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ACTOM unveils revitalised transformer factory in Pretoria

Electromechanical equipment manufacturer ACTOM has unveiled a revitalised transformer production and testing facility in Pretoria. The 40 000 m2 site previously served as a factory for Powertech Transformers’ SGB-SMIT Power Matla subsidiary, which entered into business rescue in September 2023 owing to financial distress.
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Solar plant success heralds Namibia’s wheeling push

Making headway in the Namibian energy sector, renewable-energy solutions provider Sustainable Power Solutions’ (SPS’s) latest project – the 10 MW Maxwell solar power plant – is a wheeling project that could signal the evolution of Namibia’s energy transition.   The Maxwell plant, which was successfully commission in May 2025, will be providing clean solar power to gold producer B2Gold’s Otjikoto mine until 2031 and will produce about 26 GW/h – or 26 000 MW/h – of solar power a year.
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Drilling project uncovers potentially beneficial gas condensate

An operational update, released by exploration company Rhino Resources Namibia in October, reported the discovery of a high liquid-yield gas condensate during an offshore drilling campaign on Block 2914A of the Orange basin, Namibia. Commenting on the update, Rhino CEO Travis Smithard said: “[We] are delighted to announce the discovery of a high liquid-yield gas condensate in an excellent quality reservoir at the Volans-1X well.”
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Firm’s preconfigured stack helps IPPs, traders participate in MSB market

For a new Namibian independent power producer (IPP) or supplier working through Modified Single Buyer (MSB) registration and then stepping into Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) trading, specialist software solutions provider Enerweb’s fastest “time-to-participation” path employs a preconfigured software stack, says Enerweb chief innovation officer Gerard Van Harmelen. He notes that, with Namibia embarking on an energy transition characterised by its shift from an import-dependent system to a diversified, renewables-rich energy mix, the next decade will see an increase in solar PV and wind projects, complemented by battery energy storage systems, as well as more IPP-driven wheeling projects, and greater regional integration through SAPP.
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Renewables company provides key services to Namibian energy sector

Renewable energy project solutions company Harmattan Renewables is involved in the Mariental and Greenam solar PV plants, providing due diligence services, and is currently Lenders’ Technical Adviser on the Rosh Pinah 5 MW solar plant, demonstrating its ability to capitalise on Namibia’s rapidly emerging renewable-energy market. The company seeks to leverage its experience to capitalise on Namibia’s renewable-energy sector’s potential – particularly in the solar energy space, as it is the most abundant renewable resource – helping to cement the future of energy and electricity generation in Namibia in the long term. This, in addition to offering complementary support to the wind energy sector.
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Infrastructure focus could spark long-awaited construction revival but obstacles persist

South Africa’s construction and infrastructure sector enters 2026 with a rare window of opportunity. The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in October, sets out a decisive, albeit fragile, pivot towards rebuilding the country’s economic base by shifting the composition of public spending away from consumption and towards capital investment. The National Treasury’s insistence on restoring fiscal discipline is paired with an equally strong …
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Mainstream Renewable Power CFO Julie Berg to succeed outgoing CEO from Jan

Julie Berg will succeed Morten Henriksen as Group CEO of renewable energy company Mainstream Renewable Power from January 2026. Henriksen this week announced his decision to step down from his role as CEO to pursue other opportunities.
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Hydrogen to keep on growing as it emerges from hype cycle; China rapidly driving down costs

The hydrogen sector may have been in a hype cycle for the last few years, but the fundamentals around the global energy market have not changed – the need for clean and localised energy and a just energy transition remain, says Dr David Hart. Hart, who does work for H-ETA and ERM, spoke on a number of hydrogen-related issues at a Nedbank-hosted hydrogen roundtable held in Cape Town last week.
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CEF faces probing questions from lawmakers on plan to revive refineries

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) group of companies faced sceptical questioning this week from lawmakers over plans to revive the Sapref refinery in Durban and PetroSA’s gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery in Mossel Bay. During a marathon session of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources held to deliberate on CEF’s delayed 2024/25 annual report, CEF chairperson Ayanda Noah stressed the importance of the two refineries to the future of the group, as well as the recently formed South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC).
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UK in talks to extend $1bn debt guarantee South Africa has failed to use

The UK may extend a $1-billion debt guarantee to help South Africa with its transition to a greener economy as it nears expiry without having been used. The guarantee was approved in late 2023 and is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, even as South Africa negotiates with the African Development Bank (AfDB) over a $400-million loan for municipal energy and water services, to be guaranteed under that arrangement.
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