Eskom offers bitcoin miners power at R1.20/kWh

South Africa's energy regulator Nersa is consulting on Eskom's two-year pilot tariff for crypto miners and other flexible-load customers, benchmarked at about R1.20/kWh. Comments close on 23 October, hearings are set for 3 November and a decision is due on 7 December. Two miners have already expressed interest with initial demand of 10MW and potential expansion to 500MW.

• The R1.20/kWh benchmark applies only to highest-voltage customers in the southern region
• The two-year pilot sets operating windows of roughly 12 to 16 hours a day
• Eskom estimates surplus capacity of 5–7GW and over 5TWh of curtailment in 2028
• Two miners signalled initial demand of 10MW with potential expansion to 500MW