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Call to reduce carbon emissions

Location: News

Call to reduce carbon emissions

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy, has called for nations to move with speed to reduce carbon emissions to limit the severity of climate change impacts.

“Simultaneously, we have to adapt and build resilience to the impacts that will occur, even in a 1.5 degree world. The Sixth Report of the International Panel on Climate Change shows us that the world is already dangerously close to an average temperature increase of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial times,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

She was addressing the National Assembly debate on the Climate Change Bill, which will enable the orderly reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of sectoral emission targets to guide the journey to the mid -century net- zero commitment.

The Bill will also ensure the country reaches its Nationally Determined Contribution by assigning individual enterprises carbon budgets and facilitating public disclosure of the progress.

“We know climate change impacts will hit the most vulnerable communities first, and will hit them the hardest. A key part of building climate resilience is to set up 'early-warning' systems so that communities can prepare for disasters before they happen,” the Minister said.

According to the Global Commission on Adaptation, knowing that a natural disaster event will happen 24 hours before it occurs can reduce damage by 30 percent.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) currently provide regular weather updates and have technology that can give South African communities advanced warning of extreme weather events.

“Our fundraising efforts aim to improve existing infrastructure and replace outdated and dysfunctional systems. Responding to climate change is not the responsibility of government alone.

“Every aspect of society and the economy will be impacted upon. Consequently, the Bill will formally establish the Presidential Climate Commission as a statutory body to mobilise communities, organised labour, business and civil society to represent a whole of society response to future challenges,” Creecy said.

Last month, African leaders adopted the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, which recognises that decarbonising the global economy is an opportunity to contribute to equality and shared prosperity on our continent.

“In support of this vision, President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the United Nations Climate Summit, called on developed countries to meet the need for new, predictable public finance to support climate adaptation and build resilience to loss and damage in developing countries so that no country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action.

“With abundant solar and wind resources, and significant reserves of critical minerals, South Africa is positioning itself to be a leader in renewable energy, green hydrogen and sustainable industrialisation.

“The Just Transition Framework developed by the Presidential Climate Commission aims to ensure that climate actions adhere to principles of procedural, restorative and distributive justice. Consequently as our country develops our vision of a Just Transition to a low carbon economy and climate resilient society we will ensure it is sustainable, inclusive, comprehensive and leaves no one behind,” the Minister said.

The Climate Change Bill will provide impetus for mainstreaming the country’s climate and disaster response by placing a legal obligation on every organ of state to coordinate and harmonise policies, plans, and programmes, to make sure climate change risks and associated vulnerabilities are acted upon by national, provincial and local government.

“Because sub national governments already face financial shortfalls, the Bill provides mechanisms for national government to provide additional support for our climate change response.  Already the Department has mobilised finances to assist municipalities to prepare climate response strategies.

“Honourable members, government and society have already achieved a great deal through voluntary co-operation. With this important legal instrument, we are approving today, much more can be achieved for both people and nature,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Wed, 10/25/2023 - 09:37

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Mantras, Medallions And Meaning: Pandora Launches Current Pandora Me Styles

Location: MyPR

The newest drop from the Pandora ME collection combines elements of symbolism with an elevated aesthetic and invites wearers to explore personal meaning through their jewellery looks. The newly launched pieces include medallion and mini dangle charms with symbolic meanings, along with a new beaded chain necklace and bracelet and a new studded ring design. …

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Dunlop goes green with sustainable classroom construction project in Ladysmith

Location: MyPR

As part of the Dunlop Ladysmith plant’s 50th anniversary celebrations in October, the tyre manufacturer announced a project to build two new classrooms, ablutions, an office and a sick bay at Ithubelihle Special Opportunity School in Leonardsville, Ladysmith. Headmistress Sibongile Tshabalala said the new additions would enable the school to extend its support to the …

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Climate Commission to hold Komati Power Station community consultations

Location: News

Climate Commission to hold Komati Power Station community consultations

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) says it expects to host a multi-stakeholder community consultation at Blinkin Village in Mpumalanga to "consider and discuss its Interim Report and Recommendation on the Komati Power Station Decommission and Repurposing process”.

