The cooperation programme will facilitate the exchange of technical expertise between French and South African transmission operators. Experts from RTE international and NTCSA will work together through workshops, study visits in both countries, research initiatives and pilot projects.
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South Africa’s efforts to modernise and expand its electricity transmission network received a significant boost this week from foreign funders.
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.
Eskom chief financial officer, Calib Cassim, said the agreement represents an important milestone in building South Africa’s transmission capability as the electricity industry evolves.
“This collaboration affords Eskom and the NTCSA the opportunity to benefit from international technical expertise and shared learning that will help build a more resilient and modern grid,” Cassim said.
“We welcome AFD’s support and RTE international’s partnership in advancing the skills, systems and innovation needed to support Eskom’s and the country’s transition path and long-term security of supply.”
The cooperation programme will facilitate the exchange of technical expertise between French and South African transmission operators. Experts from RTE international and NTCSA will work together through workshops, study visits in both countries, research initiatives and pilot projects.
Several strategic areas have been identified for collaboration, including renewable energy integration, power system stability, artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced analytics, telecommunications and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technologies.
NTCSA CEO Monde Bala said the agreement would help strengthen the company’s ability to modernise and expand South Africa’s transmission network while maintaining reliability.
“The security and reliability of the transmission grid is non-negotiable,” Bala said. “This agreement enables a focused exchange of expertise between the NTCSA and RTE international, allowing us to share practical experience and strengthen our capabilities as we modernise our systems, expand the grid and integrate renewable energy.”
The cooperation will be implemented in phases and tailored to NTCSA’s specific operational needs. The approach is intended to ensure strong participation and ownership by South African technical teams throughout the programme.
AFD deputy regional director for Southern Africa Nicolas Willemin described the initiative as an important collaboration between two of the largest transmission network operators in Africa and Europe.
“AFD is proud to support this cooperation between the biggest transmission network operators in Africa and in Europe. Both are facing interesting challenges given the evolution of the electricity mix in their respective countries,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to share best practices and to develop tailored interventions that will enhance the capability of each operator. This cooperation is a key component of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), reflecting France’s strong commitment to supporting South Africa’s energy transition.”
RTE international CEO Veronika Milewski said the agreement builds on the organisation’s longstanding relationship with AFD and reflects its commitment to supporting electricity system operators worldwide.
Milewski noted that South Africa’s ongoing electricity sector reforms create a unique opportunity for technical cooperation and knowledge sharing between transmission operators.
“Drawing on decades of experience in the planning, operation and development of power systems, we are pleased to contribute to a joint research agenda focused on some of the key challenges facing transmission operators today: artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, HVDC technologies and the integration of renewable energy sources,” Milewski said.
“The signing of this MoU with Eskom, the NTCSA and AFD represents an important step for RTE international. It builds on a long-standing relationship with AFD and on the expertise we bring as a subsidiary of RTE, one of Europe’s largest transmission system operators.”
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