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Eskom outlines R320bn capex plan, as it signals 2028 return to capital markets

Having finally announced the completion at the end of September of its generation build programme, which included two mega coal projects that ran years behind schedule and tens of billions over budget, Eskom has outlined plans for a R320-billion investment programme for the coming five years. The programme includes greenfield generation projects, which Eskom has been disallowed from pursuing since 2023 without the explicit permission of the Finance Minister as part of the terms of a R230-billion debt-relief package, under which it is still trading.
October 1, 2025 by

Eskom warns that municipal debt could climb to R300bn by 2030

Eskom CFO Calib Cassim warns that municipal arrear debt owing to Eskom could exceed R300-billion by 2030, while once again highlighting the failure of the current National Treasury initiative to arrest the crisis. Cassim, who will retire from Eskom in 2026, reported at the group’s results presentation that debt owed to Eskom by municipalities had increased by 27% to R94.6-billion in the year to March 31, 2025, and had since climbed to above R103-billion.
October 1, 2025 by

Eskom stays legal case against traders, says it has faith in Nersa process

Eskom has announced a stay in its legal action to have the regulator’s decision to licence five electricity traders in 2024 reviewed and set aside. In July, Eskom launched its long-threatened legal review of the regulator’s decision to grant trading licences to Green Electron Market, CBI Electric Apollo, GreenCo Power Services (which also received a cross-border licence), Discovery Green and NOA Group Trading.
September 30, 2025 by

Eskom now modelling single-digit tariff hikes, Marokane reports

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that the State-owned company is being geared towards receiving no more than single-digit tariff increases in future in recognition of the affordability pressures being experienced by its business and residential customers. “We have it very loud and clear that South Africa cannot afford high prices of electricity, and so we have modelled the business on a single-digit tariff increase going forward.
September 30, 2025 by

SPS, B2Gold launch first solar wheeling project under Namibia’s MSB programme

Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), in partnership with B2Gold Namibia, the Oelofse family and Fortitude, have commissioned Namibia’s first solar wheeling project under NamPower’s Modified Single Buyer (MSB) Programme, which allows private independent power producers (IPPs) to sell electricity directly to large customers using the national grid. SPS funds, develops, and operates solar PV and battery storage projects, primarily in the commercial and industrial sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
September 30, 2025 by

Eskom records first full-year profit in eight years

State-owned power utility Eskom on Tuesday reported its first full-year profit in eight years thanks to government debt relief, higher tariffs and a sharp reduction in power cuts. Eskom made profit after tax of R16-billion in the year to the end of March 2025, compared to a R55-billion loss a year earlier, its annual report showed.
September 30, 2025 by

BII invests $20m in hardest-to-reach Africa energy access expansion initiative

UK development finance institution British International Investment (BII) has committed $20-million to impact investment organisation Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Initiative to help expand access to affordable, reliable and clean energy in frontier economies in Africa. The initiative’s debt-focused vehicle H2R Amplify will provide financing to established offgrid solar companies in the most underserved countries in sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate energy access.
September 30, 2025 by

Eskom chair says future tariff hikes should be in line with inflation

Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati says the next mission of the board is to drive electricity affordability in a way that ensures that future electricity tariff increases do not exceed the rate of inflation. Speaking during a PSG webinar Nyati said that significant progress had been made on stabilising energy security and that the board’s new directive to management was to ensure a moderation in tariff increases.
September 30, 2025 by

Energy dept, SAREM committee pledge to accelerate country’s renewable energy plan

The Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) and Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré have signed a pledge in which they commit to the swift realisation of the masterplan. SAREM’s overall vision is the “industrialisation of the renewable energy and battery storage value chain to enable inclusive participation in the energy transition, serve the needs of society and contribute to economic revival”.
September 30, 2025 by

Nersa launches market inquiry into impact of fixed charges on electricity customers

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has launched a market inquiry into the impact of fixed charges being levied by Eskom and municipal electricity distributors, which it claims have already resulted in hikes for some customers that are substantially higher than the 12.74% increase approved for 2025/26. A terms of reference document has been published with a deadline for written comments set for October 25, and with public hearings scheduled for November 17.
September 29, 2025 by