The community consultation will be held on Friday.

“The report follows initial submissions and an oversight visit conducted by the Commission on 7 July this year. The PCC visited the Eskom Komati Power Station earlier this year with the intention of understanding the process of decommissioning and repurposing, and make recommendations on the lessons learnt from the process.

“The consultation on Friday follows from the decision of the commission’s 11th quarterly meeting held on the 29th of September, to go back and consult with various stakeholders about the ongoing process of decommissioning and repurposing the Komati Power Station and to enrich and address gaps on the PCC’s interim report and the associated recommendations,” the PCC said in a statement.

The Komati Power Station was officially taken off the grid in October last year after serving the population since 1961.

Since then, Eskom has revealed that it will use the power station as a renewable energy site.

The Komati site is expected to be powered by 150MW of solar power, 70MW of wind power and at least 150MW of battery storage power. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 10/25/2023 - 10:53

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Shedding Light on Solar Lights: The Future of Outdoor Lighting

Location: MyPR

In today’s world, sustainability and energy efficiency are at the forefront of technological advancements. One area where these principles shine—quite literally—is in the realm of outdoor lighting. Solar lights have emerged as a beacon of hope, offering an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution to illuminate our outdoor spaces. As the world turns toward cleaner and greener …

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Brighten Up Your Yard with Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights

Location: MyPR

When the sun sets and darkness descends, the need for outdoor illumination becomes evident. While traditional lighting solutions rely on electricity and add to your utility bills, there’s a greener, more cost-effective way to light up your yard – solar-powered outdoor lights. These innovative fixtures harness the power of the sun, offering an eco-friendly and …

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Roundtable Explores Economic Ties Between Saudi Arabia and Africa at African Energy Week (AEW) 2023

Location: News
African Energy Chamber

African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 featured a Saudi Arabia-Africa Energy Investment Forum roundtable that explored the untapped potential for stronger economic ties between Saudi Arabia and African nations.

The roundtable discussion kicked off with opening remarks by Saudi Arabia's Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade, Hussam Y. Algheraimil, who spoke on the Middle Eastern country's strategy to implement financial relations with African countries while contributing towards attracting investment to the continent.

“Our main goal is to contribute to attracting investment, exploring access, and representing Saudi Arabia,” Algheraimil stated, adding, “We are currently working to create easy trade between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and African countries by helping stakeholders find appropriate financial instruments in the short, medium and long-term.”

The roundtable discussion served as an engaging conversation on how increased trade, particularly in petroleum products and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and collaboration across upstream, midstream and downstream segments can contribute to addressing energy poverty across Africa, with Saudi Arabia serving as a strategic gateway.

“We want to build strong, win-win partnerships,” stated Rene Awambeng, Director and Global Head of Client Relations of the African Export-Import Bank, adding, “Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the African opportunity. They are uniquely placed in this environment to take advantage of what is happening on the continent.”

“LPG can help us in South Africa in a big way in terms of ensuring supply and access to energy. Saudi Arabia has a different problem, they have too much energy. We have a lot of people in the country and region with no access to power and I believe there is a big opportunity to bring LPG from Saudi Arabia to use here,” stated Godfrey Moagi, CEO of the strategic solutions organization, the Strategic Fuel Fund.

The roundtable discussed the role Africa's vast, and yet unexploited oil and gas resources play in delivering a just and inclusive energy transition. As such, South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, stressed the importance of turning the continent's resources into value and engaging with international partners to ensure the facilitation of investment and knowledge transfer.

“My expectations with regard to Africa, is having Saudi Arabia engage in direct conversations with the continent, because we are ready to do business with them and we have the necessary laws to facilitate investment on the continent,” Minister Chol stated.

As Africa seeks to maximize the development of its entire energy resource base, including oil, gas, coal and renewable energy for a secure and sustainable energy mix that will support the continent's efforts to accelerate electrification and drive socioeconomic development, the roundtable speakers highlighted cooperation regarding knowledge sharing, skills development, project deployment and financing with global parties as vital for the continent's energy goals.

