What are the implications of changing from coal?

The so-called “just transition” in energy is going to require creative thinking.

Former cabinet minister Valli Moosa is Deputy Chairperson of South Africa’s Presidential Climate Change Coordinating Commission (PCCCC). President Ramaphosa is the Chairperson but much of the work will fall to the man whose ministerial responsibilities in the early days of South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy included constitutional development and the environment.

The commission wants to create a framework within which sensible policy decisions that promote a just transition can be made. This will go beyond simply looking after workers who lose jobs and will look at the implications of climate change on populated areas.

As the country tries to wean itself off coal, making the transition to cleaner energy in an equitable way will be complicated and creative thinking will be needed. Simply stating that renewable energy will provide jobs is not going to be enough. The debate in Mpumalanga, a province that derives a massive percentage of its economic activity from the mining, transport and burning of coal, has begun.

Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources

Gwede Mantashe worked at a colliery in

Emalahleni (formerly Witbank) when he chaired the local branch of the National Union of Mine

Workers (NUM). He has been resistant to moves to allow private companies to generate more power from renewable sources but President

Ramaphosa declared in 2021 that companies would be allowed to generate up to 100MW without going through restrictive licensing procedures.

Pan African Resources is making a start in Mpumalanga with the building of a 10MW solar photovoltaic plant at its Evander mine. Expected to cost R140-million and come on stream in the second half of 2021, the plant will provide about 30% of the power needed at the company’s tailings retreatment plant.

Two embedded 10MW solar PV facilities are to be constructed by private operators at Sasol’s Secunda and Sasolburg operations as part of the eventual procurement of 600MW of renewable energy by the energy giant.

The idea of eight Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ) was first gazetted by national government in 2018. Others have since been added, with the CSIR noting that renewable energy projects that could be developed in these REDZ have the potential to make significant contributions to mine rehabilitation and to support a just energy transition in the specified areas, including where 12GW of existing coal power stations are planned to be decommissioned by 2030.

Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo, who has served as president of the Minerals Council SA, has long argued that land around mines should be utilised for agriculture.

Potassium nitrate has value and its extraction from acid coal mine water might help to pay for the process of cleaning the water. There is a technique to convert by-products such as this into material used in fertiliser. ■

Credit: Chris Kirchoff/Brand SA

Expanding local value chains and increasing opportunities for skills transfer

Mercia Grimbeek, ENERTRAG South Africa’s Director of Project Development, evaluates the prospects for renewable energy in Mpumalanga.

Mercia Grimbeek

BIOGRAPHY

Mercia has worked in the renewable energy industry since 2010 and recently joined ENERTRAG South Africa as the Director of Project Development. She has extensive experience developing projects from greenfield to constructionready status and has consulted to various Independent Power Producers on socio-economic and economic development projects. Mercia is the chairperson of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and has been a board member since 2018.

What is ENERTRAG’S involvement in Mpumalanga?

ENERTRAG is a developer of wind, solar and hybrid renewable energy projects actively pursuing opportunities in Mpumalanga province.

What are the key challenges and opportunities?

Regulatory hurdles are still one of the key challenges facing renewable energy deployment. A close working synergy between the renewable and mining sectors is crucial to maximising opportunities in Mpumalanga. A more streamlined permitting process would encourage the increase of renewable deployment. Many opportunities are available to develop renewable facilities with the added advantage of already existing grid infrastructure.

Does ENERTRAG have a role in creating a just transition from the fossilfuel economy?

Absolutely. ENERTRAG is fully committed to a just energy transition. Through the development, construction and operation of renewable facilities we remain supportive of all efforts to expand local value chains and increase opportunities for skills transfer and training initiatives, thereby creating meaningful job opportunities.

Please explain renewable energy development zones (REDZs).

REDZs were designed to not only fast-track the deployment of renewable technologies but also to align the location of these technologies to areas where grid infrastructure is available. ENERTRAG has tried to locate as many of its developments in REDZs and is looking forward to further REDZs being gazetted or the expansion of REDZs to include wind technology.

What experience does the company have in working with partners in coal-producing regions?

The company draws off experiences from its offices in Germany where such collaborations are further advanced. Here ENERTRAG takes learnings from initiatives that have been successful and investigates how it can be adapted to local conditions. This synergy extends also to industries that are large carbon emitters.

Please detail the company’s involvement with hydrogen-based power plants.

