November 2022/January 2023 Issue of The Green Agenda

Improving indoor air quality for healthier & better living.

Fitted with an incredibly designed PM 1.0 filter that works as an air purifier, the Samsung AR9500 2.0 WindFree™ air conditioner filters out allergens, bacteria, and viruses from the air you breathe, with the electrostatic charger capturing and sterilising ultra-fine dust up to 0.3 microns to ensure the very best in airquality.TheAR95002.0alsomonitorsindoorairqualitywithalasersensor.Oncedone,itautomatically cleans itself with a purifying function. All that great science creates the formula for cleaner air and better living.

EDITORIAL

THANDISWAMBIJANE

MOVINGTOWARDSAGREENECONOMY

Aswepreparefortheholidayseasonamidstgrowinguncertaintyoverthestabilityofthecountry’s powersupply,therehasneverbeenabettertimeforSouthAfricanstoswitchtosustainable solutionsthatusethewidespreadnaturalresourceswearesoluckytohaveinabundance.

InthesetougheconomictimesposttheCOVID-19pandemic,whensomanyindustries,businesses andindividualsareworkinghardtoresetafterthelockdownsandassociatedlosses,thegoodnews isthatrenewableenergyismostlycheaperforusers.

AccordingtotheUnitedNations,italsogeneratesfarloweremissionsthantheburningoffossilfuels, andisresponsibleforcreatingthreetimesmorejobs.Sothat’sadefinitewin-winforSouthAfrica!

Whetherwelooktothesun,thewindortheoceansasalternativesourcesofenergytocoal,South Africa’sclimate,geographicallocationandnaturalresourcesofferanaturaladvantage.Infact,South Africahassomeofthebestsolarandwindresourcesintheworld.

InthisfourtheditionoftheGreenAgenda,wefeaturesomeveryinterestingviewpointsfromSouth Africansatthecuttingedgeofchangingthewaysinwhichweviewourrightsandresponsibilities topoweraccessibility.

DrKarenSurridge,SANEDI’sActingGeneralManagerforEnergyEfficiency,isclearthat“thisisnot aproblemthatwecanjustleavetosomeoneelsetofix”.Shesaysit’stimetoacknowledgethatour resourcesarefinite,andcommittousingenergyinamoreresponsiblemanner,whileactively switchingtosustainableenergy-efficientsolutions.

WealsohighlightgasasthatsolidbridgeweareseekingforSouthAfricanstotransitiontomore sustainableenergysolutions,butinterrogatetheneedforsafetyassurances,andturnthefocusto theneedtomakethebestpossibleuseofourscarcewaterresources.

Happyreadingandwishingyouallagreener,moresustainable2023.

ThandiswaMbijane

THEGREENAGENDATEAM

EDITORIALDIRECTOR ThandiswaMbijane

COMMISSIONEDWRITER DianaCaelers

DESIGNANDLAYOUT RichardSmith

ONLINECOORDINATOR ShejaliKandhai

CONTACTDETAILS ThandiswaMbijane•thandi@thegreenagenda.co.za

WEB www.thegreenagenda.co.za

NEWS

PRODUCTS•HAPPENINGS•EVENTS

DryaddedthatBridCamisexcitedtobeofferinggreen,low-costand stabletransportationsolutionstotheirclientsinGauteng,including theminingandindustrialsectors.Asthefirstofitskind,thistruckis beneficialforoverheadsandtheenvironment.Itstandsasan achievementinbreakingawayfromcarbon-basedfuelsinour automotiveandtransportationindustries.BridCamaimstocontinue pioneeringworkable,eco-friendlytechnologyinSouthAfrica.

AFOCUSONINFINITY

SouthAfricanmotoristsarereceivingawelcomedreprieveinAugust,as TheDepartmentofMineralResourcesandEnergyhaspublishedthe officialfueladjustmentsforthemonth.ComparedtoJuly’sprices,petrol willbedecreasing132centsperlitrewhiledieseldecreases88cents perlitre.Still,theburdenofmassivefuelhikesandtheirunpredictability weighsdownindividualsandbusinesses.Thisisespeciallytrueforthose inindustrieswhotraveltodelivergoodandservices.