“The bilateral cooperation in place between Saudi Arabia and South Africa has opened an opportunity for us,” stated Sandisiwe Ncemance, Acting CEO for the state-owned Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa, adding, “It would be an indictment on us not to seize those opportunities. There is untapped potential for economic ties to increase trade between Saudi Arabia and South Africa and also collaboration through all facets of the energy sector, through the down-, mid-, and upstream.”

As one of the world's premier hydrocarbons producers and exporters, Saudi Arabia's participation during this session, titled, ‘Partnering with Africa's Private Sector to Drive Energy Growth', served to shape discussions around the challenges and opportunities for local content development and the beneficiation of the local market.

“Local companies are able to add tremendous value in our ability to implement and develop projects,” stated Nanda Bhula, Country Manager for electric power generation company, ACWA Power South Africa, adding, “Local companies have a big understanding of local conditions, more so than international investors. Local companies also understand things like supply chain management and local labor laws, so we see a lot of benefits in terms of their understanding of the local market.”

Africa boasts an estimated 125.3 billion barrels of crude oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, resources that will be essential to lift the continent's over-600 million people living in reliable access to electricity out of energy poverty. As such, the Saudi delegates speaking at the roundtable discussion spoke on the importance of drilling more oil and gas wells and building more refineries and pipelines whilst reducing emissions for energy independence, reliability, and affordability.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established leadership in this domain, and we always want to continue playing that role of leader in energy,” Dr. Gasem Fallatah, Deputy Manager for the sustainability initiative, the Oil Sustainability Program stated, adding, “Leadership comes with responsibilities, it comes with accountability, and we do recognize that. We will determine together what will be the agenda that we can work on, so we can determine together, the future that we would like to see.”

Representing one of the world's largest oil and gas reserve holders as well as one of the most established hydrocarbons markets, the Saudi delegation drove the dialogue on how Africa can boost investments, production activities, infrastructure rollout across the mid- and downstream sectors, as well as enhance the use of monetization of hydrocarbon resources to make energy poverty history across the continent by 2030. It was noted that these efforts and strategies are poised to improve the continent's GDP and contribute towards global energy security.

“Saudi Arabia, with huge financial capacity, they designed the model that can help Africa stabilize and grow their own energy potential. As African countries, what we need to look at, is the strategic position of how Saudi Arabia is increasing their businesses. There's a lot to learn in how they are engaging and in doing business, and we need to create new markets for our products and crude to expand our business framework,” stated Kola Karim, Managing Director and CEO for power solutions company, Shoreline Energy International.

Taking place under the theme, ‘The African Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets', the roundtable also highlighted renewable energy and sustainability as key aspects towards Africa's energy development. Boasting similarly abundant solar and wind resources, it was noted that Saudi Arabia's and Africa's renewable energy potential also has an important role to play in alleviating energy poverty while promoting socioeconomic development.

Representing the largest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent, #AEW2023 – organized by the African Energy Chamber – prioritizes sustainable development, integration, and collaboration as a means to support explorers and producers across Africa. Centered around partnering with the private sector to drive energy growth, the Saudi-Arabia Energy Investment Forum showcased how emerging synergies between Africa and its global partners will reinforce the continent's job creation, skills development, and economic empowerment.

#AEW2023 takes place this week in Cape town under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030. Keep following www.AECWeek.com for more exciting information and updates about Africa's premier energy event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Critical Minerals Africa 2023 Prepares for Official Opening with Full Day of Strategic Presentations

Location: News
Energy Capital & Power

The first day of the Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit on Tuesday – organized by Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) – featured a series of presentations from leading industry experts, providing unparalleled insights into Africa's critical mineral reserves and geopolitical position in the global mining economy. The main conference program begins on Wednesday, October 18 and will feature a highly anticipated ministerial forum, investor briefings and panel discussions, taking place alongside African Energy Week in Cape Town.  

Kicking off the agenda was a presentation by South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) exploring the future of critical minerals in the SADC – namely, copper in the DRC, South Africa and Zambia, lithium in South Africa and Zimbabwe, cobalt in the DRC and Zambia, graphite in Mozambique, manganese in South Africa, and nickel in Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania. The ability to harness these reserves depends on several factors, including growing geoeconomic competition among China, the US and Europe, the ability of SADC states to manage regional value chains, and the urgency of global policy action toward renewable and low-carbon energies.

