Nersa launches market inquiry into impact of fixed charges on electricity customers

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has launched a market inquiry into the impact of fixed charges being levied by Eskom and municipal electricity distributors, which it claims have already resulted in hikes for some customers that are substantially higher than the 12.74% increase approved for 2025/26. A terms of reference document has been published with a deadline for written comments set for October 25, and with public hearings scheduled for November 17.
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European Commission launches €545m Initiative to Accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced a €545-million Team Europe package to support Africa’s transition to clean energy. The announcement was made by means of a video message at the Global Citizen Festival in the context of the UN General Assembly and is part of the European Commission’s ‘Scaling Up Renewables in Africa’ campaign, which is co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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Fraught Eskom build programme completed as Kusile Unit 6 enters commercial operation

Unit 6 at Kusile power station has officially entered into commercial operation, which Eskom says marks the end of its multi-decade build programme – one which experienced well-publicised delays, major cost overruns, and technical problems, alongside allegations of serious corruption that featured heavily at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Construction on the Mpumalanga coal-fired power station started in August 2008 and was initially expected to take six years to complete, while the project’s initial budget of about R80-billion subsequently swelled to above R233-billion.
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