Eskom has issued a tender calling for experienced firms to assist in establishing a separate Renewable Energy Business to accelerate the rollout of clean energy projects.
The invitation to tender, published on April 14, seeks companies with “a proven track record” in launching renewable energy ventures. Eskom will assess bidders based on several criteria, including the number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and special purpose vehicles previously established, experience with independent power producer business models and financial structuring, and sector-specific technical capabilities. The support will be required over a 12-month period.
The deadline for bid submissions is May 7. Details can be found on the Eskom website.
The new subsidiary is expected to operate independently from Eskom Holdings “to allow for greater governance agility, competitive market positioning and enhanced PPPs,” the utility says.
“To make a meaningful impact in the renewables space, we recognised that the most cost-effective way to do this is to bring in, at the start, some new skills, thinking and expertise to set our Eskom teams up for success in the business. Through knowledge transfer, we can execute strategic initiatives in a competitive market faster and more efficiently,” says Dan Marokane, Eskom’s Group Chief Executive.
“We are now a year into our turnaround strategy and we are not just focused on ending load shedding; at the same time we are pivoting Eskom into a sustainable and competitive company while ensuring security of supply.”
Eskom has identified an initial pipeline of at least 2 GW of clean energy projects that could be implemented by 2026. In addition, it has developed a longer-term project pipeline exceeding 20 GW to diversify its generation capacity.
The utility says it remains committed to a balanced energy mix, which includes coal, nuclear, gas, renewables, battery energy storage systems and pumped hydro.
