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eThekwini’s energy push – a strategic shift for SA

I live and work in Durban, so I can comment that load-shedding, water outages and infrastructure backlogs have shaped how we plan our weeks and how local businesses think about investment. While demand for rooftop residential solar has tapered off a bit on the back of more consistent Eskom power supply, it is clear that there are still plenty of opportunities for clean energy solutions

That’s why certain recent recent developments have caught our attention.

As a consulting team, we often look at things like Google search and website data and it was interesting to see that the search term “Durban businesses concerns thekwini energy initiative” was spiking in our analytics makes sense. People want to know whether the latest headlines signal real change or just another plan on paper.

eThekwini becomes first Metro approved to generate its own electricity

This was the headline that generated significant media coverage and at a high-level is welcome news – this isn’t just individual rooftops now being able to move independent of Eskom – it’s a major Metro… and it comes with the benefits of clean energy.

There is a concrete development worth noting. eThekwini has become the first metro in South Africa to receive ministerial approval to procure its own generation capacity. The programme totals 400 MW, split across 100 MW of solar PV and 300 MW of gas-to-power, and it allows the city to buy electricity directly from independent power producers. That is a structural shift in how Durban can source power, and it moves the city beyond a single point of dependence.

The city has set out a staged process. According to municipal communications, the solar PV request for proposals is due in December 2025, with construction targeted to begin by September 2027. A separate gas-to-power procurement is expected to follow in 2026. That sequencing matters because solar can move earlier while gas procurement and fuel contracting are resolved. Timelines in public projects can slip, yet it is still useful for businesses to know what is intended so they can plan their own energy strategies alongside the city’s.

This approval does not instantly end load-shedding in Durban. Several legitimate concerns remain. Gas supply and pricing must be secured on bankable terms, and the city will be watched closely on transparency, governance and bidder selection. Energy-sector watchers have already highlighted questions around gas availability for a 300 MW programme. Sensible procurement, clear milestones and regular public reporting will decide whether this becomes a model for other metros or a missed opportunity.

If you are a Durban business, the near-term picture is two-speed. On one hand, resilience still rests on your own interventions like rooftop solar, storage, efficiency and wheeling arrangements where viable. On the other hand, the medium-term picture looks more hopeful if the city executes. A diversified local supply mix that includes utility-scale solar and dispatchable capacity would reduce the frequency and depth of cuts, stabilise operating conditions and improve investor sentiment. Money follows reliability. That is why this approval matters beyond the technical details.

Meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

There is also a Sustainable Development Goals angle that is more than just keywords. eThekwini’s Voluntary Local Review shows the city aligning its plans to the SDGs, with SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 11 on sustainable cities, SDG 13 on climate action and SDG 17 on partnerships all in focus. The VLR notes growing embedded generation on the municipal network and frames partnerships as essential to delivery. If the procurement is handled well, the programme can sit squarely within that SDG framework and channel private capital into public outcomes. 

I am cautiously optimistic. Durban’s reputation has taken knocks, from flood damage to service delivery gaps. A credible, transparent energy procurement that brings real megawatts online would be a practical way to rebuild trust. It would also signal that the city can deliver complex projects with multiple partners and tight timelines. That is what businesses are looking for. Less spin, more execution.

The energy mix is changing structurally

I fundamentally believe that the era of Eskom of dominance is in sight. Don’t get me wrong – we need a strong, central SOE delivering core power to the economy, but if we are serious about growth then we need to focus on abundant and cheap energy sources with providers being driven to perform to higher standards because they know that there are competitors vying for that business.

Here is my call to action. If you are a KZN business weighing energy resilience investments, consider pairing your strategy with impact. Through our strategic partnerships, we work with companies that want to deploy Enterprise and Supplier Development funds or broader social impact capital into viable solar solutions. Done properly, these projects improve uptime for local suppliers, lower operating costs over the life of the asset, and contribute to the goals that matter for our region’s long-term growth. If Durban is serious about becoming a metro of the future, then crowding in private capital alongside municipal efforts is how we get there. Let’s turn this moment into megawatts, jobs and credibility.

If you want to explore an ESD- or impact-funded solar project for your KZN operations or supply chain, get in touch, and we can map a practical route from scoping to commissioning. The goal is clean, reliable power that helps your business perform and helps Durban prove what a rebuild can look like.