AkeyplayeroperatingintransportationforGauteng-basedgoods, BridCamDistributors,believesthatforwardthinkingistheonlywayto unburdenourselvesfromfossilfuels.IncollaborationwithCNG HoldingsandScania,BridCamsolelyfundedandbroughttheveryfirst dedicatedcompressednaturalgas(CNG)truckontoSouthAfrican roads.“We’veachieveda3-yeargoal,”saysWillieDry,BridCamCEO. “ItmeetsEuroVIstandards,whichisoneofthestagesoftheEuropean emissionstandardswhichaimstoincreasetheuseofenvironmentallyfriendlyvehicles.”

TheScania6x4EuroVItruckoperatessolelyoncompressednaturalgas, analternativefuelwhichisreadilyavailableinGauteng,Mpumalanga andKwaZuluNatal.Asadevelopingcountry,wefollowthetreadoffirst worldcountries.Battery-poweredelectricvehiclesareforeseentotake offoncetheelectric-basedloadimproves,thenmeaningfulsalesare expectedtodevelopinthelate2020s.“Naturalgasishereandnow,” statesSustainabilityManager,MarkTempleton,atScaniaSouthAfrica. “Thistruckprovesthatitisaviable,bankablesolution.We’vegotthe infrastructure;availableresourcesanditiscost-efficientcomparedto diesel.”HeaffirmedthatCNGisthebroadestalternativefueloffering rightnowtohelpSAdriveagreenersolutionusingEuroVIengine technology.Itmakeseconomicandgreensense,asitisthecheaperand cleanerchoiceoverfossilfuels.

BridCamisusingthetrucktosupporttheirclient,CNGHoldings,which distributesnaturalgasviatheirvirtualgasnetworkintheGauteng region.“Theventureisconvenientandlogicalsincethetruckcanbe filledatanddistributeCNGfromourLanglaagtefillingstation,” explainsJosuaLeRoux,theCEOofCNGHoldings.“Itnotonlyreduces ourowncarbonfootprintbuttriallingitinoursupplynetworkhas provenCNG’sviabilityforcommercialoperations.”

Johannesburg,SA(November8,2022)–Perhapsthemost dramaticshowcasefortheInfinityrangeofcompositedeckingcan befoundattheimposingAberfoyleLodgeintheeasternhighland teaplantationsofZimbabwe.TheimposingArches@Aberfoylewas designedbyaleadingZimbabweanarchitect,andincorporatesa suspensionbridgedesignthatalsoincludesaviewingdeck,art galleryandweddingvenue.

CompletedinNovember2021,theambitiousspanofthestructure madeInfinityanaturalfortheproject.Infinity,asacomposite bambooandpolymerdeckingmaterial,hasachievedglobal renownintheconstructionindustryforitsstrength,lightweight anddurability.

“Withtheexpansionofourcompanyandproductportfolio,we havebeenfortunatetohavebeeninvolvedwithsomedramatic buildingsandstructuresallaroundtheworld,”saidMarcMinne, Co-founderandCEOofEva-Last.

“ThesheerambitionoftheArches@Aberfoylestructureandits idyllicnaturalsettingperfectlyechoesEva-Last’svaluesof sustainability,innovation,accountabilityandcustomerexcellence.”

Ofcourse,withtheever-expandingglobalreachofEva-Last,there arecountlessprojectsandstructuresthatcouldinspiresimilar associations.Therearesimplytoomanyprojectstomentionwhere

SOUTHAFRICA’SFIRSTDEDICATEDNATURAL GASTRUCKHITSGAUTENGROADS

Infinityhasbeentheproductofchoiceforcorporates,architectsand propertyownersalike.AftermakingitsTVdebutonawell-known AustraliantelevisionshowknownasTheBlock,Infinitysalesin CaribbeanCoralskyrocketed,andforgoodreason.

TheInfinitytechnologyisEva-Last’smostdurablecompositeoption initsever-increasingrangeofbamboo-polymercomposite constructionproducts.Thestreakedcolourpatternsinthecapping giveapleasingappearancethatcloselyresemblesthelookoftimber, andthevariouscolouroptionsavailableinInfinitymimicsdifferent woodgrainstoallowfordiversetimbereffects.

In2017Eva-Lastsawtheneedforanew,lighterandmorecosteffectivedeckboard,andthroughinnovativedesign,developedthe I-Seriesboard.Thisnewboardprofilehasprovedtobeimmensely popularfromtheoutsetforanumberofreasons.

