Ekurhuleni, South Africa, plans to end reliance on Eskom
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The Ekurhuleni municipality in South Africa received approval to begin a plan that will reduce its dependence on Eskom, the country’s national electricity provider.
Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientho Ramakgopa announced the approval of the municipality’s application for Independent Power Producers (IPP). This programme intends to attract over R16 billion in private investment to generate 95% of Ekurhuleni’s current electricity needs without using municipal funds.
The initial stages of the project are scheduled to begin operating in 2027, with full implementation expected by 2030. Ekurhuleni currently requires approximately 2,500MW of electricity daily, and the approved plan allows for the independent production of 2,400MW through a mix of sources. These sources include 1,240MW from solar power, 780MW from natural gas, and 180MW from waste-to-energy facilities. Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza stated the municipality expects to save around R36 billion over 20 years.
The municipality has already received interest from 75 potential partners, and officials anticipate job creation will result from the project. Ekurhuleni was the first municipality to apply for this type of determination, though eThekwini and Cape Town received approval before it, and officials emphasized the programme’s potential to drive industrial growth and black ownership in the energy sector.
