Eskom needs to triple grid capacity in a decade 

Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, needs to triple its grid capacity within the next decade at a cost of over R100 billion to accommodate new-generation projects and put an end to load-shedding.  

A study from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research highlighted serious constraints on the transmission grid, preventing many renewable energy projects from connecting due to capacity limitations in the northern part of the country. This hampers the full potential of renewable energy in South Africa to address load-shedding.  

Eskom’s financial constraints and track record with large infrastructure projects make it challenging for the utility to expand the grid alone. To address the issue, the government plans to establish a separate company, the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), to manage the country’s electricity grid. However, the establishment of the NTCSA is facing delays in obtaining licenses, hindering progress in improving energy security and ending load-shedding. 

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