. IWC has started the rebranding process and will trade as NEXT Cooling from now on; however, the company will still be registered as Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) in South Africa.
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Platinum sponsor to awe Enlit attendees

In the build-up to this year’s Enlit Africa 2025, electromechanical equipment manufacturer and distributor Actom announced a slew of activities taking place at its stand. “As a platinum sponsor to the event and as one of the largest manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa, we look forward to using the event as not only a means to engage with existing clients but to highlight our newest developments,” says Actom Group business development executive Mamiki Matlawa.
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Concern lingers over both content of updated IRP and lack of consultation

Serious questions continue to be raised about both the content of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity currently being discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) as a precursor to its approval by Cabinet, and the drafting and consultation processes that have been employed. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has indicated that he is keen for the updated IRP to be approved soon, given that the prevailing IRP2019 is outdated. However, his initial deadline of the end of March was not met.
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Operation Vulindela’s reform lens widened to include municipal rescue, urban densification …

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate the implementation of reforms across seven areas in total. Approved by Cabinet in March, the new reform focus areas included as part of what is termed Operation Vulindlela Phase II, include:
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Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use without …

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while still sustaining supply during periods of power disruption. Launched commercially on May 1, following over 15 months of research, development and beta testing across 500 customers, the App-based innovation uses real-time data to make autonomous decisions designed to improve the operational efficiencies.
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Develop gas economy now or face economic regression, Ramokgopa warns

South Africa faces a stark reality: failure to take urgent action to address the impending ‘gas cliff’ will result in economic regression, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has warned. “The gas cliff is not a distant event. It is imminent. But it is not inevitable. We have the analytical tools, institutional memory and public-private platforms to act. What we now require is resolve, coordination and energy,” he told key industry stakeholders at the Natural Gas Symposium, in Johannesburg, on May 7.
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Ramokgopa announces big increase in gas-to-power load factor to 50%-plus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50%. Speaking at the release of Eskom’s winter outlook, the Minister said the policy change had been made following feedback from the market on what would be required to stimulate gas demand to solve what he described as an economic rather than an electricity problem.
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Itac initiates review of renewable energy facility inputs

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses a major tariff review initiated by the International Trade Commission of South Africa for inputs used in solar, wind and battery storage facilities at a time when there is broader reconsideration of trade and industrial policy in South Africa.
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