The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has launched the SAWEM School – a training and accreditation programme for participants in the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) expected to go live in April 2026.
The programme, which began in July 2025, provides technical training on key aspects of market design and operation including dispatch, gate closure, balancing, financial settlement, credit requirements and participant registration. Sessions are facilitated by NTCSA specialists, and include practical simulations and case studies.
“SAWEM School is intended to ensure that all market participants are capable and compliant,” says Keith Bowen, the NTCSA’s Senior Manager for Market Operations. Certification is compulsory for all prospective SAWEM participants under the Market Code.
The structured, three-day-per-month curriculum is open to independent power producers, aggregators, traders, large customers, municipalities and retailers. Only those who successfully complete the programme will be eligible to operate in the SAWEM from 2026.