“WebasedtheI-SeriesboardonanI-Beamprofiledesignasit makesitincrediblystrong.Theprofiledesignmeansthatless materialisusedinitsconstruction,soitisbothlighterandmore cost-effectivetoproduce,”saysMarcMinne.

“ThetriangulateddesignoftheI-beam’sundersidepedestalsmeans thatitisextremelystrong,fromaload-bearingperspective,andis abletomaintainspancapabilitydespitecontaininglessmaterials.”

Infinityisavailableinvariousboardprofilestomeetthedemandsof variousglobalmarketsordifferinginstallationrequirements.The mostwidelyusedprofileisthedouble-sidedgroovedboardoption whichissecuredusingEva-Last’sHULKhiddendeckfastenersforthe neatestoffinishes.

TheInfinityrangealsooffersasquare-edgedboard,idealfordeck andstairedges,andcanalsobeusedasanattractive“deck-on-thewall”claddingapplication.ThankstoEva-Last’sall-inclusive approachtoinstallation,HulkFastenerscompositescrewsare producedinmatchingcolourstocomplementtheInfinityrangeand createaseamlesslook.

Fortrims,orscreeningasalternativeapplications,theInfinity double-sidedfasciaboardisavailableasalighterweightmaterial. Withanon-loadbearingdesign,theInfinityfasciaboardmatches

Infinitydeckingprofilesingrainandcolourandisidealforfinishing deckedges.

Infinitycompositetechnologycarriesa25-yearwarrantyacrossallof itsproducts.

Eva-Last,whichhasitsheadquartersinSouthAfrica,hasbeenan amazingsuccessstorysinceitsformationbackin2006.Thecompany hasagenuinecommitmenttoenvironmentalsustainabilityandithas seenagrowingacceptanceofitsnon-timber-basedconstruction productsamidstever-growingconcernoverdeforestation.

Infinitycompositeisproducedfrombamboowhichisareadily availableresource,withafour-year-regrowthcycle,whiletypical timberforestshavea20-yearrenewalcycle;togetherwiththe polymercomponentmadefromrecycledplastics.

Formoreinformationvisitwww.eva-last.com

CLIMATEINVESTMENTFUNDS UNLOCKS$1BILLIONFORCLEAN POWERMOVEINSOUTHAFRICA ANDINDONESIA

ThegoverningboardoftheClimateInvestmentFunds,oneofthe world’slargestmultilateralfundsforclimateactionindeveloping countries,endorsednewinvestmentplanssettoallocate$1billionforajusttransitionfromcoaltocleanpowerinSouthAfrica andIndonesia.

Thedecisionintendstoequipeachcountrywithaccessto$500 millioninconcessional,risk-bearingcapitalfromCIF’sAccelerating CoalTransition(CIFACT)investmentprogramtobuildmomentum towardambitiousclimate,energy,anddevelopmentgoals.The availabilityoffinancewillalsodirectlysupportandcatalyze fundingforcountryplatformssuchasSouthAfrica’sJustEnergy TransitionPartnershipandsimilarinitiativesinIndonesia.

ThegoverningboardoftheClimateInvestmentFunds,oneof theworld’slargestmultilateralfundsforclimateactionindevelopingcountries,endorsednewinvestmentplanssettoallocate$1billionforajusttransitionfromcoaltocleanpower inSouthAfricaandIndonesia.

Thedecisionintendstoequipeachcountrywithaccessto$500 millioninconcessional,risk-bearingcapitalfromCIF’s AcceleratingCoalTransition(CIFACT)investmentprogramto buildmomentumtowardambitiousclimate,energy,and developmentgoals.Theavailabilityoffinancewillalsodirectly supportandcatalyzefundingforcountryplatformssuchas SouthAfrica’sJustEnergyTransitionPartnershipandsimilar initiativesinIndonesia.

ThenewinvestmentplanpavesthewayforSouthAfricato retireseveralcoal-firedpowerplants,replacingtheirgeneration capacitywithcleanpowerandenergystoragesystems.Workers andlocalcommunitiesaffectedbythetransition,including womenandothervulnerablegroups,willbenefitfrom resourcestoaccessnewemploymentopportunitiesand influencedecision-making.

TheCIFACT-supporteddecommissioningcouldprevent approximately71milliontonsofCO2inpotentialGHGemissions, equivalenttotakingnearly14milliongasoline-poweredcarsoff theroadforayear.

