South Africa opens R400B grid expansion to private investment

          APO Group - Africa
          
            · June 09, 2026
          
          · ✓ verified

Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa confirmed as a featured speaker at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026; South Africa has opened transmission to private investment via the Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) program and set out a R400 billion Transmission Development Plan.

Main announcement/action: The government launched a Transmission Development Plan calling for 14,000 km of new power lines and 105 substations by 2030 at a cost of roughly R400 billion, and has opened transmission to private investment through the Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) program. In December 2025 the Minister prequalified seven international-led consortia for the ITP first phase (covering 1,164 km across seven corridors, combined value about $1 billion); a request for proposals (RFP) is expected in H2 2026.
Background and supporting details: South Africa has recorded a full year without load-shedding and has ~4,400 MW more generation than a year earlier (aided by Kusile returning to ~4,800 MW). The latest REIPPPP round drew 10.2 GW of bids for 5 GW on offer; in 2025/26 eight new independent power projects came online totalling 800 MW, with 1,610 MW under construction. AEW 2026 (Oct 12-16) will host the Minister at the Cape Town International Convention Center.

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