ESKOM pre-qualification of strategic partners for up to 6 gw utility-scale renewable energy and storage projects

Issue date: 2 October 2026

Non-compulsory clarification meeting: 15 October 2026, 11:00 to 13:00 SAST on MS Teams (attendance confirmation required with Eskom Representative, stating name, position and contact details of each attendee)

Clarification queries deadline: 10 working days before closing date (approximately 2 November 2026)

Closing date and time: 16 November 2026 at 10:00 SAST

RFQ validity period: 4 months from closing date (until approximately 16 March 2027), unless extended by Eskom

Business Transfer to Eskom Green: intended on or about 1 April 2027 (indication of intent only, not a commitment)

Panel validity: 5 years from date qualified respondents are notified of appointment

Non-compulsory clarification meeting: 15 October 2026, 11:00 to 13:00 SAST on MS Teams. Respondents must confirm intention to attend with Eskom Representative, stating name, position and contact details of each proposed attendee. Clarification queries must be submitted 10 working days before submission deadline (approximately 2 November 2026).

Eskom Representative: Tshifhiwa Nevuwari

Role: Senior Manager Procurement (Acting)

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: not specified in document

Submission channel: Eskom E-tendering portal (eTendering.eskom.co.za)

Service/delivery address: not specified (projects at various sites with allocated land, environmental authorisations and grid connections in progress)

Submission method: electronic via Eskom E-tendering portal (eTendering.eskom.co.za)

Closing date and time: 16 November 2026 at 10:00 SAST

Late submissions: not accepted

Format requirements: all documents in PDF; maximum 500 MB per document; total submission size limited to 4 GB; no zip or condensed files; no hard copies accepted

Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and submitted):

• Appendix 1: Acknowledgement Form – confirms receipt of RFQ and nominates a contact person for all communications
• Appendix 2: Respondent's Particulars – details of the respondent or consortium members
• Appendix 3: Integrity Declaration Form – declares no corrupt or fraudulent practices
• Appendix 4: SBD4 Form (Respondent's Disclosure) – discloses any state employment or interest of directors/shareholders
• Appendix 5: Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement – protects confidential project information
• Appendix 6: Eskom Standard Conditions of Tender – acceptance of Eskom's tender conditions (modified by RFQ Data)
• Appendix 7: E-Tendering help manual for suppliers – reference only
• Appendix 8: E-Tendering training acknowledgement form – confirms completion of e-tendering training

Disqualification risks:

• Failure to submit any returnable document or complete required information
• Submission after closing time
• Response signed by non-authorised person
• More than one response submitted (individually or as consortium member)
• Conflict of interest (common controlling partner/majority shareholder, or relationship giving access to another respondent's information)
• Not registered on National Treasury Central Supplier Database (except foreign respondents with no South African footprint)
• Restricted by National Treasury
• Nationality of a country on international sanctions list

Returnable documents prescribed in Part C (all must be submitted):

• Appendix 1: Acknowledgement Form
• Appendix 2: Respondent's Particulars
• Appendix 3: Integrity Declaration Form
• Appendix 4: SBD4 Form – Respondent's Disclosure
• Appendix 5: Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Appendix 6: Eskom Standard Conditions of Tender
• Appendix 7: E-Tendering help manual for suppliers
• Appendix 8: E-Tendering training acknowledgement form

Submission format: all documents PDF; max 500 MB per document; total submission 4 GB; no zip/condensed files; no hard copies. Failure to submit returnable documents or complete information by deadline renders response non-responsive.

Two-stage procurement: RFQ (pre-qualification) followed by RFP (request for proposals)

RFQ evaluation stages:

1. Administrative compliance: verification of returnable documents, eligibility criteria, and mandatory requirements
2. Technical evaluation: assessment against criteria in Part B (Functional Response Requirements and Evaluation Criteria) – details not fully specified in extracted text

Eligibility criteria (must be met to be evaluated):

• Registered on National Treasury Central Supplier Database (except foreign respondents with no South African footprint)
• Not restricted by National Treasury
• Not of a nationality on any international sanctions list
• Single response only (individually or as consortium member)
• No conflict of interest with other respondents or Eskom
• Response signed by authorised person
• Consortium must submit a Consortium Arrangement identifying a Lead Member and specifying roles, responsibilities and proposed participation

Panel appointment: successful respondents enter a panel appointment agreement valid for 5 years from notification date, with option to augment panel annually or as required

Augmentation: further open competitive qualification process with objectively justifiable criteria

No minimum qualifying score disclosed for RFQ stage

Preference point system (80/20 or 90/10) not specified for RFQ; B-BBEE assessed at RFP stage