CIFfinancewillalsoenhancegovernanceandbuildcapacityof provinces,municipalities,andlocalcommunitiestomanagejust coaltransitions.Inparallel,thenewcapitalwillpromote investmentincommunityinfrastructure,newrevenuestreamsfor small,medium-sized,andmicroclimate-smartbusinesses,andjob creationthroughthescaling-upofenergyefficiencyand distributedgenerationprograms.

87%ofSouthAfrica’sinstalledgenerationcapacitycomesfrom agingcoal-firedpowerplants,responsiblefornearlyhalfofthe country’scarbondioxideemissionsandfrequentoutages.

Lastyear,SouthAfricaannouncedanambitiousclimateplanwhich emphasizedthedecarbonizationofitselectricitysector.

Meanwhile,inIndonesia—theworld’slargestcoalexporter—CIF willpartnerwiththestateutilityPerusahaanListrikNegara(PLN)and theprivatesectortoaccelerateretirementofupto2gigawattsof coal-firedpowerby5-10years.Theinvestmentplanwillalsopilot solutionsforrepurposingdecommissionedcoalassetsusingsolar farms,batterystorage,andotherclimate-smartalternatives.

Indonesia’sinvestmentplan,whichCIF’sTrustFundCommittee endorsedinprinciple,willsupportjusttransitionactivitiesupand downthevaluechain,supportingcapacitybuilding,retraining, upskilling,andothereconomicregenerationprogramsforpeople andcommunitiesaffectedbythetransition.

CoalisanabundantnaturalresourceinIndonesia,underpinning mostdomesticelectricitygenerationandmanylivelihoods.Even morechallenging,Indonesia’scoalfleetisrelativelyyoungwith potentiallydecadesofeconomiclifeandharmfulemissionsahead ofthem.Indonesiarecentlycommittedtoreachingnet-zeroby 2060.Bothinvestmentplanswillfeatureagrant-making mechanismthatpromoteswomen’sclimateleadershipand supportstheirinvolvementindesigningandimplementingcoalto-cleantransitionstrategies.

CIFACTisthefirstmultilateralefforttoadvanceanequitable, inclusiveshiftawayfromcoalpowerindevelopingcountries. LaunchedatCOP26inGlasgowlastyear,CIFACTaddressesthree criticaldimensionsofthecoaltransition:governance,peopleand communities,andinfrastructure.SouthAfrica,India,Indonesia,and thePhilippines,representingover15%ofcoal-relatedemissions globally,wereselectedasthefirstbeneficiariesoftheinitiative.

In2021,G7leaderscommittedupto$2billiontocapitalizeCIFACT andrelatedCIFenergytransitioninitiatives.Infulfillmentofthis pledge,theUnitedStatesrecentlyannouncedacontributionofnearly $1billiontoCIFACT.

CIFACTinvestmentsareexpectedtomobilizebillionsofdollarsin additionalfinancefrompartnersincludingmultilateraldevelopment banks(MDBs)andtheprivatesector,reducegreenhousegas emissions,improveairquality,andensureapeople-centrictransition. TheybuildonCIF’snearly15-yeartrackrecordde-risking,piloting, andscalingtransformationalclimatesolutionsinmorethan70 developingcountries.

MDBshaveacriticalroleinhelpingcountriesmeettheirclimate ambitions.Asinstitutionstheyhaverelevantexpertise,experience, networks,andsafeguardstohelpdevelopingcountriesspark lastingstructuralchange.TheWorldBankisthelead implementingpartnerforCIFACTinSouthAfrica,workingin partnershipwiththeAfricanDevelopmentBankandInternational FinanceCorporation(IFC).TheCIFACTcontributionispartofa $2.6billionpackagebeingmobilizedfrompublicandprivate sourcesbytheSouthAfricagovernment.

MICROSOFTSAANDNEDBANKCOLLABORATETODRIVE PAN-AFRICANSUSTAINABILITY

MicrosoftSouthAfricaandNedbankhavejoinedforcestobuilda financial-sector-ledsustainabilitycapabilityforAfrica.

Focus

ThepartnershipisexpectedtofocusondrivingmultipleprogrammestoamplifytheUnitedNations’(UN)17globalSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)withtechnologicaladvancements andtoparticipateinthegrowinggreenmarketecosystemmore easilyandresponsibly.

