RFQ: strategic partner for the 1.5GW Tubatse pumped storage scheme

The RFQ (E3611GXR) is a Request for Qualifications for the selection of a Strategic Partner for the development, financing, and implementation of the 1.5GW Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme. The project involves the development, financing, and implementation of a 1.5 gigawatt pumped storage hydroelectric scheme.

Closing date: 30 November 2026 at 10:00 (as per tender record). No briefing or site visit dates are mentioned.

Submission method: via the RFQ portal or as specified in the RFQ document. The clarification meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams. No other submission details are provided in this clarification document.

No eligibility or evaluation criteria are specified in the provided document.

The RFQ (E3611GXR) seeks a Strategic Partner for the development, financing, and implementation of the 1.5GW Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme. The scheme is a pumped storage hydroelectric project. The document provided is only a clarification notice containing a Microsoft Teams link for a clarification meeting.

Eskom seeks to pre-qualify experienced respondents for the development, financing, and implementation of the 1.5GW Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme (TPSS) in Limpopo. The project is a nationally strategic priority, aligned with IRP 2025 and the Just Energy Transition. Only Qualified Respondents will be invited to the subsequent RFP stage.

Closing date: 30 November 2026 at 10:00 SAST

Contact: Tshifhiwa Nevuwari

Role: Eskom Representative

Email: [email protected]

Submission website: https://etendering.eskom.co.za

Submission channel: electronic only via Eskom E-tendering public website https://etendering.eskom.co.za.

No hard copies accepted.

All documents must be in PDF format.

Maximum upload per document: 500 MB; total submission: 4 GB.

No zip or compressed files.

Responses must be uploaded under the folders specified in clause 5.1.22 of the RFQ.

Failure to upload all required response documents renders the response non-responsive.

Late responses will not be accepted.

Returnable documents (all must be completed and submitted):

• Appendix 1 – Acknowledgment Form (confirms receipt and acceptance of RFQ terms)
• Appendix 2 – Respondent's Particulars (details of the respondent)
• Appendix 3 – Integrity Declaration Form
• Appendix 4 – SBD4 Form – Respondent's Disclosure (discloses state employment or connections)
• Appendix 5 – Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Appendix 6 – Eskom Standard Conditions of Tender (acknowledged as binding)
• Appendix 7 – E-Tendering help manual for suppliers (for reference)
• Appendix 8 – E-Tendering Training Acknowledgement Form

The RFQ is evaluated in stages:

1. Eligibility check: Respondents must comply with the eligibility criteria in the RFQ; ineligible responses are disqualified.
2. Administrative and technical evaluation against the criteria in Part B and Part C.
3. Qualification: only Respondents meeting all requirements become Qualified Respondents and are invited to the subsequent RFP stage.

Basic compliance: failure to submit all returnable documents or complete information renders the Response non-responsive.

B-BBEE and transformation criteria are not assessed at the RFQ stage but will be mandatory at the RFP stage.

The Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme (TPSS) is a new 1.5 GW pumped storage hydropower facility with an estimated energy storage capacity of 21 GWh, located between the Nebo Plateau and the Steelpoort River Valley, within the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, Limpopo province.

Eskom seeks to pre-qualify experienced respondents to partner in the development, financing, and implementation of the project.

Respondents must demonstrate proven capability, track record, and financial standing to co-develop, finance, construct, operate, and maintain a large-scale pumped storage scheme, including relevant experience in large hydropower, pumped storage, or comparable large-scale civil and electromechanical infrastructure.

Respondents must show ability to optimise the project's revenue through energy arbitrage and ancillary services.

Respondents may participate as a single entity or as a consortium; a consortium must submit a Consortium Arrangement identifying the Lead Member and each Member's roles and responsibilities.

Respondents must demonstrate a credible approach to achieving the project's B-BBEE, black ownership, and localisation outcomes as a condition of award at the RFP stage. They must also show how their commercial, financing, and risk-allocation structures would achieve financial close under different offtake scenarios.

