Eskom Partners with ZET for Richards Bay Gas-To-Power Project
The Richards Bay gas-to-power project in South Africa is moving forward, with Eskom Holdings and Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) signing a Heads of Agreement on June 5, 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for a long-term strategic partnership to provide import, storage, and regasification services for the planned 3 000 MW combined-cycle gas power plant.
The project is designated as a Strategic Integrated Project under the Infrastructure Development Act and forms part of Eskom's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 allocation to deliver 3 000 MW of gas-fired capacity by 2030. The plant will operate primarily as a midmerit facility over an expected 25-year life, providing flexible and dispatchable capacity to complement variable renewable-energy generation.
Eskom will assume foundation-customer status at the proposed open-access LNG terminal, which is still awaiting regulatory approvals and financial close. The project does not currently have a valid environmental authorisation, after the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside the previous authorisation in September 2025 due to procedural issues.