Withmarket-leadingadvancementsfromMicrosoftliketheCloudfor-Sustainability,NedbankwillleveragethegreaterdigitalcapabilitythatMicrosofthascreatedtoexpediteenvironmental,social andgovernance(ESG)impactacrossthecontinent,ingeographies whereithasoperationsandclients.

UNSDG’s

Withmorethan13differentchannelsofexecution,thisisoneof themostcomprehensiveapproachesfortargetingtheUNSDGs, enablingorganisationsofalltypes,sizesandsectorstomeetthe newsustainabilityimperatives.

FredSwanepoel,NedbankGroupChiefInformationOfficer,said thebankisleveragingongoinginvestmentsintechnologytorevolutionisetraditionalsustainabilitymanagement.

“Wearemindfulofhowoursolutionscanshapethefutureand areguidedbyourpurposeofusingourfinancialexpertisetodo good.”

TheAfricancontinentisdisproportionatelyaffectedbythreats causedbyclimatechange.Droughts,floodsandincreasingwater scarcitywillhavenegativeeffectsonfoodsystemsandpeople’s livelihoods.

SamerAbu-Ltaif,CorporateVicePresidentandPresidentofMicrosoftMiddleEastandAfrica,said“Thecompanyrecognisesits responsibilityandopportunitytoensurethetechnologywecreate benefitseveryoneontheplanet,aswellastheplanetitself.

“OurpartnershipwithNedbankcomesinlinewithourcommitmenttoaccelerateprogresstowardamoresustainablefutureby helpingourcustomersandpartnersbuildsustainablesolutions anddriverealimpactacrosstheirindustries.”

Globalinitiatives

BothentitieshavebeenactiveparticipantsinmultipleglobalinitiativesthataimtocreateandcontributetoamoresustainablefuturefortheplanetincludingNedbank’scommitmenttotheUnited NationsGlobalCompactandthe10principlesthatunderpinit amongothers.

'Wearemindfulofhowoursolutionscanshapethefuture.'

ABBTOSHOWCASEITSLATESTCHARGINGSOLUTIONSATSMARTER MOBILITYAFRICASUMMIT

Transportationaccountsfornearly24%ofallglobalCO2 emissions.Morethan75%ofthatisroadtransportation,includingcars,trucks,andmotorbikes.Passengercarsaloneaccountfor60%ofglobalroadtransportationemissions.Emobility,pairedwithrenewableenergygeneration,cansignificantlylowerglobalCO2emissions,helpingusachieve emissiontargets,reducepollutionandnoise,andimprove ourhealthandcomfort.

ABBleadsthefuturetozeroemission mobilitywithsmart,reliableandemission-freeelectricvehiclechargingsolutions.Thetechnologyleaderwilldisplay itsworld-leadingACandDCcharging portfolioattheSmarterMobilityAfrica Summitfrom5to7OctoberattheCISR inTshwane,ahighlightofTransport Month.TheTerra5450kWunitwillalso beunderthespotlight,whichhasserved ABBwellforthelastfewyearswithits modulardesign.

TheTerra124willbeshowcased,the mostversatile,powerfulandcompact all-in-onehighpowerchargingstation thatallowschargingnetworkoperators toquicklyrollouttheirchargingstation rollout.Designedaroundtheneedsof today’sEVrequirements,itisfullyfield upgradableto180kWtomeetthe needsoftomorrowfaster.Compactand scalable,itrepresentshigh-powercharginginnovationfromABBthatbrings morechargingpowertourbanlocations.Visitorswillgettoexperience ABB’sACandDCwallboxesonits stand.

TheTerra360chargingsolutionwillbe showcasedvirtuallyatthesummitviaa videopresentationtogivevisitorsinsightintothelatesttechnologyfrom ABB.“OurlatestTerra360istheworld’smostpowerfuland compactall-in-onehighpowerchargingsolution.Notonly doesitallowchargingnetworkoperatorstodeployfastchargingstations,itacceleratesthetransitiontofuturee-mobility,”saysProductMarketingDirectorEttienneDelport.