Respondents must have proven capability, track record, and financial standing required for large-scale pumped storage or comparable large-scale civil and electromechanical infrastructure projects. Experience in large hydropower or pumped storage is required.

The project is expected to be financed predominantly on a limited- or non-recourse project-finance basis through a ring-fenced special purpose vehicle (SPV).

The Strategic Partner must demonstrate the financial standing to co-develop, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the project.

Respondents must show how their proposed commercial, financing, and risk-allocation structures would achieve financial close under a Section 34 PPA and/or bilateral/competitive market offtake scenarios.

Central Supplier Database: Respondents must be registered on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database (CSD), except foreign respondents with no footprint in South Africa.

Respondents must not be restricted by National Treasury.

Respondents must not be under any restriction to do business with Eskom or State Owned Companies.

No alternative RFQs are allowed.

A Respondent may be disqualified for conflict of interest, submitting more than one response, or having principals on international sanctions lists.

The project must be environmentally viable, with an integrated and approved approach to sustainable development. The Environmental Authorisation process is in progress. Respondents should demonstrate that the project will comply with best practice environmental standards.

The project will be undertaken through an SPV comprising Eskom (or Eskom Green after transfer) and the Strategic Partner. Eskom intends to transfer the transaction agreements and rights to Eskom Green, a wholly-owned subsidiary, once incorporated. The business transfer will not change the evaluation criteria or thresholds disclosed in this RFQ. Respondents consent to the cession of rights to Eskom Green. The RFQ does not constitute an offer or guarantee that the project will reach financial close or construction. Eskom may terminate, amend, or modify the procurement process without liability. The RFQ validity period is 6 months from the closing date.

Closed tenders are tenders not listed on TenderBulletin but sent directly to selected suppliers who meet the buyer's criteria. These suppliers receive a private link by email to bid.

Buyer contact: the buyer responsible for the published tender (not named in this document).

Submission method: online via the Eskom eTendering portal only, replacing physical submission at Eskom tender offices.

Steps: register on the portal, verify email, log in, verify OTP, select the tender reference, create a new submission, upload documents under the correct category (Technical, Commercial, Finance, etc.), then finalise the submission.

File limits: individual file cannot exceed 50MB; total of all files cannot exceed 900MB.

After finalising, an email confirmation is sent; the submission ID must be saved for future enquiries.

Support: contact the buyer responsible for the published tender for any system problems.

Purpose: the eTendering system is a web-based portal for uploading tender documents electronically, replacing manual submission at Eskom tender offices.

Access: requires registration and a Central Supplier Database (CSD) number.

System links: TenderBulletin public website: https://tenderbulletin.eskom.co.za; eTendering website: https://eTendering.eskom.co.za.

Browser recommendation: Microsoft Edge.

Closed tenders: tenders not advertised publicly may be sent directly to qualifying suppliers via a private link; these can be submitted through the eTendering system.

To edit registration details (name, organisation, CSD, cellphone), use 'Edit Registration' on the dropdown, update the fields, and click Update. To reset a forgotten password, click 'Forgot your password', enter an alternative email, follow the link received, set a new password, and verify with an OTP sent to cellphone/email. To log out, select 'Log out' from the dropdown.

No quality management requirements are stated in the document. The document is a user manual for the eTendering system.

CSD registration: a valid Central Supplier Database (CSD) number is mandatory to access the eTendering system.

Registration details: contact number must start with the international prefix, e.g. +27.

OTP verification: a one-time pin is sent to the registered cellphone and email for each login.

Closed tenders: a link is sent via email to suppliers who meet the selection and evaluation criteria to bid privately.

No health and safety requirements are stated in the document. The document is a user manual for the eTendering system.

No evaluation criteria are provided in the document. The document only describes the eTendering submission process, not the evaluation of bids.