Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 12: NTPC and Eskom are exploring a green energy pact, possibly a joint venture. NTPC already trains Eskom engineers and may supply parts for ageing coal plants. South Africa plans to expand green power sharply.
State-run NTPC Ltd is exploring a green energy pact with South Africa’s Eskom. A joint venture is among the structures under discussion. Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, disclosed the talks to Mint.
The companies are the largest power producers in their home countries. A deal could widen NTPC’s footprint in Africa’s biggest electricity market. Sooklal said the firms are studying how green power could feed the grid.
No final structure has been disclosed. Queries to NTPC and Eskom went unanswered before publication.
South Africa wants more green power to meet rising electricity demand. It has about 19GW of green capacity today. It plans to reach 26GW by 2030, with a stated 105GW goal for 2035.
State-owned Eskom produces about 90% of the country’s electricity. Coal plants still account for roughly 85% of national generation. In 2024, South Africa generated 239,024GWh, according to International Energy Agency data.
The talks build on an existing memorandum of understanding. Sooklal said it was signed about 18 months ago. Under it, NTPC runs a three-month in-house training programme for Eskom engineers in India.
That arrangement covers training, not the proposed green energy venture. NTPC may also help supply components and spare parts for Eskom’s ageing coal stations.
Eskom runs about 45GW of thermal capacity. Komati power station in Mpumalanga was commissioned in 1961. Tutuka’s first unit followed in 1985. Sooklal said India keeps old plants running through local refurbishment and parts manufacturing.
South Africa endured severe power shortages in recent years. Rolling blackouts sometimes lasted from two to over 10 hours a day. The crisis peaked in 2022 and 2023, with 91 outage days in 2023.
On 4 October, Eskom reported more than 500 days without load-shedding. Load-shedding means planned power cuts used to balance supply and demand. Eskom credited better fleet performance, fewer unplanned outages and added capacity.
Sooklal said NTPC had played a part in the recovery. Ageing plants, however, still require steady maintenance.
NTPC brings a large and mixed generation base. Its group capacity in India stands at about 91.5GW. Coal accounts for 67.36GW, gas 6.51GW and renewables 17.60GW. It also aims for 30GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
In Sri Lanka, NTPC is developing a 120MW solar plant with Ceylon Electricity Board. In Mauritius, it is building 15MW of floating solar with 12MW/60MWh battery storage. It also operates a 1,320MW coal plant in Bangladesh through a joint venture.
NTPC is also a project management consultant endorsed by the International Solar Alliance. India has invited South Africa to join the alliance, which counts 127 members and signatories.
Gajendra Singh of Delhi University’s African studies department sees a shift in India’s energy diplomacy. He argues India offers training and grid skills, while China mainly provides hardware. He views the two roles as complementary.
A deal could pair new green capacity with upkeep of ageing coal plants. For now, the pact’s scope, ownership and funding remain under discussion.
