Latest news with #ElectricityRegulationAmendmentAct
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Eskom recalls National Transmission Company CEO Segomoco Scheppers
Scheppers was seconded to lead the transition and operationalise the NTCSA. Eskom has recalled National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) interim CEO Segomoco Scheppers. The utility on Thursday said Scheppers will conclude his secondment and return to Eskom. Scheppers was seconded to lead the transition and operationalise the NTCSA business in July 2024 due to his extensive experience in the Transmission Division, having joined Eskom in 1993. New CEO Eskom said Scheppers served at the NTCSA while the executive search process to appoint a permanent CEO for the subsidiary was underway 'Although Scheppers was shortlisted for the permanent role, the NTCSA Board has not yet identified the candidate to lead the business into its next phase. ALSO READ: Eskom winter outlook: Here's how many days of load shedding to expect in SA 'The NTCSA and Eskom Holdings Boards are committed to expediting the executive search and securing the appointment of a CEO who will navigate the complexities of operating in a competitive energy market,' Eskom said. Transmission Development Plan Eskom said a formal announcement will be made soon regarding the appointment of an ICEO of NTCSA to continue executing the strategy. The strategy includes implementing an accelerated Transmission Development Plan (TDP), continuing operational unbundling activities as required by legislation, and establishing a fair, competitive electricity market. 'We owe Segomoco a huge debt of thanks for the skills he brought to bear to take the transmission business to a point of separation and create the NTCSA as a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings. The NTCSA serves as an important catalyst in the country's evolving energy supply industry and ending the vertical integration business model for the benefit of consumers,' said Priscillah Mabelane, NTCSA Board Chairperson. Critical role Mabelane said that Scheppers played a critical role in delivering the NTCSA, which is designed to provide the benefits of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act (ERAA). 'His work paves the way for the necessary reforms in South Africa's electricity sector, including the establishment of a competitive electricity market that will contribute meaningfully to South Africa's energy security and inclusive economic development,' said Mabelane. ALSO READ: Winter is coming: Does Eskom have a plan to prevent load shedding?
TimesLIVE
29-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Powering progress: South Africa, the AfDB and the infrastructure imperative
The country's geopolitical stature positions it as both a contributor to and a demander of coherent multilateral reform By South Africa has entered a new era — politically recalibrated, economically pressured, yet fundamentally poised. The 2024 general election, resulting in the country's first national coalition Government of National Unity under President Cyril Ramaphosa, was not just a political outcome — it was a societal reset. South Africans demanded a new social contract: delivery over rhetoric, partnership over posturing, credibility over complexity. In his campaign and subsequent inaugural commitments, Ramaphosa emphasised infrastructure renewal, energy security, youth employment and national coherence as pillars of renewal. The task now is not to define direction — but to deliver at scale. The economic headwinds remain sobering. In 2024, GDP growth hovered at 1.1%, well below the levels needed to address poverty and exclusion. Unemployment stood at 31.9%, with youth unemployment exceeding 44%. Public infrastructure continued to underperform, with deteriorating logistics capacity and ongoing energy insecurity compounding economic constraints. The 2024 Electricity Regulation Amendment Act marked a major policy shift, opening the generation and transmission sectors to competition and seeking to reduce dependence on Eskom. However, implementation bottlenecks persist, and the gap between legislative intent and lived experience remains wide. Amid this environment, infrastructure is not just a sector — it is the backbone of recovery. The government's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan rightly centres infrastructure-led growth, but delivery capacity and funding constraints have limited momentum. South Africa's capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP remains below 6%, far from the National Development Plan's 10% target. Logistics inefficiencies alone are estimated to cost the economy billions of rand annually. Transnet's operational and governance challenges have undercut freight reliability, while delays at major ports continue to undermine trade competitiveness. I propose the creation of a Private Capital for Africa platform — housed in Johannesburg — to crowd in institutional investors, deploy blended finance tools and de-risk large-scale regional infrastructure. Dr Sidi Ould Tah This is why the updated National Infrastructure Plan 2050, Phase 2 (released in 2024), declared: 'A fit-for-purpose infrastructure delivery system is a precondition for inclusive economic participation, regional trade, and long-term fiscal resilience.' That framing reflects the reality: South Africa's infrastructure challenge is not only national — it is continental. As the anchor of the North—South Corridor and a key node in the Maputo Development Corridor, South Africa's success in unlocking logistics performance has direct implications for Sadc trade volumes, intra-African commerce and African Continental Free Trade Area implementation. In this landscape, South Africa needs a multilateral development partner that not only shares its sense of urgency, but also matches its institutional sophistication. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has shown glimpses of this. In 2024, the AfDB approved a $1bn sovereign facility to support Transnet's recovery — one of the clearest signals of confidence in the state's commitment to reform. The bank has also contributed to Just Energy Transition efforts, from concessional project preparation to financing renewable energy pilots and public — private structuring. But the scale of South Africa's infrastructure imperative — and the shifting global landscape — demand a more decisive, fit-for-purpose partnership. Global economic realities are evolving fast. Fiscal tightening, geopolitical fragmentation and climate financing imbalances are reshaping the development finance ecosystem. South Africa's own geopolitical stature — as a G20 member, Brics founder and climate diplomacy broker — positions it as both a contributor to and a demander of coherent multilateral reform. As debates intensify around SDR Special Drawing Rights rechanneling, multilateral development banks reform and global infrastructure liquidity, I believe the AfDB must become more than Africa's lender. It must become its bridge. And that includes being a credible internal steward — governed with the transparency, institutional discipline and accountability that member states like South Africa have long championed. This is where I believe the AfDB's upcoming leadership transition matters, not as a continental ritual but as a strategic inflection point. I offer a vision that aligns with South Africa's expectations: credible delivery, innovative capital mobilisation and institutional relevance. As president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea), I helped reposition