South Africa's efforts to transform its energy landscape took a major step forward with the launch of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), a key subsidiary of Eskom.
The new entity will manage electricity transmission across the country and is vital to the nation’s renewable energy goals, with plans to add 11,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid by 2027. Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa hailed this move as crucial for unlocking opportunities in the renewable sector, especially in regions like the Northern and Western Cape.
"We think it’s possible that by 2027 we can get an additional 11,000 MW on stream," reportedly said Ramokgopa during the launch event, highlighting the country’s strategy to enhance energy security.
NTCSA has already started its work, including plans to build 14,000 km of transmission lines by 2032.
The NTCSA, despite being new, has made substantial progress, with R112 billion (about $6.4 billion) allocated for Transmission Development Plan investments over the next five years. Priscillah Mabelane, NTCSA chairperson, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships to meet the target of 53,000 MW of new generation capacity in the coming decade, media reported.
The launch has been welcomed by the Black Business Council, with CEO Kganki Matabane emphasizing the importance of prioritizing local involvement and addressing the country's unemployment challenge.
"It’s important that we do to make sure that black people participate in this expansion of the network and that they participated in the renewable energy space," he said, as cited by media.