R54bn performance-based grant launched to support metro infrastructure delivery

The National Treasury has officially launched a R54-billion performance-based grant in a bid to increase investments in water, sanitation, electricity and waste infrastructure services by the... 

PPC says ‘more to come’ from turnaround even if market stays subdued

PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli says there is “more to come” from the cement producer’s operational and financial turnaround regardless of whether market conditions, which have remained subdued during... 

Anthem already mulling addition of batteries at 475 MW Notsi PV project

Anthem CEO James Cumming says there is a “high probability” of a battery energy storage system (BESS) being integrated into its massive 475 MWac (620 MWdc) Notsi solar PV project in the Free State,... 

Permanent cross-sector ‘transport council’ could drive higher growth – Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed the establishment of a permanent ‘transport council’ to bring together government and the private sector across all the transport modes of land, air and sea.... 

Renewables-battery scenario proposed for saving ferrochrome while sustaining Eskom and reform momentum

A new analysis of the crisis being faced by South Africa’s ferrochrome industry as a result of uncompetitive electricity tariffs, outlines a possible renewables-battery-led scenario for meeting the... 

Rail localisation study launched as public and private train operators gear up to meet 250Mt target

A study has been launched to assess South Africa’s existing railways manufacturing capacity and capability and to make recommendations on how policy and procurement can be leveraged to bolster... 

Sasol to begin reducing external coal purchases as destoning plant raises quality

Energy and chemicals group Sasol is aiming to begin ramping up internal coal production and reducing external coal purchases after its destoning plant reached beneficial operation in December. CEO... 

Lucky for some

On Friday March 13, 1981, the first edition of Engineering News, then a fortnightly tabloid newspaper, officially made its debut as a specialist business-to-business publication. The date itself... 

Container User Forum aims to be unified voice for key sector as reforms unfold

A new industry organisation has been formally launched in a bid to facilitate greater collaboration among South Africa’s container stakeholders, as well as to provide a unified voice as the freight... 

TRIM invites private firms to bid to operate three rail sidings for ten years

South Africa’s Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has initiated a process for private-sector entities to bid to operate and invest in three siding facilities for a period of ten years in... 

Eskom says delayed Medupi FGD report to be submitted to Minister in early April

Eskom expects to submit its final benefit-cost analysis (BCA) report on flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) at the Medupi power station, in Limpopo, to Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister... 

Nersa approves higher electricity hikes for 2026/27 after R54.7bn error

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... 

Itac may be given powers to probe imports that pose national security threat

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has published draft amendments to the International Trade Administration Act that will empower the International Trade Administration Commission... 

World Bank confirms $350m funding for South Africa’s credit guarantee vehicle

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... 

Lyra Energy begins construction of R4bn Thakadu solar PV plant

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... 

Anthem moves ahead with giant Free State PV project following offtake deals with two traders

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... 

Transnet starts process to find private partner for Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has initiated the first stage of a process to select a private partner for the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal (RBDBT), a key export terminal in... 

Urgent implementation of PPP investment model needed to halt multiyear slump – Seifsa

The multiyear slide in South Africa’s metals and engineering sector, which makes up about 25% of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and 5% of GDP, continued last year, the Steel and Engineering... 

Important shifts

The overarching theme of last week’s Budget was definitely the fiscal turning point that has now finally been reached. Debt is being stabilised and the trajectory of the deficit is narrowing,... 

Eskom prepares to act against 14 municipalities as arrear debt breaches R110bn

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... 

Mantashe promises gas-cliff urgency but offers few details

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says government is “moving with urgency” to ensure security of gas supply to avert a looming “industrial cliff-edge”. Addressing a forum on... 

Export body calls for ‘proactive engagement’ as Middle East conflict puts fresh produce exports at risk

Exporters Western Cape (EWC), which promotes and supports exporters in the province, is warning that the conflict in the Middle East is creating uncertainty, especially for those South African... 

TNPA monitoring shipping diversions but says no immediate rise in berthing requests

South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reports that it has not yet received any indication of additional berthing requests from shipping lines in the wake of the US-Israel attack... 

Glencore-Merafe pauses retrenchments until end-March as it weighs Eskom’s 62c/kWh offer

The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture has paused a retrenchment process at its ferrochrome smelters by a month to March 31 after Eskom made a 62c/kWh tariff offer on the eve of its previous February... 

Details of Eskom’s eleventh-hour 62c/kWh offer to ferrochrome smelters to be provided in Nersa submission

Eskom announced on Friday that it had extended an eleventh-hour 62c/kWh tariff offer to ferrochrome producers Glencore‑Merafe Chrome Venture and Samancor, but indicated that negotiations on the... 

Eskom stays legal action to allow Nersa-led process on trading rules to unfold

Eskom has reached an agreement to suspend legal proceedings instituted against the granting of trading licences in 2024 to allow the current regulatory process to draft new trading rules to proceed... 

Impact of lowering inflation target has ‘exceeded most optimistic expectations’

South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago says the spin-offs from the policy decision to lower the inflation target have “exceeded our most optimistic expectations”. On November 12,... 

Eskom says it may take trading rules on legal review as it calls for material changes

Eskom has raised a slew of legal and technical issues with the draft trading rules being considered for approval by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and has indicated that it... 

Landmark private solar-battery hybrid project aims to enter into operation in 2028

A large-scale hybrid solar and battery project, underpinned by a landmark 25-year private power purchase agreement (PPA) with Sasol and Air Liquide, has achieved financial close and is targeting to... 

Trading spaces

Electricity trading in South Africa, as Etana Energy CEO Evan Rice explained recently, is at once active and in transition. Just how active, is reflected in a report commissioned by the South... 

Rail localisation study launched as public and private train operators gear up to meet 250Mt target

A study has been launched to assess South Africa’s existing railways manufacturing capacity and capability and to make recommendations on how policy and procurement can be leveraged to bolster... 

Infrastructure in focus as South Africa reaches fiscal ‘turning point’

Accelerating infrastructure investment emerged as a central theme of the 2026 Budget, which Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana characterised as representing a “turning point” for both debt... 

Budget outlines shift from oversight to ‘structural intervention’ to tackle municipal dysfunction

Amid growing dissatisfaction with the performance of many of the country’s 257 municipalities, 162 of which are categorised as being in financial distress, the National Treasury has outlined what... 

Treasury targets more savings after R12bn identified under TARS scheme

The National Treasury reports that R12-billion in savings has been identified for the coming three years as a result of its Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) initiative, which requires... 

Transalloys wants electricity tariff relief extended to full ferroalloys sector

Transalloys, which produces manganese ferroalloys at a smelter complex in Mpumalanga, has again warned that its operations are at risk of closure should the electricity tariff relief granted and... 

Sasol to begin reducing external coal purchases as destoning plant raises quality

Energy and chemicals group Sasol is aiming to begin ramping up internal coal production and reducing external coal purchases after its destoning plant reached beneficial operation in December. CEO... 

Transnet starts process to find private partner for Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has initiated the first stage of a process to select a private partner for the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal (RBDBT), a key export terminal in... 

AMSA mulls monetisation options for assets in care and maintenance worth R5bn-plus

In parallel to “expedited” negotiations with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) over its future corporate structuring, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is considering partnership and... 

Infrastructure crisis highlights urgent need for engineers to occupy ‘meaningful seat at table’

Amid a national maintenance “crisis” and slow delivery against government’s R1-trillion infrastructure commitment, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) believes it has now become urgent for... 

Moral hazard

There is currently a marked difference between how Eskom and Transnet are being assessed against their respective reform milestones. While the State electricity producer is being adjudged,...