“In 20-30 years, not only will these minerals be in high demand, but how we put systems in place will be important,” stated Dr. Deon Cloete, Head of SAIIA's Futures Program. “We have focused on Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and the need to scale up exploration and extraction and develop the entire value chain. The transition to climate goals by 2050 is challenging and we need to be critical about how these fault lines are emerging. We propose a resource-based economy that challenges the paradigm of how we approach mining.”

The Critical Minerals International Alliance (CMIA) built upon the geopolitical nature of critical minerals development during its presentation, addressing China's race to solidify its leadership on the continent and its successful dual-pronged investment approach. Western nations have sought to counter this influence through various policy measures, including the US' Inflation Reduction Act, the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and the Minerals Security Partnership, which seeks to secure a stable supply of raw materials for member economies. 

“When we talk about critical minerals, we are focused on geopolitics — how they frame supply chains and influence pricing and how monopolies are increasingly changing the industry,” said Olimpia Pilch, Founder and COO of CMIA. “In a supply chain crunch, who gets priority and which industries will miss out? Those who have put in the work to have their own supply chain will be in a much better position.”

On the need to diversify mining supply chains, Roberto Cecutti, Head of Trade and Economics, EU Delegation to South Africa, stated during his presentation: "In terms of annual consumption, we have an aspirational target of covering at least 10% of extraction in Europe, 40% of processing and refinement and 15% of recycling capacity. We want to avoid dependence on the supply of one or more specific countries…This is why we have set this target, in which 65% should not depend on a specific country of origin of supply.”

"Each region has its own definition of what is ‘critical,' and what's critical for Africa may not be what's critical for the EU and vice versa. Africa has different requirements when it comes to minerals,” noted Sodhie Naicker, Managing Director: DMT Kai Batla and Consortium Partner: AfricaMaVal.

Energy research firm Rystad Energy also explored Chinese dominance within the low-carbon supply chain, as the country produces almost 90% of solar panels and is currently ramping up production of wind turbines. While Europe has made gains towards establishing its own clean energy supply chain, Africa remains reliant on imports to meet growing energy demand, despite having vast renewable energy potential and untapped mineral reserves. 

“The resource potential for solar generation in Africa is more than enough to satisfy the needs of the planet – it's enormous,” said Per Magnus Nysveen, Senior Partner & Head of Analysis for Rystad Energy. “You can find sites for mining every mineral in sub-Saharan Africa.”

A presentation from Steenkampskraal – operator of the Steenkampskraal Mine in South Africa's Western Cape – underscored the continent's resource potential and its evolution into a critical and industrial minerals hotspot. The mine is home to one of the highest grades of REEs globally, is licensed to operate and possesses well-developed underground infrastructure with a low-capital, three-stage development plan.

“Not even 20% of the known resources have been mined,” emphasized Graham Soden, Director, CEO & Mine Manager of Steenkampskraal. “It puts the project at a unique level. It's fully legislative compliant, and we can get it up and running within one year.”

The agenda concluded with a presentation by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), which explored opportunities to develop vanadium redox battery (VRB) manufacturing in South Africa and to position the country as a key player in the global battery value chain, with a view to exporting to other African and international markets. Demand for VRBs has skyrocketed in recent years – largely from China, Japan, Europe and the US – resulting in over 30 new VRB projects installed in 11 countries since 2014.  

“Cell battery manufacturing remains to be proven competitive in South Africa. We have the industrial capacity, but we don't have a commercialized production,” said Lesego Moshikaro, Senior Economist for TIPS. “When you look at the short- to medium-term, South Africa cannot be competitive along the whole value chain, so it's important for us to choose key areas where we can excel.”

