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SAIA launches national campaign to promote safe, compliant residential solar systems

The South African Insurance Association (SAIA), in collaboration with municipalities, national industry bodies, insurers, financial institutions, fire protection organisations and civil society, has launched the Safe Solar PV & Storage campaign to promote safe, legally compliant solar installations in South African homes. This national awareness drive supports both new and existing residential solar PV customers, aiming to ensure their systems are safe, registered, compliant with standards and insurable.
January 15, 2026 by

SAWEM market code and rules to be first order of business for new Nersa advisory forum

The immediate priority of the Electricity Market Advisory Forum (EMAF), which was appointed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in December, will be to offer input on the regulatory instruments needed to facilitate the launch of the South African Electricity Wholesale Market (SAWEM), including the market code and rules, as well as the trading arrangements and platform. The 14-member EMAF is yet to be formally convened, but Nersa executive manager for electricity regulation Rhulani Mathebula has been appointed by the regulator to chair the forum, which is expected to be formerly launched in the coming weeks.
January 15, 2026 by

Solar body concerned that revised Eskom unbundling plan could stymie crucial grid investment

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has added its voice to those expressing concern about the potential negative consequences arising from the revised unbundling plan for Eskom, which was announced in December. Under the revised structure the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) will remain a subsidiary of Eskom Holdings and will continue to own the transmission assets, while a separate Transmission System Operator (TSO) will be set up outside Eskom to handle system and market operation, but without owning the underlying infrastructure.
January 13, 2026 by

South Africa leads Africa’s renewable energy transition, report shows

South Africa continues to lead Africa’s renewable-energy transition, offering a growing range of investable opportunities in wind, solar, biofuels and green hydrogen, according to the latest Forvis Mazars ‘Powering Africa’s Future Energy’ report. The report highlights that South Africa generated more than 50 TWh from renewable sources in 2024, including hydroelectric at 10.1 TWh, solar at 8 TWh, wind at 9 TWh and other renewables rounding out the remaining 27.1 TWh, positioning the country as the continent’s top producer.
January 12, 2026 by

Eskom’s revised unbundling plan in focus as grid constraint continues to weigh on outlook

Eskom has offered assurances that the power system is more stable and predictable than it has been for the past five years in light of a strong recovery in the energy availability factor, a decline in unplanned breakdowns, more predictable planned maintenance and the return or introduction to service of some 4 400 MW of capacity when compared with the previous year. The improvements, CEO Dan Marokane says, have had positive economic spinoffs in the form of improved investor confidence, and have also contributed to South Africa’s first credit rating upgrade in two decades.
January 12, 2026 by

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.
January 8, 2026 by

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.
January 7, 2026 by

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.
January 7, 2026 by

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.
January 7, 2026 by