Blu Label unit BluEnergy granted energy trading licence

JSE-listed Blu Label on Tuesday announced that its subsidiary, BluEnergy Trading, has been granted a multi-year energy trading licence by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). This is a significant regulatory milestone that empowers BluEnergy to deliver innovative renewable energy solutions across the energy value chain by connecting municipalities, Independent Power Producers and energy users, ensuring a more resilient and cost-effective energy supply for local communities.

BluEnergy said its execution and delivery capability is underpinned by its partnership with Cigicell - the leading provider of prepaid electricity vending and revenue assurance systems embedded in more than 95 municipalities across 9 provinces. The approval positions BluEnergy to play a central role in South Africa’s power sector reform agenda, which aims to increase private sector participation, enhance energy security and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Aaron Suckerman, the CEO of BluEnergy, said, “This licence is a critical enabler of BluEnergy’s strategy. It allows us to actively participate in the buying and selling of power. By combining long-term power purchase agreements with proven prepaid revenue collection and settlement infrastructure, we are removing the barriers to entry and providing municipalities with a secure, long-term solution for their energy needs.”

BluEnergy operates through three specialised entities spanning project development: asset ownership, operations and maintenance and energy procurement and trading. This robustly integrated approach enables BluEnergy to manage the technical and commercial aspects of energy delivery, grid integration, wheeling frameworks and contractual performance.The model is designed to support localised generation and efficient energy flows, offering end-to-end solutions for municipalities and energy users.

Mark Levy, the co-CEO of Blu Label, who is responsible for spearheading the Group’s energy initiatives, said the licence reflects the Group’s long-term commitment to infrastructure-led growth, “Energy accessibility is a foundational marker of economic growth and social development. BluEnergy’s ability to act as both offtaker and trader, supported by Blu Label’s strong balance sheet and fintech capabilities, positions the business to deliver sustainable energy solutions at scale while contributing meaningfully to national energy transition and decarbonisation.”

By enabling efficient energy management and reliable offtake, BluEnergy supports improved municipal resilience, financial performance and service delivery. These outcomes create the conditions for broader economic growth, infrastructure investment and community development.

With regulatory approval now secured, BluEnergy said it will focus on aggressively building out its project pipeline, operationalising trading activities in line with its mandate to support South Africa’s transition to a more resilient, decentralised and sustainable power system.

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