The Department of Electricity and Energy has provided additional information about its proposal to repurpose the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) to meet the country’s 2030 universal access commitment – one that would involve electrifying some 1.6-million households at an estimated cost of R75-billion. The grant-based INEP scheme was launched in 2001/2 and Eskom and municipalities have used the R110-billion allocated to the programme over the decades to electrify some 8.4-million households and increase the country’s electrification rate to over 94%.
Two years after its inaugural launch, Nordex Energy South Africa’s internship programme continues to build a pipeline of skilled technicians to service and manage wind farms. To date, 14 young engineers, with a minimum N4 qualification in electrical, mechanical or mechatronics disciplines, have been provided practical training opportunities aligned with the increasing demand for specialised skills within the wind industry.
The Department of Electricity and Energy has amended the request for proposal (RFP) documentation for the inaugural procurement of 2 000 MW of gas-to-power and has also announced an extension to the bid submission date to May 29 next year. The first bid window for the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (GASIPPPP) was launched on December 14, 2023, with an initial deadline of August 30, 2024, which was subsequently extended to October 31, 2025.
The 97.5 MW Damlaagte solar PV facility, near Parys in the Free State, has been officially inaugurated, after having entered into commercial operation in August. The plant supplies renewable electricity to Sasol Secunda Operations and represents the first renewable-energy facility to come online under a joint agreement between Sasol and Air Liquide to procure 900 MW of renewables in support of their respective decarbonisation initiatives.
The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey (SAREGS) has again confirmed that there is a strong and growing development pipeline of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid projects across the country. The survey is conducted yearly by the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) in partnership with the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association and the South African Wind Energy Association.
State-owned utility Eskom says it is bolstering efforts to eliminate load reduction by 2027 as South Africa’s electricity system stabilises. The Load Reduction Elimination Strategy, launched by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on September 25, sets a roadmap to strengthen the country’s distribution network and address high-risk isolated areas.
Montgomery Group Africa will stage two new exhibitions in South Africa – one in Johannesburg in 2026, and one in Cape Town in 2027. Montgomery Group Africa commercial director Joshua Low says RE+ South Africa will take place on June 2 to 4, next year, in Johannesburg, at the Gallagher Convention Centre.
The South African electricity market was undergoing a major change, with the development and implementation of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM). “We’re currently in a transition phase,” pointed out National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) Executive Manager of Electricity Rhulani Mathebula, in a panel discussion at the Windaba 2025 conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Thursday. This transition phase was defined as lasting five years. Under SAWEM, the market operating entity would be the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA). This was being created out of national electricity utility Eskom.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has published a consultation paper on State-owned utility Eskom’s application to amend the losses charge calculation methodology for embedded generators. As part of the decision process, Nersa is required to undertake a public consultation process.
The upcoming launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) – currently scheduled for April 1 next year – was generally welcomed by representatives of the wind power industry, participating in a panel discussion at the Windaba 2025 conference, on Thursday. Windaba 2025 was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “The SAWEM is definitely very promising,” said G7 Renewable Energies (G7) CEO Kilian Hagemann. He and his team had been very encouraged by their deeper examination of the proposed Market Code for the SAWEM. It was a long and a complicated document. Clearly, a lot of work had been put into it, with a lot of industry engagement. “It is complex. It will take some time for the market [wind sector] to wrap its head around it.”
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