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R112bn cost savings target in focus as new Eskom board takes office

Eskom chairperson Mteto Nyati has underlined the importance of reducing the State-owned group’s cost base as a newly constituted board takes over from the one appointed in October 2022. The outgoing board took office amid extreme levels of loadshedding and deep financial distress and oversaw the implementation of a ‘Generation Recovery Plan’, which was approved in March 2023.
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CEF mourns sudden death of board director

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) has conveyed its regret at the sudden passing of director Unati Figlan, who also served as the chairperson of legacy entities PetroSA, Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and iGas. “Figlan played a defining role in strengthening governance, stabilising operations and advancing strategic alignment across the legacy entities during a critical period of transition for the CEF group,” the CEF said on November 28.
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South Africa amends RfP for gas-to-power procurement

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about amendments made to the request for proposals for the procurement of 2 000 MW of gas to power and what these changes mean for the programme and potentially for tariffs?
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Seriti Green hands Vunumoya Main Transmission Station over to Eskom

Renewable energy developer Seriti Green on November 26 officially handed over the Vunumoya Main Transmission Station (MTS) to State-owned power utility Eskom. The infrastructure will now become an asset of Eskom subsidiary the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA).
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Nersa reinforces shift to competitive electricity market as it approves market operator licence …

The Energy Regulator, which is the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) highest decision-making body, has made three landmark decisions in support of the country’s legislated commitment to transition to a competitive electricity market from one historically monopolised by Eskom. At its meeting on November 27, it approved the granting of a Market Operator licence to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), a precursor to the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) in 2026, alongside new Grid Capacity Allocation Rules to facilitate fair and non-discriminatory access to the network.
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PIC approves landmark gas strategy to power South Africa’s energy transition

Fund manager the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has approved a landmark Strategy on Natural Gas, marking a pivotal step towards bolstering South Africa’s energy security and accelerating the country’s decarbonisation agenda. The strategy is engineered to help secure a stable gas supply, directly supporting South Africa’s critical transition towards cleaner energy sources, it says.
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Copper Mark, SSI sign collaboration agreement on responsible copper sourcing for solar sector

The Copper Mark and the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at promoting responsible production and sourcing of copper across the solar energy value chain. The organisations said on November 27 that copper was a major component in solar energy generation and transmission and that rising demand for renewable energy was increasing the need for cooperation between stakeholders involved in copper mining, processing and manufacturing.
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South Africa unpacks big pricing and load factor changes to inaugural gas-to-power procurement

Significant amendments to the request for proposal (RFP) documentation for South Africa’s much-delayed procurement of 2 000 MW of gas-to-power capacity have been unpacked, including an updated fuel pricing formula and an increase in the minimum load factor to 50% for the 20-year duration of the power purchase agreement. Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) head Precious Edward also used a virtual briefing on the Gas to Power Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, or GASIPPPP, to reaffirm government’s commitment to the new bid submission deadline of May 29, 2026 – this, for a programme initially launched on December 14, 2023, with an August 30, 2024, deadline.
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Enpower afforded access to trade electricity in Southern African Power Pool

Cape Town-based independent power trading company Enpower Trading has become the first private South African-incorporated company to secure conditional market participant membership from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The conditional market participant membership allows Enpower to transact across SAPP’s regional platform, enabling both cross-border electricity imports and exports, and sets the stage for a more dynamic and competitive Southern African energy market.

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Wind power skills being developed at Sarens’ Cape Town-based academy

Global crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transport group Sarens has highlighted the capabilities of its training centre in Cape Town, the Sarens Academy South Africa, particularly its focus on developing the skills required by the country’s, and the region’s, growing wind power sector. The wind power training and skills development courses provided by the academy are aligned with the standards of the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). “The wind industry in South Africa will generate between …
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