Terence Creamer
Terence Creamer is the Editor of Engineering News and a Deputy Editor for Mining Weekly. He also has editorial responsibility for Polity.org.za and Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa.
Power in policy
3rd November 2023 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has never disguised the fact that he believes that Eskom could be turned around and... →
Transnet urged to engage before presenting a R100bn bail-out ‘invoice’
1st November 2023 Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has not “closed the door” on Transnet’s move to secure a reported R100-billion in balance-sheet support to assist... →
Municipalities owing Eskom R56.8bn apply to participate in debt write-off scheme
1st November 2023 The National Treasury has confirmed that a total of 67 municipalities, which collectively owe Eskom R56.8-billion, or 97% of the municipal arrears... →
No plan to review use of Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account
1st November 2023 The National Treasury has confirmed that there is no immediate plan for a review of the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account... →
Municipalities approved for Eskom debt relief could rise to 67 – Eskom
31st October 2023 Eskom’s head of distribution Monde Bala reports that Eskom and the National Treasury are hoping that the number of municipalities participating in... →
Eskom warns of another R23bn loss as loadshedding underpins R24bn collapse
31st October 2023 Eskom has warned that it is likely to report another R23-billion-plus loss for its current financial year to the end of March 2024, having... →
TP Nchocho appointed chair of inaugural TNPA board
30th October 2023 Outgoing Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) CEO Tshokolo Petrus (TP) Nchocho has been appointed chairperson of the inaugural Transnet... →
US trade chief Tai set to travel to South Africa for Agoa Forum
27th October 2023 US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to South Africa from October 31 to November 4, during which she will co-chair the 20th Africa... →
Win-win solution
27th October 2023 As outlined previously in this column, it makes sense to place exports at the heart of South Africa’s upcoming Green Hydrogen Commercialisation... →
‘Open and transparent’ third-party rail access system by April
26th October 2023 State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has confirmed that an open and transparent framework for granting private train operating companies’... →
Transnet’s recovery plan premised on securing govt capital injection
26th October 2023 Absent an equity injection or debt relief from government, Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu says the State-owned entity will not be able to... →
$1bn World Bank loan to support South Africa's energy reforms and decarbonisation
25th October 2023 The World Bank has approved a $1-billion Development Policy Loan (DPL) to support market reports under way in the country, as well as South... →
Eskom targets 1 000 MW as it launches cross-border standard purchase offer
24th October 2023 South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom is aiming to contract for 1 000 MW of additional electricity imports from it regional neighbours using a... →
‘Height of folly’ to develop overreliance on aged coal plants for future supply
23rd October 2023 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says attention should shift to adding new and cleaner generation to the loadshedding-prone electricity... →
Still no solution
20th October 2023 For decades now, the issue of the debt owed by municipalities to Eskom has not only remained an intractable problem but one that has grown in both... →
Systems in place for recoding of 6.8m prepaid meters ahead of Nov 2024 deadline – Eskom
19th October 2023 Eskom insists its systems and strategies are in place to facilitate the seamless operation of the 6.8-million prepaid meters within its... →
Cabinet approves Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy
19th October 2023 Cabinet has approved the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy (GHCS) for implementation, with the goal of positioning South Africa as a major... →
Ramaphosa says loadshedding corner has been turned as another Kusile unit restarts
17th October 2023 African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa claims that South Africa “has turned a definite corner as far as loadshedding is concerned”,... →
Why export?
13th October 2023 When the topic of green hydrogen arises in South Africa, two concerns are commonly raised, and these will remain significant issues to address... →
Only 28 of the 136 munis owing Eskom R58bn-plus approved to participate in write-off scheme
10th October 2023 Only 28 municipalities have to date been given approval by the National Treasury to participate in the Eskom Municipal Debt Relief Support... →
Kusile Unit 3 supplying 720 MW to grid, Eskom confirms
9th October 2023 Eskom has confirmed that Unit 3 at the Kusile coal-fired power station is currently providing 720 MW into the electricity grid using a temporary... →
‘Instrument’ being studied to open rooftop solar to poorer households
9th October 2023 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says that work is under way on the creation of an “instrument” that will allow poorer households to... →
Noxious trade-offs
6th October 2023 The decision by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy to uphold a decision of the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) to... →
Pace of energy transition will define South Africa’s economic prospects – Olver
5th October 2023 Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) executive director Dr Crispian Olver says South Africa’s energy transition and the pace at which it... →
As Kusile unit returns early, South Africa misses renewables procurement deadline
1st October 2023 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has welcomed the earlier-than-expected return of Kusile Unit 3 coal-fired generation, but has also... →
JET pledges rise to $11.9bn as South Africa moves to finalise implementation plan
29th September 2023 The South African government has received additional pledges, worth nearly $3.5-billion, in support of its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan... →
Solutions vs problems
29th September 2023 There are many differences between Australia and South Africa, and these should not be dismissed or diminished. However, there are also several... →
Eskom aiming not to breach Stage 4 loadshedding this summer
27th September 2023 Eskom is aiming to limit loadshedding to Stage 4 during the summer months to the end of March by restricting unplanned breakdowns to 14 500 MW... →
Roadmap to ‘fundamentally reform’ freight logistics sector by end of October
27th September 2023 Government has committed to finalise a Freight Logistics Roadmap, outlining a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics... →
Creecy upholds decision allowing Kusile to bypass pollution system, with tighter conditions
26th September 2023 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has upheld the decision of the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) to permit the... →
Early Kusile restart uncertain as Creecy adjudicates emissions appeal
22nd September 2023 The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed that Minister Barbara Creecy is still adjudicating an appeal of the... →
Party pooper
22nd September 2023 As D-Day for the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) approaches, it is evident that the National Treasury will need to go against the... →
Grid investment ‘fully funded’ for next three years, but scale-up requires alternative models
21st September 2023 Eskom has indicated that it has sufficient funding for the coming three years for the grid infrastructure investments that will be pursued in line... →
Gordhan criticises Eskom’s ‘elongated’ restructuring timelines, wants grid company trading from Nov
20th September 2023 Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has criticised Eskom’s “elongated” restructuring timeframes and has called for greater urgency and drive... →
Eskom expects NTCSA to begin trading from April
19th September 2023 Eskom expects the remaining suspensive conditions required for the operationalisation of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) to... →
Energy Regulator approves two outstanding licences for new grid company
18th September 2023 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved the two licence applications required for the operationalisation of the National... →
Diesel supply problem blamed for low OCGT use during intense loadshedding week
17th September 2023 Eskom has confirmed that problems in the diesel supply chain last week meant that it did not operate its open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) as “hard”... →
Debt derailment?
15th September 2023 As with so much else in South Africa currently, the indication given by new Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu that the State-owned freight... →
Cabinet consulted on IRP update, but further input required before public release
14th September 2023 Cabinet was consulted on the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity during its meeting on September 13, but the document will be... →
Pieterse says results of State configuration review could be made known before November
12th September 2023 New National Treasury director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse reports that recommendations arising from a joint review by the National Treasury and the... →
SIU’s Mothibi says contents of private Eskom investigation ‘cannot be ignored’
12th September 2023 Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi says the fact that former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter did not receive board authorisation to... →
