About this episode

This episode discusses the ongoing electricity reform in South Africa as part of its energy transition, focusing on the role of Eskom and the integration of renewable energy sources.

This is the second part of a miniseries about South Africa's energy transition, based on Chris' travels there in September and October of 2025. The first part was Episode 264 , in which we heard how the end of apartheid precipitated reform of the country's energy systems. South Africa is arguably one of the most exciting places in the world to see the energy transition unfolding right now, because after nearly 150 years of relying almost exclusively on coal for its energy, it is finally implementing reforms that will allow its electricity system to integrate more renewables onto its grid. Eskom, the state-owned monopoly, has owned and controlled the grid for over a century. Its aging coal fleet still provides around 80 percent of the country's electricity, even though solar power is now far cheaper, and it has been able to block new renewable projects because they threatened its coal business. But now Eskom is being broken up into separate units for generation, transmission, and distribution. And the country is launching its first wholesale electricity market — the South Africa Wholesale Electricity Market, or SAWEM — opening the door for renewables to compete with coal. At the…

More episodes of The Energy Transition Show with Chris Nelder

• [Episode #277] – Just Transition in South Africa · June 3, 2026 · 23 min

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