With its main conference program kicking off on October 18, the Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week 2023 conference (www.AECWeek.com) from October 16-20, offering delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders in Cape Town.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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The Power of the Sun: Embracing Solar Energy for Your Home

Location: MyPR

In an age where sustainable living and reducing our carbon footprint are paramount, harnessing the power of the sun has emerged as a beacon of hope for environmentally-conscious homeowners. Solar energy has rapidly gained popularity as an efficient and clean source of power, allowing homeowners to reduce their reliance on conventional electricity sources and take …

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Solar Power Panels for Home: A Sustainable Energy Solution

Location: MyPR

In a world increasingly conscious of environmental concerns and the need for sustainable living, solar power panels for homes have emerged as a powerful and eco-friendly solution. They offer homeowners an opportunity to harness the abundant energy from the sun, reduce their carbon footprint, and enjoy long-term financial benefits. In this guide, we’ll dive into …

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Serco powers ahead with Solar Energy for Boksburg facility

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Leading South African truck and trailer body building company Serco’s premises in Gauteng are now fully powered by solar energy! The company’s ongoing commitment to green initiatives have seen a state-of-the-art 150kW hybrid solar system introduced with 370 x 405Watt panels, and the latest high voltage inverters coupled with 320kW’s of batteries, installed at the …

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Green hydrogen economy plays prominent role in SA’s honest energy transition

Location: News

Green hydrogen economy plays prominent role in SA’s just energy transition

President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the vital role the green hydrogen economy plays in the country’s development and just energy transition.

 
“The hydrogen economy has a prominent role to play in our country’s just energy transition, providing employment and support to vulnerable workers, communities and small businesses. 

“It has been estimated that the hydrogen economy has the potential to add 3.6% to our GDP by 2050 and approximately 370 000 jobs. We must act with purpose to harness the potential of the green hydrogen economy,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa was delivering remarks at the second iteration of South African Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS) in Century City, Cape Town, on Monday. 

The inaugural SAGHS, held in 2022, reaffirmed South Africa as an investment destination of choice and a world leader in the green energy space. It focused on scaling up regional cooperation around green hydrogen.

This second summit aims to highlight South Africa’s exceptional potential as an early stage, large scale and low cost world-class green hydrogen production hub, and total value chain investment destination.

South Africa’s Investment Strategy, approved by Cabinet earlier this year, lists green hydrogen as one of the big frontier strategic sectors expected to attract foreign and domestic direct investment.

The President emphasised the nation’s goal to position itself as a globally competitive player in this dynamic and growing industry.

The President noted that 64 countries, accounting for 89% of global emissions, have announced net zero targets by 2050. He further said that is anticipated that global green hydrogen demand will increase sevenfold by 2050.

He said that for the world to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, green hydrogen will need to constitute 10% to 20% of the global energy mix. 
 
“South Africa has committed to ambitious emission reduction targets. Our own estimates indicate that green hydrogen has the potential to remove 10% to 15% of our domestic emissions and contribute to our nation’s long-term energy security,” he said. 

Green Hydrogen Alliance
 

The President acknowledged the collaboration efforts being made through the African Green Hydrogen Alliance, which includes Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Ethiopia, Angola and South Africa.
 
The alliance aims to harness Africa’s potential in developing green hydrogen industries. It aims to make joint calls for technical support, funding and market access to international public and private sector partners.
 
“The inaugural summit laid a strong policy foundation. This year’s summit has a dedicated project focus, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the degree to which projects have matured and advanced. This is also an opportunity to demonstrate technological developments and advancements in the green hydrogen space.
 
“Close cooperation between public, private and financial partners will be key to unlocking Africa’s green hydrogen potential. This will enable mass-scale domestic and international demand for green hydrogen, and increase cooperation on green hydrogen production, storage and distribution infrastructure,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President emphasised that if investment is significantly scaled-up, green hydrogen can deliver the equivalent of more than one third of Africa’s current energy consumption, increase the collective GDP, improve clean water supply and empower communities.
 
He said proper planning, regulation and incentive schemes are critical to mobilise private sector investment.
 
“South Africa has deep capital markets, with world-class conditions for generating renewable energy through solar and wind power, which are key drivers of the production of green hydrogen.
 
“Funding green hydrogen projects will require innovative financing structures sourced from multiple stakeholders,” President Ramaphosa said. 

Building the green hydrogen industry
 
In June 2023, South Africa concluded a Heads of Agreement with the intention to launch the SA-H2 Fund. This is an innovative blended finance fund that will facilitate the development of a green hydrogen sector and circular economy in South Africa.
 
