RTE International, NTCSA Sign €650k French-Backed Cooperation Agreement

Eskom, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), RTE international, and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a two-year technical cooperation programme for South Africa's transmission grid. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town and is backed by a €650,000 grant from AFD, financed by the French National Treasury.

The cooperation programme will facilitate the exchange of technical expertise between French and South African transmission operators through workshops, study visits in both countries, research initiatives, and pilot projects. The initiative forms part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), under which international partners are supporting South Africa's transition to a cleaner energy system. Strengthening transmission infrastructure has been identified as a key priority in enabling this transition as the country accelerates the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid.

Technical Focus Areas

Several strategic areas have been identified for collaboration, including renewable energy integration, power system stability, artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced analytics, telecommunications, and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technologies. The cooperation will be implemented in phases and tailored to NTCSA's specific operational needs, with the approach intended to ensure strong participation and ownership by South African technical teams throughout the programme.

The agreement comes as South Africa's transmission infrastructure faces new operational challenges arising from increasing volumes of wind and solar power entering the electricity system, requiring enhanced flexibility, resilience, and capacity in the national grid.

Industry Response

Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim said the agreement represents an important milestone in building South Africa's transmission capability as the electricity industry evolves. "This collaboration affords Eskom and the NTCSA the opportunity to benefit from international technical expertise and shared learning that will help build a more resilient and modern grid," Cassim said. "We welcome AFD's support and RTE international's partnership in advancing the skills, systems and innovation needed to support Eskom's and the country's transition path and long-term security of supply."

NTCSA CEO Monde Bala said the agreement would help strengthen the company's ability to modernise and expand South Africa's transmission network while maintaining reliability. "The security and reliability of the transmission grid is non-negotiable," Bala said. "This agreement enables a focused exchange of expertise between the NTCSA and RTE international, allowing us to share practical experience and strengthen our capabilities as we modernise our systems, expand the grid and integrate renewable energy."

AFD deputy regional director for Southern Africa Nicolas Willemin described the initiative as an important collaboration between two of the largest transmission network operators in Africa and Europe. "AFD is proud to support this cooperation between the biggest transmission network operators in Africa and in Europe. Both are facing interesting challenges given the evolution of the electricity mix in their respective countries," he said. "This is an opportunity to share best practices and to develop tailored interventions that will enhance the capability of each operator. This cooperation is a key component of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), reflecting France's strong commitment to supporting South Africa's energy transition."

RTE international CEO Veronika Milewski said the agreement builds on the organisation's longstanding relationship with AFD and reflects its commitment to supporting electricity system operators worldwide. "Drawing on decades of experience in the planning, operation and development of power systems, we are pleased to contribute to a joint research agenda focused on some of the key challenges facing transmission operators today: artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, HVDC technologies and the integration of renewable energy sources," Milewski said. "The signing of this MoU with Eskom, the NTCSA and AFD represents an important step for RTE international. It builds on a long-standing relationship with AFD and on the expertise we bring as a subsidiary of RTE, one of Europe's largest transmission system operators."