South Africa’s National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is making significant progress on a strategic expansion of the country’s electricity transmission network aimed at supporting future generation capacity and boosting grid reliability ahead of 2030. The development forms a central part of South Africa’s broader power sector reforms as the country seeks to modernise its grid and integrate rising renewable energy generation. 
According to industry sources, NTCSA, a legally separated subsidiary of state power utility Eskom has outlined a comprehensive programme under the national Transmission Development Plan (TDP). This plan targets a total of 37 GW of new generation-connection capacity by the end of the decade, spread across 75 priority projects designed to enable grid access for new capacity and reinforce transmission corridors. 
Progress on the programme includes the completion of about 455 km of new transmission lines and 5,800 MVA of transformer capacity. In addition, over 2,500 km of lines and 24,000 MVA of transformers are currently under construction or in various stages of procurement. These investments are expected to enable roughly 22 GW of grid connections by 2030, unlocking capacity for both utility-scale power producers and private generators. 
The NTCSA’s work builds on the South African government’s reform agenda, including the Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) Programme, which was launched to attract private sector participation in transmission infrastructure development under a transparent regulatory framework. This initiative complements grid expansion efforts and aims to reduce bottlenecks that have historically constrained access for new generation projects. 
In recent months, NTCSA has also taken steps toward market liberalisation by obtaining a Market Operator Licence, enabling it to operate within the emerging competitive electricity market structure and support transparent trading arrangements. This move aligns with the goals of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act to facilitate broader participation in the electricity sector while maintaining reliable grid operation. 
The transmission build-out is positioned as a key enabler of South Africa’s transition toward a more resilient, flexible and sustainable power system. It aims to support the connection of new generation capacity, including renewables, and reduce constraints that have contributed to load-shedding and reliability issues across the national grid. 
