South Africa opened the first round of its Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) Procurement Programme, issuing a request for pre-qualification (RFQ) for private consortia to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain priority high-voltage lines and substations identified with the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA). RFQ submissions are due September 23, 2025.
The ITP is intended to bring private capital into the grid for the first time, accelerating connections for new generation. Government targets ~14,000 km of new lines over the next decade under the Transmission Development Plan, with an initial Credit Guarantee Vehicle to de-risk offtake and become operational by July 2026—timed to the first ITP phase and implying an ambitious construction start.
Prospective bidders must pay a R150,000 documentation fee to access the RFQ pack via the programme portal. The RFQ advert confirms pre-qualification will shortlist consortia on technical capacity, financial strength and delivery track record for participation in the subsequent RFP. 
While the final project model will be clarified at RFP, officials have indicated ownership will ultimately reside with NTCSA (Eskom’s transmission subsidiary), with the private sector delivering assets against availability-based contracts. Independent estimates peg the broader grid build at ~R440 billion by 2032.