ENERTRAG has been generating green hydrogen from renewable sources at its Head Office in Dauerthal in Germany since 2011. The company has a deep understanding of the engineering and optimisation of these plants, which can provide solutions such as clean fuel for the transport industry and heating solutions, enabling a move away from fossil-based fuels and enhancing a reduction in carbon emissions. ■

Helping small business become viable and more competitive

Seda Mpumalanga Provincial Manager Mashiba Kgole explains how targeted interventions and specific support programmes help SMMEs grow.

Provincial Manager Mashiba Kgole

Please tell us about the Seda Mpumalanga network. Seda Mpumalanga is one of the nine provincial structures that are responsible for the delivery of Seda programmes, products and services. The provincial network is made up of a Provincial Office and five branches. The Provincial Office has the responsibility to manage, coordinate and support the entire network in the province and the branches are the delivery points where small enterprises can access Seda’s services.

In addition to the branches, Seda is co-locating with partners in those areas where we currently do not have offices. The establishment of co-location points ensures that Seda has a presence in all the municipalities in the province. Currently, the province has 13 sites with various partners in different local municipalities. These points improve service provision in townships and rural areas where we have no offices.

How is Seda improving SMME and co-operative growth in Mpumalanga? Seda supports the development and growth of SMMEs and cooperatives through an assortment of business development services (BDS). These services aim to provide solutions related to various business functions. We provide small businesses with the following services: business-related information, advice, consultancy, training and mentorship support.

Through the Seda Technology Programme, Seda provides technology transfer, business and technology incubation services, as well as incentives for management systems implementation (such as ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001), product testing and certification.

What is Seda’s role in ensuring business competitiveness and viability? Seda is playing a key role in the delivery of business development interventions to support small businesses to improve their competitiveness and viability.

Seda aims to establish a long-term relationship with clients. Prior to embarking on any intervention, a Seda practitioner assesses the needs of the client. Based on the assessment results the client, together with the Seda practitioner, drafts a development plan with specific development interventions. These services are delivered to

BIOGRAPHY

Mashiba Kgole has more than 17 years experience in the SMME development sector. He holds a National Diploma and BTech Degree in Chemical Engineering, certificates in Change Leadership Management, Outcomes Based and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as an international best-practice exposure programme on SMME development from SMEA in Taiwan.

the client either by Seda’s practitioner(s) or through business development service providers.

Some of Seda interventions involve assisting SMMEs with business and financial management training, legal compliance, bookkeeping support, mentorship support, implementation of quality management systems, product development and certification, to name a few.

How is Seda Mpumalanga facilitating business development through ecosystem support? Seda supports a “team” approach to entrepreneurship promotion and development, which involves working with other stakeholders in the business development services ecosystem.

We agree to be part of a team approach and play a specific role to contribute to the improvement of small businesses in the province.

Our role is to develop, support and promote small businesses and co-operatives, ensuring their growth and sustainability in co-ordination and partnership with various other public and private entities to advance more support to small businesses with additional resources from our partners. Development (LED) offices to deliver services to SMMEs at a local and district level.

This will result in more competitive and sustainable businesses that contribute to the economic growth of the district and the country.

How does the Seda District Ecosystem Facilitation (DEF) model fit into the government District Delivery Model with respect to facilitating BDS? The District Delivery Model, approved by the government, seeks to improve the planning and accelerate the implementation of service delivery programmes to communities, including the development of SMMEs through ensuring that all the three spheres of government work together.

Through the DDM, Seda will ensure that development needs and opportunities for SMMEs and co-operatives within each district are taken into account. Seda will work closely with municipalities through the Local Economic Are there any programmes which promote township and rural economies? The Department of Small Business Development (dsbd) together with its agencies, Seda and Sefa, continues implementing Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP). This is a dedicated programme to provide financial and/ or non-financial support to the township and rural enterprises with an emphasis on enterprises owned and managed by designated groups, women, youth and persons with disabilities, in order to increase their capacity to access economic opportunities and enhance their competitiveness. The following are some of the programmes: • Spaza shop support programme • Automotive aftermarket support programme (panel-beaters, motor mechanics, auto spares and auto fitment) • Clothing, leather and textile support programme • Bakeries and confectionaries support programme • Personal care programme (hair and beauty salons, barber shops, massage parlours) • Butcheries support programme • Tshisanyama and cooked food support programme • Fruit and vegetable vendors support programme. Seda Client in the Automotive aftermarket support programme (panel-beaters, motor mechanics, auto spares and auto fitment)

Supporting communities and customers through tough times

The Provincial General Manager for Old Mutual (Retail Mass Market) Limpopo and Mpumalanga, Thabane Thuso Maja, reflects on the impact of Covid-19 in the province.

