Eskom, NTCSA secure R12 million French backing to strengthen South Africa’s power grid

SOUTH Africa's efforts to modernise and expand its electricity transmission network received a significant boost this week from foreign funders.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

This comes after Eskom, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), France's electricity transmission operator RTE international and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening the country’s power grid.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town on Thursday, establishes a two-year technical cooperation programme between RTE international and NTCSA.

The initiative is backed by a €650,000 (approximately R12 million) grant from AFD, financed by the French National Treasury.

The agreement comes at a critical time for South Africa's electricity sector, which is undergoing major reforms as the country accelerates the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid.

With increasing volumes of wind and solar power expected to enter the electricity system, transmission infrastructure is facing new operational challenges that require enhanced flexibility, resilience and capacity.

The partnership forms part of broader efforts under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), through which international partners are supporting South Africa's transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Strengthening the country’s transmission network has been identified as a key priority in enabling this transition.