Seifsa sets sights on unprecedented five-year wage settlement in 2027

Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) president Elias Monage reports that it is aiming to speedily conclude yet another multiyear wage agreement with... 

New determination opens way for public procurement of large-scale battery storage and gas-to-power

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says 4 600 MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 5 000 MW of gas-to-power (GtP) have been prioritised in a new Ministerial... 

It’s the economy . . .

The elections being held in South Africa and the US in the first week of November are different in many ways. While the words, actions, voting records, campaign contributions, and even the dietary... 

Rise in South Africa’s logistics cost burden to R1.16tr highlights need for ‘better modal choices’

South Africa’s logistics cost burden is at its highest level in more than two decades, with a new analysis projecting that the cost of moving goods through the country will reach a record... 

New EU ambassador sees South Africa as key partner in Europe’s critical-minerals diversification drive

The EU’s new ambassador to South Africa, Kristian Schmidt, sees potential for South Africa to further integrate its industrial supply chains with Europe in a way that supports South Africa’s... 

R10bn in temporary fuel-levy relief announced amid record fuel prices

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced another round of temporary reductions to the fuel levy in response to a surge in fuel prices to record levels, following global disruptions to supply... 

Risks and rewards in focus as the April 2027 SAWEM launch date nears

South Africa will take another important step in its transition to a competitive electricity ecosystem in April next year when it launches the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM).... 

South Africa delays RFP for $1bn inaugural private grid procurement to 2027

The South African government has announced a delay to Phase I of the country’s inaugural independent transmission projects (ITP) procurement programme, indicating that the final request for... 

Sanral says it will miss deadline for road maintenance tenders worth R9.5bn

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has confirmed that it will not meet the November 30 target deadline for the award of 241 routine road maintenance (RRM) tenders with an... 

AI preparedness

The extraordinary pace at which AI is advancing is at once exciting and terrifying. Exposure to the public-facing systems leaves one blown away by the speed and accuracy of the outputs. These... 

SAISC confirms fabricating members being negatively affected by structural steel shortages

The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) has confirmed that its fabricating members have experienced supply constraints following the closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa's... 

Discovery Green leans on actuarial heritage to build AI-powered tool to optimise renewables outcomes

Licensed electricity trader Discovery Green has launched a proprietary renewable-energy operating system that combines AI with the larger group’s actuarial expertise to offer its business clients a... 

Clearing the air

Eskom’s newly reappointed chairperson Dr Mteto Nyati is correct in having identified electricity affordability as a key priority for the Eskom board he will continue to lead for another three... 

New determination opens way for public procurement of large-scale battery storage and gas-to-power

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says 4 600 MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 5 000 MW of gas-to-power (GtP) have been prioritised in a new Ministerial... 

Call made for extended long-steel rebate coverage amid reports of shortages

There are fresh moves under way to persuade government to implement additional duty rebates on long-steel products being imported into South Africa amid reports of supply shortages that have arisen... 

Eskom unbundling to be carefully sequenced and managed over coming 18 months – Pieterse

National Treasury director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse has described moves under way to transfer ownership and control of Eskom’s grid assets to an independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) in... 

Costly delay

The difficulties being faced by South Africa’s steel industry extend beyond the well-documented problems of primary steelmaking. Epitomised by the recent mothballing by ArcelorMittal South Africa... 

NTCSA setting up market surveillance unit as part of preparations for SAWEM launch in April

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) reports that it will establish an internal, yet ring-fenced, market surveillance unit as a safeguard against any abuse of dominance within the... 

Reappointed Nyati links Eskom unbundling to board’s new top priority of electricity affordability

Eskom chairperson Dr Mteto Nyati, whose term has been extended by a further three years, says the board’s top priority has shifted from guaranteeing electricity stability to ensuring affordability.... 

Transnet outlines ‘transact for value’ model for private-sector participation transactions

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips says the sale of a 49.99% interest in its largest container terminal last year to International Container Terminal Services had set the tone for the way in which the... 

