Eskom Tenders 2026: Complete Guide to Energy Sector Procurement

Eskom is South Africa's primary electricity utility and one of the country's largest procurers of goods and services. With annual procurement exceeding R80 billion, Eskom offers extensive opportunities across coal supply, power station maintenance, transmission infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology solutions.

Understanding Eskom's Procurement Structure

Generation Division

Operating 30 power stations:

• Coal supply and logistics (largest single category)
• Power station maintenance and outage management
• Environmental compliance equipment
• Water treatment chemicals and systems
• Ash handling and disposal

Transmission Division

Managing 33,000 km of high-voltage lines:

• Transmission line construction
• Substation construction and upgrades
• Protection and control systems
• Transformer procurement
• Right-of-way maintenance

Distribution Division

Serving 6.3 million customers:

• Distribution network construction
• Meter procurement and installation
• Cable supply and installation
• Pole and transformer supply
• Vegetation management

The Eskom Tender Bulletin

Eskom publishes tenders through multiple channels:

• Eskom website — Official tender advertisements
• National Treasury eTender Portal — All formal tenders
• Eskom Tender Bulletin — Periodic compilation of opportunities
• ProTenders — Real-time aggregation with search and alerts

ProTenders provides access to all Eskom tenders faster than the periodic bulletin, with daily updates and email alert capabilities.

High-Value Opportunity Categories

Coal Supply (R30B+ annually)

Eskom is the world's largest consumer of thermal coal:

• Long-term coal supply agreements (R1B-R10B)
• Short-to-medium term contracts (R100M-R1B)
• Coal transport and logistics
• Coal quality testing services

Maintenance Services (R20B+ annually)

• Boiler maintenance and repair
• Turbine overhauls
• Electrical maintenance
• Instrumentation and control
• Civil maintenance

Capital Projects (R10B+ annually)

• New build programme support
• Transmission line construction
• Substation construction
• Renewable energy integration

Professional Services (R5B+ annually)

• Engineering consulting
• Environmental assessments
• Project management
• Legal and advisory services
• IT and technology solutions

Registering as an Eskom Supplier

1. CSD Registration — Mandatory first step at csd.gov.za.
2. Eskom Supplier Portal — Register on Eskom's procurement system.
3. Safety Compliance — Meet Eskom's strict safety requirements.
4. B-BBEE Verification — Current certificate required.
5. Technical Qualification — Demonstrate capability for your category.

B-BBEE and Transformation

Eskom applies strong transformation requirements:

• B-BBEE Level 1-4 preferred
• 60%+ local content for major equipment
• Enterprise and Supplier Development programmes
• Black-owned enterprise targets
• Women-owned and youth-owned business support

Tips for Winning Eskom Tenders

1. Safety first — Eskom's zero-harm policy means safety non-compliance disqualifies bidders.
2. Start with smaller contracts — Build track record through maintenance RFQs.
3. Geographic advantage — Proximity to power stations matters for maintenance contracts.
4. Technical competence — Invest in relevant certifications and skilled personnel.
5. Financial stability — Eskom assesses financial viability carefully due to past supplier failures.

Find Eskom tenders:

Search Eskom tenders | Set up Eskom alerts | Energy tenders