Energy and transition economics
2026-04-26
11 minute read
20 sources
South Africa 2026: the GNU power deal, Eskom unbundling, and the second draft of the Just Energy Transition
After 332 days of loadshedding in 2023, the grid stabilized through 2024 and the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. Cyril Ramaphosa's Government of National Unity now has to ratify the National Transmission Company, restructure Eskom debt, and convert USD 11.6 billion of climate finance pledges into hard megawatts.
South Africa entered 2026 with the most consequential political and electricity sector reset since 1994. The May 29, 2024 election delivered the African National Congress 40.18 percent, the Democratic Alliance 21.81 percent, the new MK Party 14.58 percent, and the Economic Freedom Fighters 9.52 percent, ending 30 years of single party rul...