End-2027 timeline outlined for independent Transmission System Operator

The request for proposals (RFP) issued for the appointment of a transaction adviser to support the establishment of a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) confirms that the adviser... 

Burning platform

Prior to the stabilisation of Eskom’s operational performance, the issue of loadshedding was undoubtedly South Africa’s ‘burning platform’. Besides holding back growth and sapping citizens of... 

New version of rail network statement officially Gazetted

An updated version of the network statement that will govern access to the South Africa’s railways system for the two financial years of 2026/27 and 2027/28 has been Gazetted by the Department of... 

Strong interest in TSO transaction-adviser RFP, but doubts raised over timeline

Nearly 100 people participated in a compulsory briefing session on Friday for those wishing to bid to become the transaction adviser to the National Treasury in relation to the establishment of a... 

Sasol’s external coal purchases to continue to fall as it targets 34Mt from own mines

While Sasol continues to reduce its overall capital expenditure, the JSE-listed group is increasing its investment in its coal mining business to shore up the feedstock needed to raise output at... 

Share the strategy

Most South African manufacturers, besides those few companies benefitting from market tailwinds linked to the deadly conflict disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, are under strain. The pain... 

Eskom unbundling to be carefully sequenced and managed over coming 18 months – Pieterse

National Treasury director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse has described moves under way to transfer ownership and control of Eskom’s grid assets to an independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) in... 

IDC seeks explicit Treasury guarantee to bolster development mandate

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has confirmed that it has approached the National Treasury for an explicit guarantee, which it says will enable it to attract more concessional funding... 

New ‘Construction Book’ features 110 projects for procurement in next 12 to 18 months

The third edition of South Africa’s ‘Construction Book’, which lists 110 infrastructure projects that are expected to enter procurement over the coming 12 to 18 months, has been released by... 

Nersa confirms 2 692 generator registrations

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed that 2 692 electricity generation facilities have been registered since 2018, with another 124 registrations completed between... 

Hands on

Admissions by Bill Gates about various personal indiscretions – notably his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – have raised questions about his personal judgement and continue... 

Transnet outlines ‘transact for value’ model for private sector participation transactions

Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips says the sale of a 49.99% interest in its largest container terminal last year to International Container Terminal Services had set the tone for the way in which the... 

Corporate PPAs to outpace public procurement in South Africa for first time in 2026 – BNEF

Corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) are set to drive more utility-scale renewable additions in South Africa than government auctions for the first time in 2026, a new publication by... 

End-2027 timeline outlined for independent Transmission System Operator

The request for proposals (RFP) issued for the appointment of a transaction adviser to support the establishment of a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) confirms that the adviser... 

Govt, business pin hopes of 3% growth on mining, farming, tourism and infrastructure

The four sectors of mining, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure have been selected under Phase 3 of the Government-Business Partnership as the platforms for raising South Africa’s growth to 3%... 

Nersa approves discounted Eskom tariff for Manganese Metal Company

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed the approval of a two-year Negotiated Pricing Agreement (NPA) between Eskom and Mpumalanga-based Manganese Metal Company (MMC).... 

South Africa poised for strongest-ever year of IPP additions after record first half

South Africa remains on track for a record year of renewables additions this year, new research by the Power Futures Lab at the UCT Graduate School of Business has confirmed. A briefing note... 

Conflating power and gas cliffs will lead to sub-optimal outcomes, energy specialist warns

South Africa’s response to the gas-supply cliff, which will arise as supply to industrial users from Mozambique falls away later this decade, should be treated separately from the country’s moves... 

Beyond catch-up

For most South Africans living in the country’s largest cities, the infrastructure backlogs are not only visible but painfully disruptive. Driving without hitting a pothole has become a perilous... 

Sasol’s external coal purchases to continue to fall as it targets 34Mt from own mines

While Sasol continues to reduce its overall capital expenditure, the JSE-listed group is increasing its investment in its coal mining business to shore up the feedstock needed to raise output at...