Leading businesses urge Minister to improve access to renewables in South Africa

A group of 14 leading businesses in South Africa, including Shoprite, have called on the Minister of Electricity and Energy to improve corporate access to renewable electricity in South Africa. In a letter to the Minister, they lay out five policy recommendations that would unlock corporate investment in South Africa’s energy transition.

Those 14 companies who signed the letter employ 200,000 people in South Africa, contribute over R100 billion to Gross Domestic Product and consume 3.5 TWh of electricity per annum, that’s over 1.5% of the country’s total annual electricity use.

The letter, led by Climate Group’s RE100 campaign and the National Business Initiative (NBI), urges policy action to enhance energy security, reduce energy costs, increase competitiveness, and unleash jobs and green economic growth. 

Letter to the South African Minister of Electricity and Energy – Nov 2025

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Date added: 24/11/25

This intervention from some of South Africa’s largest employers, comes as this year’s B20 in South Africa concludes and the South Africa Climate Summit kicks off in Johannesburg. The letter asks for the implementation of RE100 and NBI’s five South Africa policy recommendations on renewable electricity in order to unlock corporate investment in South Africa’s energy transition.

Launched in July earlier this year, RE100 and NBI’s policy recommendations call on the South African government to speed up electricity market reforms, set clear renewable energy goals, enable and scale direct corporate renewable procurement through wheeling, improve the grid and approval processes, and offer more green energy options for businesses of all sizes. 

With over 100 RE100 member companies working in the country, all committed to using 100% renewable electricity, the letter emphasises how the private sector stands ready to support South Africa with the renewables switch. 

Read RE100 and NBI's South Africa policy recommendations in full here. 

Corporate demand for renewable electricity is booming in South Africa; polling shows that 95% of South African business leaders support a transition away from fossil fuels, and 80% would prefer government investment in renewables over new fossil fuel infrastructure.

“Over the past financial year, we signed our 98th power purchase agreement for on-site renewable energy generation ... Considering the limitations of South Africa’s renewable energy ecosystem, it is significant, especially since wheeling renewable electricity remains a challenge. We implore all stakeholders to work together – in policy and in practice – to make this a reality for the benefit of the country,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at Shoprite Group. 

South Africa has made notable recent progress through the Integrated Resource Plan, Energy Action Plan, the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, and the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). However, full implementation of these plans and further reforms are essential to meet the country’s net zero goals, says RE100 and NBI. 

“Companies are the leading consumer of electricity in South Africa, and they recognise the energy security and competitiveness benefits of the energy transition. This letter is further evidence of this and RE100, NBI and these big brands urge the Minister to take policy action to make it easier for corporates to invest in the renewables they need.”