SA-H2 aims to secure $1 billion in funding raised directly in South Africa or via indirect channels. The Fund is a partnership of private and public enterprises, locally and globally.
 
Since the last Summit, the President said advances have been made towards building the green hydrogen industry in the country.
 
These include a Joint Declaration of Intent with the German government, focusing on market access, off-take opportunities and value-additive benefits in the production of green steel and green fertiliser.
 
South Africa has also signed a MOU with the Netherlands as an off-taker for green hydrogen derivative products.
 
“It is encouraging to note that a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed at this conference by three multinationals in the green hydrogen mobility space, namely Sasol, Anglo American and BMW.
 
“Sasol will serve as a supplier to Anglo and BMW as part of their focus on commercial and passenger fleet transformation. These are important initiatives within the context of carbon border adjustment mechanisms,” the President said. 
 

He thanked all the partners and sponsors that have made this summit possible. He sent a special mention to Anglo American, BMW, Sasol, the Industrial Development Corporation and GIZ. 
 
“I wish business and government delegations at this summit well as we work to shape Africa’s green hydrogen agenda for the benefit of our economies and societies, now and into the future,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Mon, 10/16/2023 - 13:20

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Choosing the Precise Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for Your Needs

Location: MyPR

In a world dominated by electronic devices and technology, the need for a constant and reliable power source has never been more evident. Power outages, surges, and fluctuations can wreak havoc on your electronic equipment, causing data loss, hardware damage, and disruption to your daily life. To safeguard your critical devices and maintain productivity, investing …

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Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators

Location: Business
Siemens Energy Southern Africa

By Thabo Molekoa, Chairman & Managing Director, Siemens Energy Southern Africa (https://www.Siemens-Energy.com/)

Fostering an environment that promotes a culture of learning, exploration, and technological excellence among the youth, is the key to a more sustainable future.

From 3 – 6 October 2023, the 43rd instalment of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Johannesburg. Each year the Expo finds the top young innovators and scientists across South Africa and Internationally, bringing these students together to compete against, and engage with, like-minded individuals on a platform that promotes innovation and scientific excellence. This year the Expo hosted 330 young scientists from 35 regions across South Africa, alongside 20 international students from 10 countries including Mexico, Namibia, Mozambique, and Turkey.

The Expo plays a pivotal role in promoting and sustaining the youth's interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Innovation (STEMI) subjects. It provides budding scientists with the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their problem-solving skills, innovative capabilities, and creative thinking to solve some of the world's biggest challenges. We saw students demonstrate power generation through an electrolysis system using lead pencils and water; we saw them improve the energy generation capacity of solar panels by using mirrors to direct sunrays throughout the day; as well as to identify how we can generate electricity by using the gas released from biodegradable substances. Platforms such as this also gives corporate organizations and educational institutions the opportunity to support the growth of STEMI subject skillsets and training, by providing the youth with the necessary tools to pursue scientific and engineering careers.  

Siemens Energy was proud to participate as one of the main sponsors of this initiative. We sponsored students from Namibia and Mozambique to travel to South Africa and showcase their inventions. We also sponsored laptops to nine rural and underprivileged schools across the country, with two young scientists each receiving full bursaries to study engineering at a university of their choice.

The Expo was an insightful and inspiring event that demonstrated the impressive capabilities of today's young scientists. It allowed the students to showcase their knowledge and skill, in a fun, exciting, and supportive environment.

As global economies rush to enable a shift in energy systems; we need to encourage innovation, knowledge, and continuous revolution in training and education to facilitate progress. Involving the youth in challenges like these, provides the next generation of energy professionals with opportunities to learn and lead in the energy transition.

Siemens Energy recognizes the role of the youth in tackling this problem, our Just Energy Transition Hackathon, held last year is another example of how Siemens Energy is assisting in exposing the youth to a passion for STEMI subjects and energy in an engaging and rewarding format.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Siemens Energy Southern Africa.

