Governance structures will be established through steering committees with workstreams, each with a specific focus on either technical, regulatory, or strategic aspects.
by Blue Africa News
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), hinged on promoting sustainable energy supply and infrastructure development across the country.
The MoU seeks to, among others, accelerate the country’s Just Energy Transition program with South African ports considered an integral part of the initiative.
“TNPA welcomes the signed MoU with NERSA,” said TNPA Acting Chief Executive Phyllis Difeto in a joint media statement by the two entities.
“We value strategic collaborations, which are even more vital in the current geopolitical climate, where boosting energy independence and security is an absolute necessity. The agreement aligns with our strategic plan of ensuring security of supply and unlocking global opportunities for sustainable impact.”
The Acting CEO noted that South Africa’s ports play a critical role in the importation of various energy sources, as well as components importation, which would support the nation’s energy aspirations and requirements.
“NERSA deems its collaboration with TNPA, marked by the signed MoU, as an imperative due to the dual mandates of these two institutions within the ports. The two institutions, being authorities in their own right, need to ensure that sufficient import capacity is available and that the port system functions efficiently, especially given the country’s reliance on imports to meet the liquid fuels demand and the anticipated LNG imports in the context of the country’s socio-economic challenges and developmental goals, noted Muzi Mkhize, NERSA full-time regulator member responsible for petroleum pipelines regulation.
Notably, as part of its response to addressing the country’s energy requirements, TNPA is progressing its Gas-to-Power program, which aims to introduce three bulk liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals at the ports of Richards Bay, Ngqura and Saldanha.
Similarly, work is already underway for the operationalisation of the country’s first LNG import terminal by 2028 at the Port of Richards Bay, with the Ngqura following suit soon thereafter.
To ensure the effective implementation of the MoU, governance structures will be established through steering committees with workstreams, each with a specific focus on either technical, regulatory, or strategic aspects.
According to Chanda Luherm Kunda, a Zambian mechatronic engineer and computer scientist, TNPA and NERSA’s MoU is a step in the right direction, owing to the fact that “Africa’s renewable energy future depends and how innovative solutions can help meet the continent’s growing electricity demand.”
“Africa doesn’t just need more power —it needs innovative, sustainable solutions,” he noted, adding that there is a need to move “floating solar from concept to reality while protecting our ecosystems.”
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News