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Graham-Maré expects Cabinet to adopt long-awaited industrialisation masterplan for renewables …

Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré reports that the long-awaited South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) is currently wending its way through the Cabinet Committee process and has expressed optimism that it should be adopted “within the month”. Speaking during a EE Business Intelligence Webinar, Graham-Maré acknowledged that the approval process had been awaited for more than two years and said she was adamant that it now needed to be signed off.
March 13, 2025 by

Big Red Rocket wind farm to supply green electricity to Richards Bay Minerals achieves …

Renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket has reached financial close on the first 242-MW phase of the Overberg Wind Farm, being built near Swellendam in the Western Cape. The project, which is expected to begin commercial operations in early 2027, will deliver an estimated 750 GWh yearly of wheeled electricity to the Rio Tinto Group’s Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
March 13, 2025 by

EIB reviews financing for $760m hydro project over DRC war

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is holding off on decisions to finance the $760-million Ruzizi III hydropower plant in Central Africa, due to fighting between Rwandan-backed rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a spokesperson said. Europe is ramping up pressure on the adversaries following January’s blitzkrieg by Congolese rebels that saw them overrun the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, attacks condemned by African leaders and Western countries.
March 13, 2025 by

NUM worried about ‘possible bloodbath of job losses’ on multiple fronts

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is worried about a “possible bloodbath of job losses” across multiple sectors, including steel, transportation, ferrochrome and mining, on the back of concerns about the 2025 Budget, problems faced by steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) and State-owned logistics company Transnet, along with an underwhelming performance in the mining sector. At the NUM national executive committee (NEC) meeting, held on February 27 and 28, the various issues were discussed, ranging from reflections on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address to concerns about the South African National Defence Force – something which is arguably outside of the NUM’s purview.
March 12, 2025 by

South African health agency calls for coal-fired power station phase-out

An influential South African government agency recommended the country phase out coal-fired power stations on Thursday as it published a ten-year study which found that people living near them were 6% more likely to die than their peers elsewhere. South African officials and citizens are debating whether and how fast the country should embark on a partly donor-funded programme to switch to sun and wind energy from coal. The fossil fuel provides three quarters of national power and employs 90 000 people in jobs unions are fighting hard to protect.
March 11, 2025 by

Exasperated Ramokgopa warns of ‘casualties’ after latest loadshedding bout

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed exasperation and disappointment over the most recent implementation of Stage 3 loadshedding by Eskom over the weekend starting March 7, saying there should be consequences for the recent failures at the utility. Having reduced rotational power cuts dramatically since early 2024 after an intense few years when loadshedding was implemented almost daily, Eskom has again resorted to using the  growth- and confidence-sapping practice three times since January 31.
March 8, 2025 by

Decision nears on $2.6bn of green funds for South Africa

A decision on a disbursement by the World Bank-linked Climate Investment Funds that would trigger a $2.6-billion green-finance package for South Africa may be made as early as Friday, people with knowledge of the matter said. The CIF, which is backed by money from 15 of the world’s richest nations, is considering a $500-million payment to South Africa to help it transition away from the use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. If granted, that would unlock a further $2.1-billion in funding from multilateral development banks and other sources.
March 7, 2025 by