The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has confirmed dates for key steps required ahead of the planned April 1, 2026 launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM). The update was provided during an EE Business Intelligence webinar on September 9.
Public hearings for the NTCSA’s market operator licence will be held on September 30 following publication of the application by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). A final industry workshop on the Market Code will take place on September 11. The revised code will then be submitted to NERSA by the end of the month. NERSA will only be able to process the Market Code once the licence has been issued, placing final approval in January or February 2026.
These announcements follow earlier warnings from the NTCSA that delays in regulatory approvals could leave insufficient time for implementation and place the April launch date at risk.
“There’s a possibility we may not be fully ready by April but even a limited launch would provide visibility on daily pricing and current arrangements while full functionality is finalised within six months,” said Keith Bowen, Senior Manager: Market Operations for the NTCSA.
A test version of the market portal is scheduled for November with integration into financial and banking systems expected by the end of March.
As demand for training has exceeded expectations, the SAWEM School will double the number of three-day workshops for potential market participants.
Vesting contracts between Eskom Generation, Eskom Distribution and the central purchasing agency are being finalised to manage the transition to competitive pricing and prevent market dominance, Bowen said.
