Eskom to implement Stage 3 loadshedding from 17:00

Eskom has announced that it will implement Stage 3 loadshedding from 17:00 on January 31, after warning earlier in the day that there was a high risk of loadshedding.   “This is a potentially temporary setback. Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times. “This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished. Consequently, we are closely monitoring the status of our current emergency reserves, and loadshedding up to Stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend,” Eskom Group CE Dan Marokane said on Friday morning.
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Nersa grants Eskom 12.74% tariff hike

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the background to power utility Eskom’s MYPD6 tariff application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa); Nersa’s decision; and what is likely to happen next.  
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Eskom issues alert warning of high risk of loadshedding

After more than ten months of uninterrupted electricity supply due to the success of the Generation Recovery Plan, Eskom has issued an alert warning of a high risk of loadshedding at short notice.   “This is a potentially temporary setback. Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times. “This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished. Consequently, we are closely monitoring the status of our current emergency reserves, and loadshedding up to Stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend.” said Eskom Group CE Dan Marokane.   Eskom will issue further updates in due course.
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Updated boilers yield significant improvements

The replacement of 78-year-old boilers at a Western Cape food processing plant by boiler operations and maintenance service provider Associated Energy Services (AES), has proven to be a valuable investment for the client as it significantly enhanced their entire production process, says AES.   This turnkey project – one of the largest in the sector and region – saw AES update the boiler house format, structure and technology.
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G3 Citrus Estates adds significant solar power upgrade

Citrus producer G3 Citrus Estates, in Weipe, Limpopo, has added 812 kW of solar PV and 2.28 MWh of battery storage to its existing solar-powered renewable electricity system, with commissioning set for the end of February. The Venetia diamond mine, established in 1992, spurred infrastructure development that caused the citrus industry in Weipe to thrive, with farmers capitalising on the region’s ideal climate and State-owned utility Eskom’s high-voltage powerline and Pontdrift substation to cultivate high-quality vegetables and export citrus.
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Nersa approves 12.74% tariff hike for April 1, as Eskom reports R16bn interim profit

The Energy Regulator, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) highest decision-making body, has granted Eskom a 12.74% tariff increase for implementation on April 1. The announcement coincided with the release of interim results by Eskom for the period to September 30, 2023. These showed that the utility made a profit of R16-billion in the first six months, a period that coincided with the high-demand and high-tariff winter months.
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MMC signs deal to get 70% of its power from NOA’s renewable sources

Manganese producer and exporter Manganese Metal Company (MMC) has entered into an energy supply agreement with integrated energy utility NOA Group to secure an estimated 70% of its electricity from renewable sources. The deal will leverage NOA’s portfolio of wind and solar PV facilities with a combined capacity of 86 MW.
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Suiso’s R31.5bn coal-to-fertiliser, methanol project passes BFS stage

The bankable feasibility study (BFS) for blue ammonia producer Suiso’s R31.5-billion coal-to-fertiliser and methanol project in Kriel, Mpumalanga, was completed earlier this month. The study was carried out through engineering services firm Wuhuan Engineering. With the BFS complete, basic engineering for the project will start in February, to be followed by the start of construction next year. The plant is slated to be fully operational and fired up in 2029.
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South Africa moving in the right direction in transmission infrastructure rollout, but …

South Africa’s grid transmission infrastructure is constrained, and it is critical that this be dealt with to support the country’s goal of increasing its energy supply and diversifying its energy mix, while contributing to socioeconomic development. This was highlighted by speakers during Creamer Media’s Energy Outlook 2025 webinar: “Accelerating Investment in South Africa’s Transmission Network”, held on January 29.
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Hikes alone won’t guarantee Eskom’s viability, warns AGSA as it releases alarming audit findings

On the eve of the highly-anticipated announcement of Eskom’s tariffs for the coming three years, the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) has warned that tariff increases will fail to improve the State-owned company’s financial viability unless they are accompanied by dramatic improvements to revenue management and controls. It also warns of unintended consequences for municipal indebtedness and illegal connections, given growing affordability concerns.
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