department of energy and electricity
1Min
South Africa
Nov 16, 2025
Eskom is set to construct 14 000 km of new transmission lines at an estimated R440 billion, modernising South Africa’s electricity grid. Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says private-sector participation is essential, as the state cannot fund the ambitious project alone.
Eskom has unveiled plans to expand South Africa’s electricity transmission network by building approximately 14 000 km of new high-voltage lines, a project projected to cost R440 billion over the next decade. The initiative aims to modernise the grid, alleviate bottlenecks, and unlock new generation capacity, particularly in renewable-rich regions such as the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.
Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa emphasised that the scale of the project is too large for the state or Eskom alone to fund. As a result, the government is actively encouraging private-sector participation through the Independent Transmission Programme, utilising a build-operate-transfer model to attract investment.
The expansion also includes the installation of hundreds of transformers, totalling approximately 2,630 MVA, to strengthen critical nodes in the network. In certain cases, expropriation of land may be required to secure right-of-way agreements, as negotiations with private landowners have proven challenging.
The project will be rolled out in phases, starting with a pilot phase of around 1,000 km along strategic corridors. Financing will involve a combination of state funds, private investment, and concessional funding instruments to ensure the grid can meet the country’s growing energy demands.
Eskom and the government stress that this transmission network expansion is crucial for building a resilient, modernised electricity system capable of supporting future renewable energy growth and addressing long-standing constraints on power generation across the country.
