The International Partners Group (IPG) and the JET Project Management Unit published their joint progress report at the end of 2025, marking twelve months of implementation of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The document highlights significant progress in transforming South Africa’s energy system, confirming the relevance and strength of this innovative international cooperation mechanism in support of a clean, inclusive and socially equitable energy transition.
The IPG, comprising the United Kingdom as chair, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany and the Netherlands, reaffirmed its financial and political commitment to the JETP despite the United States’ withdrawal from the partnership in February 2025. International Partners Group members have committed $10 billion, supplemented by bilateral contributions bringing the total to $12.4 billion. Including commitments from multilateral development banks, total financing mobilized now reaches $13.7 billion, illustrating partners’ continued confidence in South Africa’s trajectory.
The report stresses that South Africa’s just energy transition is progressing coherently, driven by notable advances in energy sector reforms, increased renewable energy investment, greater private-sector participation in electricity transmission and stronger distribution infrastructure. These developments confirm that the country remains on a positive trajectory despite global geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
JETPs are now emerging as an international reference model, aligning national priorities with international public and private financing. Centered on recipient-country leadership, this approach is gaining visibility and inspiring other clean energy transition initiatives in emerging economies. In South Africa, the model has translated into significant regulatory and institutional progress, paving the way for the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM), scheduled to launch in April 2026.
In this regard, regulator NERSA’s granting of a market operator license to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is a foundational milestone. Meanwhile, a major transmission infrastructure development program is underway, with more than 14,000 kilometers of transmission lines planned over the next decade. The program is supported by private-sector independent transmission projects and a World Bank-backed credit guarantee mechanism designed to reduce risks and mobilize more capital.
Political momentum has also been reinforced by South Africa’s G20 presidency, which emphasized decarbonization while maintaining universal energy access as a strategic priority. JET portfolios are now fully integrated into national governance structures, enabling stronger coordination and more effective project implementation across all levels of government and regions.
Operationally, IPG-supported projects have contributed to tangible progress in several key sectors. Germany, through KfW, granted a €150 million loan to the City of Cape Town to strengthen the resilience and capacity of its electricity network. The United Kingdom, through BII and PIDG GuarantCo, put in place an innovative $100 million guarantee financing arrangement for an energy trading company, facilitating the deployment of new generation capacity. The European Union, through the European Investment Bank, signed a €350 million loan with Transnet, while France recently announced new financing of €300 million to support the strategic state-owned company’s decarbonization strategy.
Technical assistance remains an essential pillar of the partnership. Denmark, in particular, continues to strengthen South African institutions’ capabilities in regulation, electricity market development, energy planning and procurement models, contributing to the success of the future wholesale electricity market.
The social dimension of the transition remains at the heart of the JETP. Notable progress has been made in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investment and skills development programs along the renewable energy value chain and beyond. An emblematic example is the Netherlands-funded Grootvlei Horticulture Expertise Centre, whose construction is well advanced on the former Grootvlei power station site. The project aims to create sustainable alternative jobs by promoting climate-friendly, water-efficient agriculture while training a new generation of workers, managers and agricultural entrepreneurs in the region.
Looking toward 2026, the Just Energy Transition Partnership is expected to continue delivering tangible effects by consolidating an enabling environment for the transition, mobilizing large-scale financing and maintaining strong political momentum. Partners now intend to emphasize effective implementation while drawing on lessons learned to guide future JETPs and next-generation cooperation platforms.
The JET Project Management Unit plans to conduct a comprehensive implementation assessment in collaboration with members of the Integrated Steering Group and all stakeholders. IPG support remains strong, and all partners reaffirm their commitment to the objectives set out in the 2021 Political Declaration, the 2022 Investment Plan and the 2023 Implementation Plan. In an uncertain geopolitical environment, the partnership illustrates the strategic importance of supporting a just energy transition that fully integrates its economic, environmental and social dimensions.