NTCSA says any electricity deal to salvage Mozal must ensure its financial sustainability

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) reports that it remains open to finding a solution for the Mozal aluminium smelter. But it also insists that any new electricity supply agreement with the Mozambican facility should safeguard its financial stability and protect South African electricity consumers from unintended costs. In a statement following an announcement by South32 that Mozal would be placed into care and maintenance when a 20-year electricity deal expired on March 15, the Eskom Holdings subsidiary indicated that Mozal required an electricity price that was “significantly lower than the direct cost of supply”.
/by

ENGIE expects to start construction of 240 MW Corona PV project in late 2026

International energy company ENGIE reports that construction of its 240 MW Corona solar PV project in the Free State should begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, after the project was named as a preferred bidder by the South African government. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa confirmed on December 15 that the Carona project, together with three other solar PV projects, had progressed to preferred bidder status under Bid Window Seven of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
/by

Global solar additions to fall for first time in 2026, says BNEF

Solar installations are set to drop next year for the first time since the industry emerged as a global force two decades ago, as policy shifts and saturation in major markets temper demand.

The world is set to add 649 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2026, down slightly from 2025, BNEF’s Global PV Market Outlook showed.

/by

IEA still expecting coal demand to fall by 2030 despite record 2025 demand

Global coal demand is on course to rise by 0.5% in 2025, reaching a record 8.85-billion tonnes, the ‘Coal 2025’ report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows. Nevertheless, the IEA is still forecasting that demand will fall by 2030, largely owing to shifts in the electricity sector, which currently accounts for two-thirds of total coal consumption.
/by