Power utility Eskom on Tuesday highlighted the success of the upgrade of the second reactor (known as Unit 2) of its two-reactor Koeberg nuclear power plant, located north of Cape Town. On Monday (March 9), Unit 2 had accumulated 365 days of uninterrupted operation, with an average energy availability factor (EAF) of 99.4%. In practice, this meant that Unit 2 reliably delivered some 946 MW of electricity to the national grid. “This milestone follows major upgrades to Unit 2, which returned to the grid on 30 December 2024 and has operated continuously since 9 March 2025,” pointed out Eskom Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo. “It showcases the strength of South Africa’s nuclear skills base. The successful installation of the new steam generators highlights the skill and dedication of the Koeberg team, engineers, technicians, operators, and support staff, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the unit runs safely and efficiently.”
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The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has officially confirmed that the average tariff increase for Eskom direct customers will rise by 8.76% on April 1 and by 9.01% for municipalities on July 1. The confirmation follows the March 5 approval by the Energy Regulator, Nersa’s highest decision making structure, of the Eskom Retail Tariffs and Structural Adjustment (ERTSA) application.
The World Bank Group has approved $350-million, or about R5.6-billion, to capitalise South Africa’s new credit guarantee vehicle (CGV), which is being established to mobilise private finance for public infrastructure without requiring additional government guarantees. The World Bank board of executive directors’ approval of the ‘South Africa Blended Finance Platform for Resilient Infrastructure Program’ opens the way for establishing the CGV, which the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will help capitalise through the $350-million in approved funding.
Construction has started on Lyra Energy’s inaugural 255 MW Thakadu solar PV plant, located on the border of South Africa’s Free State and North West provinces, after the R4-billion project reached financial close. In February, Lyra Energy announce that it had entered into power purchase agreements with three private anchor offtakers for a large portion of the electricity to be produced by the Thakadu facility, which is Lyra’s flagship project.
While the Minerals Council South Africa lauds Eskom for having maintained an average energy availability factor of 68.5% through February, which is above the 68% target set out in the Integrated Resources Plan 2025, the industry body is concerned about the utility’s tariff methodology and other cost factors that affect the sustainability of the Eskom system. South Africa’s global competitiveness is directly impacted by electricity pricing dynamics, says Minerals Council economist André Lourens.
Southern Africa remains one of the world’s most climate vulnerable regions, pointed out Zimbabwean Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi at the recent Africa Energy Indaba 2026, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. She was participating in a panel discussion. The importance of implementing the energy goals of last year’s COP 30 climate summit, and of the G20 Summit held in South Africa, could not be overemphasised, she said. Zimbabwe had its Vision 2030 initiative, which acknowledged energy as a key enabler of economic transformation. She also cited the national objective of increasing access to clean cooking technologies to 70% by 2030, from the current 38%.
Leading South African independent power producer Anthem has announced that its giant 475 MWac (620 MWdc) Notsi solar PV project in the Free State has advanced to financial close after concluding private offtake agreements with electricity traders Discovery Green and NOA Group. The R9-billion transaction has been supported by a consortium of lenders, including Standard Bank, Nedbank, ABSA and Vantage GreenX Note.
With arrear debt owing to Eskom by municipalities having breached R110-billion, the State-owned company has announced that credit control processes could be initiated against 14 municipalities that may result in electricity supply being disrupted to customers in those areas. In a statement, Eskom announced that it had begun the process of issuing notices in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) to provide an opportunity for affected parties to make representations before further action was taken.
More than $50-billion has been committed to an ambitious plan to halve the number of people without access to electricity in Africa, according to the World Bank, its biggest backer. The programme, named Mission 300 because of its goal to bring electricity to 300-million people by 2030, has delivered power to 44-million people since it was officially announced at a conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in January last year.
South Africa’s electricity market is evolving rapidly, shaped by a convergence of policy shifts, technological advances and growing global trade requirements. Yet, a persistent challenge is understanding the role of electricity traders within the energy market – what they do, why they exist and how they underpin both investment and competitiveness in the electricity sector, electricity trader Apollo Africa CEO Nico de Bruyn writes.
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