South Africa has eased its anti-trust rules to provide relief to energy-intensive companies as soaring electricity costs threaten industrial survival. Under the new measures, firms may collaborate to build shared energy infrastructure, secure alternative power supplies, and jointly negotiate energy contracts without breaching competition laws. The move follows a staggering rise of more than 900% in electricity prices since 2008, which has battered smelters and steelmakers already facing stiff competition from lower-cost Chinese producers. Officials say the reforms are part of a broader relief package that could include lower Eskom tariffs. With major plants already mothballed and thousands of jobs at risk, the policy shift signals a pragmatic effort to stabilize South Africa’s industrial base.
Reuters
