South Africa has secured Chinese backing for a $122 billion energy investment programme aimed at overhauling its electricity infrastructure and supporting long-term economic growth.
The plan seeks to add 105 GW of new generation capacity and build approximately 14,500 kilometres of transmission lines by 2039.
The investment is expected to accelerate the country’s shift toward a more diversified energy mix, with significant investments in solar, wind, battery storage, gas, and nuclear power, while reducing its long-standing dependence on coal.
The programme also aims to strengthen grid reliability, expand private-sector participation, and meet rising electricity demand from industry and households.
For China, the partnership reinforces its growing role in financing Africa’s energy transition.
For South Africa, it represents one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure programmes, with the potential to improve energy security, attract new investment, create jobs, and support industrial development after years of power shortages and load shedding.