Thabane Thuso Maja

BIOGRAPHY

Thabane Thuso Maja has extensive experience in financial services, having previously worked at Old Mutual Personal Finance, Capitec, Old Mutual Finance and Metropolitan, where he was a Provincial General Manager. He has extensive industry skills and knowledge in stakeholder relationships and management and channel strategy execution. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated true leadership qualities and has experience in developing and turning businesses around to perform at the highest levels. How many branches do you have in Mpumalanga? We have 18, comprising 16 field branches and two in-house branches.

How can customers stay in touch with Old Mutual in the time of Covid? We can now engage with our customers remotely through MS Teams, Zoom and via mobile. We also have the capability to process our claims through digital platforms, WhatsApp and via USSD.

How has business been affected by Covid-19? Some of our key stakeholders have been significantly affected and have had to retrench many of their employees. This has resulted in a number of cancelled or lapsed policy payments and increased the unemployment rate in the province, which has reduced household incomes. As Old Mutual, we have been supporting the companies we serve with the rollout of financial education workshops, helping companies and customers cope with financial challenges.

What are your main offerings to customers? We offer an integrated financial services basket to meet our customers’ broad needs - including: Life Cover, Illness and Disability Cover, Funeral Cover, retirement annunities, savings and education plans and investments. The Old Mutual Money Account is an affordable transactional product with a linked unit trust. The Old Mutual Rewards programme is also available for free (no membership fees) to anyone, not just Old Mutual customers.

Please describe some of the CSI projects of Old Mutual Mpumalanga. We support our communities through staff community builder projects and initiatives, where our provincial sales staff members are encouraged to participate in projects while contributing to improving and growing small businesses in Mpumalanga.

We have sponsored schools with borehole installations and have invested in improving building structures in early childhood development schools. We continue to support small businesses through various channels. We have collaborated with the Department of Education in running sanitary towel drives, delivered school shoes to schools located in impoverished areas and supported pupils from 28 schools with hygiene packs. We also partnered with the Department of Education to donate water tanks to schools to assist in tackling Covid-19. ■

Thuso Maja

Provincial Manager, Mpumalanga | Email: TMaja@oldmutual.com

In-House Branch Staff: Maditaba Mofokeng and Happy Rakoma

Sbongile Mkhonto

Area Manager, Mpumalanga lowveld area Email: Smhlanga@oldmutual.com

Maxwell Dhlamini

Area Manager, Mpumalanga highveld area Email: Mdhlamini@oldmutual.com

Branch Managers, Mpumalanga lowveld area Branch Managers, Mpumalanga highveld area

Gracious Chavane

Jabulani Msiza

Nomthandazo Lubisi

Nkosinathi Njaphaa

Jennifer Wankya Sokesimbone Methula

Sifiso Sukazi

Mandla Mtshweni

Nurse Thomo

Nelisiwe Mnisi

Mpote Moretsele

Vezinhlanhla Mahlobo

Mpumalanga Province branches

Shop 33, Acornhoek Mall, Acornhoek 1360 Shop 26, Bushbuckridge Twin City Complex, Bushbuckridge 1280 Shop 19, 50A De Jager Street, Ermelo Mall, Ermelo 2351 Shop 306, Lowveld Mall, Hazyview 1242 Shop 1, Erf 15, Lorenco Street, Malelane 1320 Shop 12, 25 Church Street, Pick n Pay Centre, Middelburg 1055 Riverside Office Park, 1 Aqua Street, Block1, 2nd Floor, Nelspruit 1200 Old Mutual Finance, Site 2, Main Road, Nhlazatshe, Elukwatini 1192 Shop 21B, Moloto Road, Kwaggafontein Mall, Nkangala 0458 Shop 12, Mkhondo Mall, Piet Retief 2380 Office E, 1st Floor, Secunda Town Centre, Secunda 2302 19C Kerk Street, Ground Floor, OM Building, Standerton 2430 Office 2, River Crescent, Mandela Drive, Witbank 1035 Provincial Office Riverside Office Park, 1 Aqua Street, Block 1, 2nd Floor, Nelspruit 1200 Mobile: 082 497 2483

Area offices

Mpumalanga lowveld area: Shop 306, Lowveld Mall, Hazyview 1242 Tel: 079 506 2288

Mpumalanga highveld area: Office E, 1st Floor, Secunda Town Centre, Secunda 2302 Tel: 072 577 1062