The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) has formally launched the first stage of its independent transmission projects (ITP) procurement programme with an invitation for companies to respond to a request for prequalification (RFQ) by September 23. Through the RFQ, the department aims to identify and shortlist prequalified bidders with the technical expertise, financial capacity and experience to build the transmission lines and associated substations to participate in a subsequent request for proposal (RFP).
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Eskom has launched its long-threatened legal review of the regulator’s decision to grant licences in 2024 to five electricity traders, as well as a cross-border trading licence – a move that has again raised some concern that South Africa’s electricity reforms are stalling. Eskom’s challenge comes despite the fact that similar licences have been approved in favour of several other electricity traders over the past more than ten years and against the backdrop of the recent launch by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) of a process to consult on and Gazette trading rules by June next year.
Namibiaʼs Green Hydrogen Mid-Year Review 2025 reports that a conceptual master plan for the cross-border hydrogen pipeline between South Africa and Namibia will be developed between the middle of this year and mid-2026, at an estimated budget of N$30-million. A prefeasibility study covering the project, which will traverse the Western and Northern Cape in South Africa and southern Namibia, was completed in December last year.
The German Society for Cooperation, or GIZ, has, through KFW Development Bank, concluded a €500-million loan for the implementation of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET). The loan will span 13 years, with a three-year grace period, and accumulate interest at 4.31% a year.
The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has announced the launch of a flagship and mandatory educational programme for those seeking accreditation to participate in the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM), which is due to become operational in April next year. Known as the SAWEM School, the three-day-a-month programme kicks off in July, and combines theoretical insight with real-world simulations to prepare independent power producers, aggregators, traders, large customers and other stakeholders for participation in a more open electricity market.
French energy group EDF says the consolidation of its two international low-carbon businesses into a new entity called EDF power solutions has repositioned it to implement multi-technology projects in the 25 countries in which it operates, including South Africa, where it has a goal of closing 5 GW of projects by 2030. EDF power solutions Southern Africa VP Tristan de Drouas says the merged entity, which combines EDF Renewables and the EDF Group International Division, has expertise in wind, solar, hybrid, hydropower and pump hydro storage, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and biomass.
The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) jointly announced on Monday that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This MoU created a strategic partnership to jointly create high-impact education, training and skills development programmes, which would reinforce the country’s capability to develop scarce but critical and future-proof skills required by both the nuclear and water sectors. (The MoU was actually signed on Thursday, July 24.) “Collaborating with institutions such as EWSETA through our Necsa Learning Academy is essential to advancing South Africa’s national and socioeconomic development agenda,” highlighted Necsa Group CEO Loyiso Tyabashe. “This MoU enables us to better define and meet the evolving needs of the nuclear sector, ensuring our industry has the capacity to support strategic infrastructure and energy goals.”
Industry body the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has announced its newly elected governing committee, led by outgoing treasurer Advocate Mtho Xulu as chairperson. De Villiers Botha returns as deputy chairperson and Nicola Cencelli is the new treasurer.
South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) the nuclear licence to manage and operate the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility, located in the Northern Cape. The licence has been held hitherto by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, or Necsa.
Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a $474.6-million loan agreement with South Africa to support the implementation of the country’s Just Energy Transition (JET). The loan will finance the infrastructure governance and green growth programme, the National Treasury says in a statement.
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