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Revolutionizing Solar Access: Hohm Energy’s Game-Changing R999 Offer Paves the Way for Affordable, Sustainable Living

Location: MyPR

A groundbreaking transformation is underway in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, led by the solar marketplace pioneer Hohm Energy. Today, they have unveiled their commitment to providing the most cost-effective subscriptions for homes across the nation. Through a strategic partnership with Glint, Hohm Energy will offer solar subscription plans starting at an incredibly low monthly …

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Stay Prepared with Backup Lights: Illuminating Your Path During Emergencies

Location: MyPR

In an unpredictable world, preparedness is key, and one aspect often overlooked is emergency lighting. When the power goes out or you find yourself in an unexpected situation, having reliable backup lights can make all the difference. This comprehensive guide will delve into the importance of backup lights, the different types available, and how they …

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Setting the stage for the next phase of the EPWP

Location: News

Setting the stage for the next phase of the EPWP

Government’s flagship job creation programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), is set for a major shake-up in the months ahead. 

The programme will be contributing to building better community infrastructure, empowering participants with training and skills to enter the job market and becoming entrepreneurs as part of their exit strategies.

This was announced by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala at the EPWP Phase 5 Indaba in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The announcement comes as government is reviewing the performance of the Expanded Public Works Programme and preparing for Phase 5, which will see over five million job opportunities being created. 

The programme, currently in Phase 4, has delivered over four million job opportunities.

The EPWP Phase 5 Indaba is taking take stock of the current phase, which comes to an end in March next year.

Phase 4 learnings are being unpacked and new innovative ideas are being thrashed out for Phase 5 to accelerate the creation of job opportunities that have a long lasting impact on the unemployment of South African youth.

Zikalala said the repositioning and rebranding of the EPWP will be focused on delivering services and changing the lives of communities.

Zikalala said it should move beyond quantity to quality, high impact and be sustainable to the beneficiaries.

The programme will be massified to create more job opportunities while attempting to solve the country’s key challenges such as:

- Road maintenance (pothole patching, brick paving and ensuring pothole free road networks).

- Cleaning of neighbourhoods and waste management.

- Energy (retrofitting of government buildings and solar installations).

- Fixing lifts and plumbing.

“EPWP Phase 5 should be more than just combatting unemployment. It is about rewriting the story of our youth from one of despair to one of hope, from stagnation to growth and from dependency to self-reliance.

“Our core focus should gravitate towards not just creating employment opportunities, but crafting pathways of continuous growth, learning and empowerment. Our goal goes beyond employment generation. It is about nurturing a skilled, self-reliant populace that contributes constructively to our nation’s socio-economic fabric,” Zikalala said.

The Minister said one of the many strategies that will be used to escalate the EPWP’s national effort will be to re-open the government workshops.

The revitalisation of the existing workshops will be a cornerstone of empowering and absorbing some of the graduates from the National Youth Service (NYS) from the EPWP. The workshops will be the crucibles of innovation, skills development and practical exposure.

“By integrating NYS graduates into these workshops, we aim to foster a culture of continuous learning and hands-on experience, ensuring our youth are not just employable but are drivers of innovation and change,” the Minister said.

The Minister quoted a number of global public employment programmes whose lessons will be used extensively to craft programmes that will enhance the livelihoods security of people involved in EPWP programmes.

These programmes include India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act that guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Rwanda’s Umuganda cleaning programme was also cited by the Minister. The programme is a public cleaning programme that contributes to income support while keeping public places clean and hygienic.

The EPWP will be escalated to encompass priority projects like road maintenance, energy, waste recycling and cleaning of government buildings as arenas of innovation, skills development and environmental stewardship.

It will have a strong emphasis on training, enterprise development and ensuring a transformational journey for participants. The exit pathways will ensure that the journey of participants leads to future employability, self-employment, and cooperatives or enterprises that can employ more people.

“Our vision of creating exit pathways is centred on ensuring that as participants transition out of the programme, they are not stepping back into the abyss of poverty and uncertainty, but are striding confidently into avenues of self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship and meaningful employment,” Zikalala said.

The Minister said the EPWP programme will be characterised by the Khawuleza Model, where service delivery is accelerated and meaningful interventions are unleashed to ameliorate the living conditions of the vulnerable poor. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 14:41

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