Addressing the country’s electricity deficit, billions are set to be invested from at least four energy power supply stations in Richards Bay.
This was revealed by Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) CEO Thabane Zulu during the inaugural KZN Energy Indaba held in Empangeni last week.
The two-day conference was hosted by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) in collaboration with the RBIDZ. Speaking during the first day of the symposium, Zulu noted that there were four EIA and board approved projects amounting to a combined 5 950 megawatts (MW), to be implemented this financial year. These are Phakwe Group (2 400MW), Mabasa Energy (750MW), Pictro Power (2 000MW) and Gagasi Off shore Wind (800MW).
With peak demand already exceeding 6 700MW, the need for local generation and alternative sources of energy is urgent. RBIDZ has attracted a strong pipeline of investments, with projects valued at R244bn in the pipeline. Of this investment, R185bn is underpinned by energy generation projects.
“The RBIDZ is likely going to be the biggest single investment in KZN once they go ahead with the gas-to power programme. I am confident we will proceed, and soon we will be announcing another 4 gigawatts of gas-to-power interventions,” said Zulu. “Richards Bay is the ideal location that will change the economic landscape of the region and the province, it is a game changer.” Emphasising the importance of partnerships between municipalities and functional institutions, EDTEA MEC Musa Zondi acknowledged that thriving cities and industrial hubs rest on three pillars of public-private partnerships that mobilise capital and innovation, functional, capable municipalities that provide efficient services and approvals,
and reliable intergovernmental coordination that resolves constraints and aligns infrastructure
sequencing.

“Our commitment is to strengthen each pillar so Richards Bay and the broader KZN economy can scale up rapidly and sustainably,” said Zondi. Opening the symposium, KZN Premier Thami Ntuli said energy is the lifeblood of the modern economy. “It powers industry, enables manufacturing, sustains commerce, and supports the daily functioning of households and public services.
“Without reliable and affordable energy, economic activity slows, investment hesitates, and growth opportunities are constrained,” said Ntuli. He added that it was in this sense that energy is not merely a technical sector of the economy, rather a foundational driver of productivity, competitiveness and inclusive development.

“Every factory that produces, every port that exports, and every small business that opens its doors depends on the certainty that energy will be available when it is needed,” said Ntuli. MoU A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) and RBIDZ on Friday at the indaba. The MoU establishes a framework for collaborative exploration opportunities that support the development of gas infrastructure for the Zululand Energy Terminal LNG import project at the Port of Richards Bay.
This will focus on enabling infrastructure that facilitates the distribution of regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) to multiple users locally and nationally. The parties will explore the development of a Gas Custody Transfer Station within the RBIDZ, enabling the distribution of regasified LNG from the proposed LNG terminal to third-party transmission pipelines and downstream users.