the institution from a quiet partner to an influential force — mobilising Africa—Gulf co-financing, targeting SMEs and supporting infrastructure corridors with agility and accountability. Under my leadership, Badea attained prestigious AA+/AAA credit ratings, quadrupled project approvals, modernised its digital systems and expanded total assets from $4bn to nearly $7bn — all while maintaining one of the lowest non-performing loan ratios (0.4%) among African development finance institutions. My platform for the AfDB speaks directly to South Africa's core priorities. I propose the creation of a Private Capital for Africa platform — housed in Johannesburg — to crowd in institutional investors, deploy blended finance tools and de-risk large-scale regional infrastructure. This responds directly to South Africa's call for the AfDB to partner more strategically with its own development finance institutions such as the Public Investment Corporation, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation — pools of capital that remain under-leveraged for African integration. My proposal to scale AfDB's annual capital mobilisation to $50—60bn through hybrid instruments, sovereign wealth partnerships and diaspora finance aligns with South Africa's preference for innovative, non-distortionary financing that does not increase debt distress. Beyond capital, my focus on institutional integrity — through a proposed Pan-African Results & Governance Lab embedded in the bank — reflects South Africa's long-standing emphasis on fiduciary control, transparency and performance culture. This commitment builds on my introduction of environmental, social and governance-aligned sustainable financing frameworks and ISO-certified governance systems during my tenure at Badea, credentials that mirror South Africa's own calls for accountable multilateralism. The need for institutional discipline, not just policy ambition, has never been clearer. With a reformist state, deep financial markets and advanced project planning systems, South Africa is not short on technical capacity — it needs a partner that can co-implement. And that co-implementation must be based on trust and shared vision. In South Africa's case, the most impactful development partnerships are those that work horizontally — not just from capital provider to state, but across institutions, development banks, private capital pools and regional alliances. This is where the AfDB, under the right leadership, can amplify what South Africa already possesses: a sophisticated institutional base and a continental integration agenda that is both credible and executable. South Africa's credibility on the world stage — particularly on matters of climate finance, regional stability and multilateral equity — is not accidental. It is the product of decades of institution-building, diplomacy and democratic resilience. The next AfDB leadership must recognise that countries like South Africa are not merely recipients of development finance — they are architects of its future. A strong, responsive and politically attuned AfDB must amplify that influence, not compete with it. My platform is not a promise — it is a blueprint. It is not only about who leads the AfDB, but how it is led. For South Africa, the choice must be strategic, not sentimental. The development bank it helped to build must now evolve in tandem with its own transformation. The moment demands alignment between national ambition and continental delivery. South Africa has done the political heavy lifting. It is now time for the institutions around it to match that seriousness — with resources, with reform, with partnerships and with results. The AfDB, under the right leadership, can be the partner that powers this next chapter. Dr Sidi Ould Tah is one of the candidates running for the African Development Bank presidency. He previously held the position of minister of finance, economic affairs and development in Mauritania
Zawya
07-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ramaphosa's Electricity Reform Marks Turning Point for South Africa's Energy Future
South Africa's energy sector is entering a new phase of reform, with President Cyril Ramaphosa positioning the recently enacted Electricity Regulation Amendment Act as a transformative step toward ending load shedding and ensuring long-term energy security. In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa underscored the Act's role in restructuring the country's electricity market, allowing greater private sector participation and competition in power generation. The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, sets the foundation for an open electricity market, where multiple entities can generate and sell power. This marks a decisive shift away from Eskom's historic monopoly, enabling independent power producers to compete, drive efficiency and accelerate energy diversification. President Ramaphosa has emphasized that the Act will not only expand generation capacity, but also mobilize private sector investment in critical infrastructure such as transmission networks, which have long suffered from underinvestment and aging equipment. The government's broader Energy Action Plan, launched to address the electricity crisis, has already led to a notable reduction in load shedding over the past year. Investments in strengthening South Africa's transmission infrastructure are underway to ensure that additional renewable energy projects can be integrated into the grid. Efforts to improve the performance of Eskom's coal plants have been ramped up, with maintenance programs extending the lifespan of key power stations. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 MW of renewable capacity has been procured through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program, with new solar and wind projects expected to come online in the coming months. Moreover, JUWI recently announced $320 million to develop three solar projects totaling 340 MW in 2025, while Eskom reconnected the second unit of the Koeberg nuclear power plant to boost supply. Large-scale battery energy storage systems are also being rolled out to enhance grid stability – with AMEA Power developing the Gainfar and Boitekong projects of 300 MW each – while gas-to-power solutions are being explored to provide flexible backup capacity. As South Africa undergoes this market transformation, the upcoming Africa Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference will serve as a crucial platform for engaging investors, policymakers and industry leaders on the country's energy future. AEW, scheduled for September 29-October 3 in Cape Town, will focus on attracting private capital for energy infrastructure, showcasing opportunities in renewables, natural gas and critical power transmission projects. With South Africa working to unlock $13 billion in climate finance for its Just Energy Transition, AEW will also provide a forum to discuss strategies for balancing decarbonization with energy security and economic growth. Beyond the domestic landscape, South Africa's energy transition will shape its role as a regional power supplier. With improved electricity infrastructure, the country could enhance its ability to export power to neighboring nations, further solidifying its position as a key energy player in Africa. As the country moves toward a more sustainable and investor-friendly energy framework, the upcoming months will be critical in determining whether South Africa can finally put the era of load shedding behind it. AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