Eskom reserves right to accept or reject any response

Evaluation based on the RFQ as a whole

Scope: pre-qualification of a panel of Strategic Partners for utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects

Technologies: Solar Photovoltaic (PV), Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Wind, and other renewable technologies

Phase 1 Programme: at least 2 GW solar PV and 1 GW / 4 GWh BESS projects

Project structure: each project housed in a ring-fenced special purpose vehicle (SPV) financed predominantly on a limited- or non-recourse project-finance basis

Partnership model: SPV comprising Eskom (via Eskom Green) and the Strategic Partner; ownership structure detailed in future RFP

Offtake and revenue: principally long-term bilateral private-market Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with creditworthy counterparties (corporate, commercial, industrial, aggregated); may also include electricity sales under Ministerial determination procurement programmes

Eskom value proposition:

• Substantial pipeline: estimated 14 GW renewable projects, 6 GW expected by 2030
• Access to decades of power generation skills and expertise
• Efficient routes to market and offtake structuring
• National mandate and long-term at-scale development opportunity
• Dedicated renewable energy focus
• Improved bankability through ring-fenced financial and governance structures
• Access to private and concessional capital via project-level SPVs
• Greater flexibility to partner with experienced private sector participants
• Faster, commercially responsive decision-making within defined governance frameworks

Strategic Partner must demonstrate proven capability, track record and financial standing to co-develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy projects

Panel supports: (i) Eskom-owned renewable energy and storage projects (including Eskom-owned land and generation sites); (ii) Strategic Partner-owned/originated projects proposed by panel members, subject to project-specific evaluation and governance approvals

Panel validity: 5 years with option to augment annually

B-BBEE and localisation methodology: minimum B-BBEE participation requirements will be mandatory at RFP stage. Respondents must ensure proposed consortium structures, financing arrangements and delivery models can accommodate prescribed B-BBEE ownership/equity participation, localisation, enterprise and supplier development, skills transfer and socio-economic development obligations. Participation in RFQ does not indicate transformation requirements will be relaxed; any bidder progressing to RFP must demonstrate credible and sustainable approach to achieving programme's B-BBEE, black ownership and localisation outcomes as a condition of award.

Strategic Partner must demonstrate proven capability, track record and financial standing to co-develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy projects in partnership with Eskom or Eskom Green. Qualified respondents must continue to satisfy eligibility and qualification requirements throughout panel membership and promptly notify Eskom of any material change to ownership, control, consortium composition, financial standing, technical capability, track record, tax/regulatory standing, restricted-supplier status, conflicts of interest, or other qualification relied upon. Eskom may require periodic updates and may suspend/terminate panel membership for non-compliance.

No pricing schedule, rates, bill of quantities or payment schedules specified for RFQ stage. The RFQ is a pre-qualification process; pricing will be addressed in subsequent RFP. Only financial reference is to sanctions list nationality restrictions.

Pricing format: not applicable at RFQ stage (pre-qualification only); pricing will be addressed in subsequent RFP

Bid security / bonds / guarantees: not specified for RFQ stage

Financial capacity: Strategic Partner must demonstrate financial standing sufficient to co-develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain utility-scale renewable energy projects (specific thresholds not disclosed in RFQ)

Project financing: limited- or non-recourse project finance basis through ring-fenced SPVs

Revenue model: long-term bilateral private-market PPAs; possible Ministerial determination procurement programmes

Business Transfer: Eskom will transfer Transaction Agreements and Transferred Rights and Obligations (panel appointments, projects, assets, land rights, authorisations, SPV interests) to Eskom Green around 1 April 2027 (indicative)

Respondents irrevocably consent in advance to cession of Eskom's rights and delegation of obligations to Eskom Green

No payment terms, retention, or liquidated damages specified for RFQ stage

Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration: mandatory (except foreign respondents with no South African footprint)

Tax compliance: implied via CSD registration (valid SARS tax compliance status PIN)

B-BBEE: not assessed at RFQ stage; minimum B-BBEE participation requirements will be mandatory at RFP stage; respondents must ensure consortium structures, financing arrangements and delivery models can accommodate prescribed B-BBEE ownership/equity participation, localisation, enterprise and supplier development, skills transfer and socio-economic development obligations

CIDB grading: not mentioned in RFQ

CIPC registration: Eskom Green being incorporated with CIPC; respondents likely require CIPC registration

Professional registrations: not specified

Local content: not specified for RFQ; may be required at RFP stage

Other mandatory compliance:

• Not restricted by National Treasury
• Not of a nationality on any international sanctions list
• No conflict of interest (common controlling partner/majority shareholder, or relationship enabling influence on another respondent or Eskom decisions)
• Single response only (individually or as consortium member)
• Response signed by authorised person
• Consortium must submit Consortium Arrangement with identified Lead Member

Minimum B-BBEE participation requirements will be introduced as mandatory at RFP stage. B-BBEE credentials and transformation criteria not assessed at RFQ stage. Respondents must ensure proposed consortium structures, financing arrangements and delivery models can accommodate prescribed B-BBEE ownership/equity participation, localisation, enterprise and supplier development, skills transfer and socio-economic development obligations. Participation in RFQ does not indicate transformation requirements will be relaxed; any bidder progressing to RFP must demonstrate credible and sustainable approach to achieving programme's B-BBEE, black ownership and localisation outcomes as condition of award.

No specific health and safety requirements detailed in the extracted RFQ sections. The document contains definitions (e.g., 'Environmentally Viable') and procurement process details but no explicit OHS, safety plan or HSE compliance requirements for the RFQ stage. Such requirements may be specified in subsequent RFP or project agreements.

Environmental context: IRP 2025 estimates 6 GW dispatchable power required for every 10 GW renewables (60%). Projects must be 'Environmentally Viable' – defined as having an integrated and approved approach to sustainable development avoiding depletion/degradation of natural resources, ensuring long-term environmental quality, promoting healthy ecosystems, compliant with best practice standards. Environmental authorisations for Phase 1 projects are at varying stages of maturity. Bankable Feasibility Study includes environmental workstreams sufficiently advanced to support lender due diligence. No specific environmental impact assessment or sustainability requirements detailed for RFQ stage.

Business Transfer: Eskom will transfer Transaction Agreements and Transferred Rights and Obligations (panel appointment agreements, projects, project assets, land rights, authorisations, SPV interests) to Eskom Green, intended on or about 1 April 2027 (indicative only). Each respondent irrevocably consents in advance to cession of Eskom's rights and delegation/assumption of obligations to Eskom Green, and must sign any document (including novation agreement) reasonably required to record the transfer. Business Transfer will not change evaluation criteria, thresholds or weightings. RFQ and each RFP are separate procurement processes; after Transfer Date, RFPs issued by Eskom Green under its own procurement policy. If Business Transfer delayed, Eskom may defer RFPs or conduct them itself. Business Transfer does not affect respondent's right to object to or seek review of Eskom decisions before Transfer Date. If Business Transfer does not occur, Eskom remains party to rights/obligations; no claim against Eskom or Eskom Green arising from timing or decision not to proceed.

Business Transfer: Eskom will transfer Transaction Agreements and Transferred Rights and Obligations (panel appointments, projects, assets, land rights, authorisations, SPV interests) to Eskom Green around 1 April 2027 (indicative). Respondents irrevocably consent to cession of Eskom's rights and delegation of obligations to Eskom Green, and must sign required documents (including novation agreement). Business Transfer will not change evaluation criteria, thresholds or weightings. RFQ validity 4 months from closing. Alternative RFQs not allowed. No public opening for e-tendering. Eskom reserves right to accept/reject any response. Eskom may amend, supplement, clarify, suspend or withdraw RFQ at any time via Briefing Note; material amendments communicated to all respondents with possible closing date extension.

Respondents (single entity or consortium) must comply with eligibility criteria and not be under restriction to do business with Eskom/State Owned Companies. Disqualification if: respondent nationality on international sanctions list; more than one response submitted (individually or as consortium member); conflict of interest (common controlling partner/majority shareholder, or relationship giving access to another respondent's information or influence on Eskom decisions); response signed by non-authorised person; not registered on CSD (except foreign no SA footprint); restricted by National Treasury. Failure to submit/upload response documents renders response non-responsive. Consortium must submit Consortium Arrangement with Lead Member details, roles, responsibilities and proposed participation.

RFQ evaluation follows Eskom Standard Conditions of Tender modified by RFQ Data. Administrative compliance first: failure to submit/upload response documents renders response non-responsive. Eligibility criteria: CSD registration (except foreign no SA footprint), not restricted by National Treasury, not on sanctions list, single response, no conflict of interest, authorised signatory. Consortium must submit Consortium Arrangement with Lead Member. Technical evaluation criteria detailed in Part B (not fully extracted). Panel appointment for 5 years with annual augmentation option. Eskom reserves right to accept/reject any response. Evaluation based on RFQ as a whole. No public opening for e-tendering. Alternative RFQs not allowed. RFQ validity 4 months.