Eskom recently hosted the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, at its Research, Testing and Development (RT&D) facility in Johannesburg. During the visit Eskom shared progress in clean coal, green hydrogen and other technologies with which it intends to strengthen its operational performance, national energy security and a responsible energy transition, as it builds the capabilities required to deliver reliable, affordable and competitive electricity over the long term.
The visit took place two days after Eskom released its FY2025/26 annual results at the end of August, which it headlined ‘From recovery to structural sustainability’. The results reflect the sustained progress Eskom is making in its turnaround. The utility reported a profit after tax of R30.3 billion, marking a second consecutive profitable year, savings of R22.4 billion through its Cost Optimisation and Revenue Enhancement (CORE) programme, and an improved EAF of 65.16%. The utility also noted that South Africa had then seen more than 470 consecutive days without load shedding as the EAF increased further to 67.87% in August 2026, demonstrating how sustained operational and structural improvements are strengthening energy security and supporting the utility’s long-term financial sustainability.
These achievements establish a stronger foundation for Eskom to sustain operational gains, modernise the electricity system and invest in the technologies and capabilities required for long-term structural sustainability. As the electricity sector evolves and customers increasingly prioritise reliability, affordability and sustainability, innovation is becoming a critical enabler of Eskom’s long-term competitiveness and ability to retain and attract customers.
RT&D supports this next phase: looking to convert operational challenges into tested solutions and providing evidence for technology and investment decisions before they are deployed at scale. Thus, it helps Eskom improve operational performance, strengthen energy security and identify technologies that can contribute to a more cost-effective electricity system over time.
Eskom announced that its clean coal research programme is on track to meet the target set in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, South Africa’s R2.1 trillion energy investment plan, which directs Eskom to pilot advanced domestic clean coal technologies and evaluate their local efficacy and emissions-reduction potential by 2030.
During the visit, the minister viewed pilot-scale demonstrations at the Eskom Research and Innovation Centre, including the co-firing of ammonia with coal and, separately, torrefied biomass with coal. The demonstrations illustrated RT&D’s ability to translate research into practical solutions that can be tested, validated and, in due course, deployed under South African operating conditions, to support the utility in improving efficiency, environmental performance and long-term value for customers.
