Opinion: The structural flaws contributing to municipal electricity failure

In this article, EE Business Intelligence MD Chris Yelland and consultant Paul Vermeulen argue that mismanagement is not the only reason for the failure of municipal electricity distributors and that larger design flaws should also be taken into account. They also assert that better debt collection alone will not address the crisis and that structural remedies are needed to rebalance risk and cost across the electricity value chain.
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Standard Bank backs BlueCore Gas InfraCo with $285m structured acquisition funding solution

Financial services provider Standard Bank has reported that it has delivered a comprehensive $285-million debt and equity financing solution, which it says will “alter the landscape” of Nigerian energy. The company, in a media release, explains that the recently completed transaction enables BlueCore Gas InfraCo to acquire 100% shareholding in Glover Gas & Power, the owner of Axxela, a player in Nigeria’s natural gas sector.
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Stakeholders invited to comment on Eskom’s ferrochrome NPA application

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) invites members of the public to submit comments on State-owned power utility Eskom’s request for a temporary electricity price relief for negotiated pricing agreements (NPAs) with Samancor and Glencore-Merafe for a period of 12 months. Written comments should be submitted via email to EskomNPAApplication@nersa.org.za. The closing date for written comments is January 20.
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South Africa relaxes laws to salvage firms hit by power costs

South Africa eased antitrust rules to allow competitors in industries hit by high power costs to cooperate on negotiating cheaper power supply in a bid to prevent their total collapse, a move that potentially helps the country’s ailing ferrochrome industry. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau changed the scope of an energy users’ block exemption in the Competition Act in regulations published January 5, allowing firms operating in “industries in distress” to jointly negotiate buying energy, share ownership of backup generation capacity and collectively work with suppliers as long as no price-fixing of goods and services takes place.
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Construction activity sees civil contractor sentiment jump to multiyear high

The First National Bank (FNB)/Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Civil Confidence Index rose to 52 in the fourth quarter of last year, up from 43 in the third quarter. This marks the joint best level (along with the third quarter of 2016) in 11 years.
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Nersa extends comment period for electricity trading rules consultation paper to Jan 31

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has announced that the notice and comment period for the consultation paper on electricity trading rules published on November 16, 2025, has been extended to January 31, 2026, following requests for extension received from stakeholders. Interested parties were previously given until January 16 to submit comments.
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