South Africa: Transmission plan ambiguities delay REIPPP schemes

Eskom’s recent forum on the Transmission Development Plan 2015-24 (TDP) and Transmission Strategic Grid Study 2040 examined the planned shift in the transmission system, to accommodate changes to the generation mix from the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme and other projects. But challenges remain around the funding of new transmission corridors and uncertainty about which technologies will comprise the bulk of future generation. Concerns about the cost of connecting remote projects to the grid have been well rehearsed.