Supplier Ratings

Eskom: Supplier Ratings and Tender Guide

Eskom is South Africa's national electricity utility, responsible for generating approximately 90% of the country's electricity. Despite its financial and operational challenges, Eskom remains one of the largest SOE procurers in the country. Procurement spans coal supply, generation equipment, transmission infrastructure, distribution network maintenance, and engineering services for the power station fleet.

Overall Rating

3.0

Based on 189 supplier reviews

Avg Payment Time

30-60 days

Payment Speed

3.3

Process Transparency

2.9

Communication

3.0

Documentation Clarity

3.5

Supplier Friendliness

2.8

What Suppliers Say — Positives

Massive, ongoing procurement needs across all power stations
Relatively good payment performance for technical services
Eskom Development Foundation supports SMME supplier development
Clear technical specifications for engineering procurement
Kusile and Medupi construction still generating procurement

What Suppliers Say — Negatives

Complex internal approval processes can slow procurement decisions
Some historical procurement integrity concerns affecting supplier confidence
Load shedding and financial instability create uncertainty for long-term contracts
High safety and compliance requirements increase cost of compliance

Pro Tips for Winning Eskom Contracts

1Register on Eskom's RRFT (Request for Registration) system for your commodity categories
2Ensure your safety management systems comply with Eskom's 16(2) contractor requirements
3Coal suppliers must have DMR-compliant operations and environmental permits
4Engineering firms should have ISO 9001 quality certification — this is generally required

Recent Activity

Eskom is procuring extensively for power station maintenance and life extension programmes, grid reinforcement, and emergency diesel procurement. The Just Energy Transition is also creating new procurement for renewable energy integration and grid modernisation.