A Brighter Grid Ahead says Deputy Minister

South Africa is entering a new era of energy reliability, with reforms, private-sector participation, and accelerated generation projects reshaping the country’s power landscape. For multinational companies weighing investment, this shift signals a more predictable operating environment and renewed confidence in Africa’s most industrialised economy.

This was the key message from Samantha Graham-Maré – Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy – who spoke to the SA Trade Desk on the sidelines of the recent  Global Citizen Reverse Power Panel. 

“This is not a dream, but a plan of action,” says Graham-Maré in addressing an audience of youth innovators in the renewable energy space.

The Deputy Minister points to recently released economic and unemployment data, as well as the recent ratings upgrade from S&P Global – factors which suggest that the South African economy is turning a corner.  

This message will be important for anyone looking to invest in South Africa. The past decade has been characterised by widespread power interruptions and load-shedding which has discouraged potential investors – particularly when it comes to mining and industrial operators.

The country has enjoyed over a year of no official load-shedding and the recently released Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) paints a clear roadmap to enhance generation, distribution and transmission infrastructure.

This aligns with Mission 300, which is a collaborative initiative launched by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, transforming the continent through increased access to reliable and sustainable power.

Although we are not yet out of the woods, the optimism, support and drive that the Ministry of Electricity and Energy have received by several bodies, including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, National Treasury, NERSA, and Eskom, along with the minister’s advisors and technical staff, has helped in pushing towards a brighter future for all South Africans, as well as multinationals who are entering the market here in Africa.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted the different ways the Ministry is looking at helping create more energy security within the country, this includes:

Further expansion of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP) which has allowed private sector partnerships 

– Revisiting the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) nuclear 

– Investments in gas and green hydrogen projects

– Micro-grid solutions supported by Public Private Sector Partnerships 

-Bringing the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to join the feed as well as connecting data centres and try to get households and businesses to invest in more solar energy, for a more sustainable, long-term energy source. 

With a more stable energy environment within reach, South Africa is creating the conditions global businesses need to operate and grow. For multinationals looking to expand in a dynamic market, now is the time to act. The country’s turnaround is unlocking new certainty – and investors who move early will be benefited greatly.