MIDDELBURG – Mpumalanga has adopted 12 resolutions aimed at removing obstacles to energy investment, including the establishment of a dedicated investment help desk and a digital project tracking system to speed up the approval of renewable energy projects.
The resolutions were adopted during the Mpumalanga Energy Investment Roundtable (EIR), hosted by the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA) at the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall in Steve Tshwete Municipality on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
The roundtable, led by MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Jesta Sidell, brought together representatives from national, provincial and local government, state-owned entities, regulators, developers, development finance institutions (DFIs) and investors to address regulatory delays affecting renewable energy and Just Energy Transition (JET) projects.
One of the key resolutions was the establishment of the Mpumalanga Green Investment Help Desk within the MGCA. The help desk will serve as a central point of contact for investors, assist with regulatory processes, monitor project approvals, identify bottlenecks and provide regular progress updates. It will also work with the national Energy One Stop Shop and InvestSA to avoid duplication.
A Provincial Energy Project Delivery and Coordination Forum will also be established to improve cooperation between government departments, municipalities, Eskom, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and other regulatory bodies. The forum will meet regularly to resolve delays and monitor the implementation of agreed actions.
To improve transparency, the MGCA will maintain a verified provincial pipeline of energy and industrial projects supported by a digital regulatory tracking system. The system will monitor projects from registration through to construction and operation while tracking approvals, responsible authorities, outstanding requirements and grid readiness.
In its closing statement, the roundtable reaffirmed Mpumalanga's commitment to converting investment interest into projects through coordinated government action, improved regulatory processes and practical support for investors.
MGCA Acting Chief Executive Officer Nkosinathi Nkonyane stressed that community participation would remain central to the province's energy transition.
"It is imperative that communities are part of this. We have seen challenges where projects took place and communities were not properly consulted. We are a tool for the provincial government and a link to the private sector. We are also a tool for communities and academia to ensure that everybody is brought on board and that we are all moving in the same direction."
The remaining resolutions focus on simplifying regulatory processes, improving grid planning, strengthening municipal readiness, expanding community participation, developing green energy skills, promoting green industrialisation, improving project finance and strengthening accountability for implementation.
