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African countries pushing forward with nuclear energy programmes

African countries are aiming to achieve a total nuclear power generating capacity of 15 GW by 2035, most of it in West Africa. This would require a capital investment of $105-billion. This was highlighted at a recent webinar organised by the Nuclear Business Platform consultancy, with the participation of officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria. More than 15 African countries had formal nuclear energy programmes, at different stages of development. These ranged from the adoption of the necessary policies to the development of regulations, and from site selection to discussions with vendors.
February 3, 2026 by

AfDB has launched Phase II of continental electrification programme

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched the next stage of the Mission 300 initiative, which is a joint AfDB-World Bank programme to connect 300-million Africans with electricity by 2030. This latest stage is designated AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II. It is a $3.9-million technical assistance project, which directly builds upon the $1-million AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I, which was launched in December. Phase II of the programme will benefit 13 countries, namely Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauretania, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. It will assist these countries to implement their National Energy Compacts, which are national plans to expand electricity access, attract investment and reinforce power sectors in each of the participating countries. (Dozens of African countries have developed such compacts.)
February 2, 2026 by

Nersa registered 147 new power generation facilities in the Dec quarter

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) registered 147 new electricity generation facilities in the quarter ended December 31 – the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year – adding total capacity of 1 960 MW and an investment of R33.39-billion. The regulator processed these registrations within an average of nine working days, a notable improvement from the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year when 117 applications were processed in an average of 14 working days.
January 30, 2026 by

Operation Vulindlela again lists Eskom’s restructuring as a reform area ‘facing significant …

The latest update on progress being made in implementing the structural reforms that have been prioritised under Operation Vulindlela has again identified Eskom’s restructuring as a reform area “facing significant challenges” and where intervention is required. Lagging restructuring progress at Eskom is one of only three reforms highlighted as facing difficulties, even though several others are listed as experiencing delays.
January 30, 2026 by

Eskom ups wage hike offer in ongoing union talks

State-owned power utility Eskom has raised its salary increase offer to trade unions to 5.5% from the 3.5% it proposed last year, a document seen by Reuters showed, though it remains well below what unions are demanding. Eskom has been a long-term drag on Africa’s biggest economy through its electricity cuts and financial woes. But a sharp improvement in the performance of its coal-fired power stations has allowed it to stop implementing nationwide blackouts. It reported its first full-year profit in eight years last financial year.
January 30, 2026 by

Decade-first maintenance breakthrough leads to awards

Steam generation solutions company Steinmüller Africa has won two honours at State-owned power utility Eskom’s Duvha Power Station awards, held in December, for delivering a “decade-first maintenance breakthrough”. The company claimed the ‘Key Service Provider in Maintenance 2025’ and ‘Best Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Contribution Team’ awards at the power station’s yearly supplier recognition programme.
January 30, 2026 by

Energy Regulator grants 87c/kWh tariff relief to ferrochrome smelters

The Electricity Regulator has approved an application by Eskom to extend temporary tariff relief to ferrochrome producers Samancor Chrome and the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture for a period of 12 months. Eskom made an application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to supply electricity to smelters owned by the two entities at a temporary tariff of 87c/kWh, instead of 135c/kWh.
January 29, 2026 by

Energy regulator approves power cost relief for ferrochrome makers

South Africa’s energy regulator on Thursday approved an application by Eskom to reduce electricity tariffs by 35% for two distressed ferrochrome operations battling high power costs. More than a dozen smelters have shut down in South Africa in recent years, leading to thousands of job losses, largely due to high electricity costs which have surged by more than 900% since 2008.
January 29, 2026 by