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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

South Africa confirms US withdrawal of $1.5bn Just Energy Transition Partnership pledge

The Presidency has confirmed that it has been formally informed that the US has withdrawn from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), to which it had initially pledged more than $1.5-billion of grant and commercial funding. The Just Energy Transition Project Management Unit (JET PMU) indicated that the withdrawal was communicated on February 28 by the US Embassy, citing the executive orders issued by President Donald Trump on January 10 and February 7.
March 6, 2025 by

Sensor Networks forms smart geyser partnership with Ariston

Local smart home technology startup Sensor Networks has secured a strategic partnership with Italy-based geyser manufacturer Ariston to bring smart water heating solutions to South African households this year. The partnership follows months of rigorous product development, refinement and certification, culminating in the rollout of Ariston geysers integrated with Sensor Networks’ smart geyser devices to plumbing retailers in South Africa, Sensor Networks says.
March 5, 2025 by

R40bn Eastern Cape green energy cluster expected to reach financial close in 2027

Emerging electricity retail brand Earth & Wire is aiming to achieve financial close on a R40-billion renewables and storage cluster in the Eastern Cape by the third quarter of 2027 and begin supplying green electricity to multiple customers by 2030. Known as EnergyFields, the facility is planned for construction south of Somerset East in the Blue Crane Route municipality on the western side of the N10, and will blend 700 MW of wind and 800 MW of solar PV with a battery energy storage system (BESS) facility of between 400 MW and 500 MW in size with four hours of storage.
March 5, 2025 by

Transitioning to clean energy of great importance to African women – Graham-Maré

Transitioning to the use of clean energy, and in particular clean energy for cooking, is especially important for women in Africa. So highlighted South African Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Jane Graham-Maré, in her keynote address to the Women in Energy breakfast at Africa Energy Indaba 2025, being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Clean cooking had to be a focus for African women, she affirmed. More than 600 000 women and girls died in Africa every year, from indoor pollution caused by having to use biomass fuel for cooking.
March 5, 2025 by

International upheavals will affect Africa’s energy development and needs a joint response

The world, including Africa, is facing a major international political event of “seismic proportions”, South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted in his keynote address to the Africa Energy Indaba 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Tuesday. Although he carefully named no names, he was undoubtedly referring to the dramatic upheavals in international politics being caused by the new administration in the US. He pointed out that these would affect African countries’ interaction around energy and energy security. The impact would be significant, he warned. Multilateral cooperation was under deep strain. Multilateral investment flows remained unequal. Trade had been weaponised, making it more difficult for developing countries to achieve sustainable development. The Paris climate accords were not being achieved.
March 4, 2025 by