Lookingtothefuture,theTerra360canchargeupto360kW andcanchargefourvehiclessimultaneouslyat90kWeach. Itfeaturesabrand-newdesignmakingthechargermoreer-

gonomicandmodern.Withitseye-catchingdesignandintuitive userinterface,theTerra360offerstheenduseranexceptional chargingexperience.What’smore,itsupportsthemajorcharging standards,namelyCCS-1,CCS-2,CHAdeMO,andACType-2.

Acompactfootprintenablesquick,efficientinstallationofboth theTerra124and360inanyparkingconfiguration.Itenables easyfrontalparkingandcharging,makingitidealforcitiesand shoppingmalls.Itisaperfectfitfor curb-sidecharging.Terra124and 360fromABBcanservetwoparallel drive-throughlanessimultaneously, witheachsideequippedwithdifferentchargingstandardoutlets.

Asbatterytechnologyadvances,majortruckandheavy-dutyvehiclemanufacturersarealreadyreleasingtheir line-upsoflow-noise,low-carbon producingelectricvehicles.However, thesehigh-powervehiclesneedhighpowerinfrastructure,withastrongfocusonsafety.ABBoffersfuture-proof integratedchargerandgridconnectionsolutionsthatreduceinstallation costswhilemeetingthehighest safetystandards.

ABBislayingthefoundationsforafutureofsmarter,reliable,andemission-freemobility,accessibleby everyone,everywhere.ABBoffersa totalEVchargingsolutionfromcompact,high-qualityACwallboxesand reliableDCfastchargingstations withrobustconnectivitytoinnovative on-demandelectricbuschargingsystems.Wedeployinfrastructurethat meettheneedsofthenextgenerationofsmartermobility.

ABBAbility™connectedchargersenablefastglobalserviceand pro-activemaintenance.ABBhasyearsofexperienceincreating, installing,andmaintainingcharginginfrastructure,includingseveralnationwidechargernetworks.

ABBleadsthefuturetozeroemissionmobilitywithsmart,reliable andemission-freeelectricvehiclechargingsolutions.

Formoreinformation,visithttps://e-mobility.abb.com/

Industry-leadingHVAC systemsforHazendal wineestate

Stellenbosch,intheWesternCape,isoneofSouth Africa’soldesttownsrenownedforfinewine,food,art, vibrantculture,naturalbeautyandCapeDutch architecture.Winetakescentrestageinthispicturesque townwhereyouwillfindtheHazendalwineestate, datingbackto1699.Thisestatewasredevelopedand relaunchedin2018whilepreservingitsdeepheritage andalsocreatingaremarkabledestinationforguests fromallovertheworld.

Throughoutthedevelopment,agreatfocuswasplaced oncreatingbeautifullydesigned,comfortable,and functionalspacesthatwillenhancetheguest experience.Withafocusonuniqueandpremiumguest experiences,spacedesignandsustainability,Hazendal neededcost-effectiveandenergy-efficientair conditioningsystemsthatwillintegratewellintotheir spaces.Thus,SparqConsultingwhowasappointedas themechanicalengineersforthisproject,approached FourwaysGroup.FourwaysGroupisthenational distributorofallSamsungairconditionersandanexpert inthefieldofheating,ventilation,andairconditioning (HVAC).Fourwayscollaboratedwithoneoftheirtop dealers,AirwiseAirconditioning&Ventilationtoprovide theleadingairconditionerbrand,Samsung,aswellas aninstallationofthehigheststandard.

Awell-roundedInstallation

Theestate’smainrestaurantBabushkadeliisoperating throughoutallseasonsandissituatedinaheritage building.Hazendalrequiredasolutionthatwillallowfor acomfortabletemperatureinwinterandsummeranda systemthatwillintegratewellintothespacewithits exposedbeamsandeclecticinterior.Thus,thisurban bistroisfittedwith5oftheSamsung360Cassetteson a70kWcondenser.

The360Cassetteisatrail-blazingairconditionerthatis widelyspecifiedbyengineers,architects,andinstallers notonlyforitselegancebutalsoforitsefficiency.Ithas anomnidirectionalandbladelessoutletthatexpelscool orwarmairacross360degrees.Itsboosterfan

technologyallowsthisunittodisperseairatmuchlowerangles,soit spreadsfartheralongtheceilinganddescendsgently.Iteffectively maintainsthetemperature,withadeviationofjust0.6℃,throughout theentireroom.Whileindulginginfreshcuisine,guestscanenjoy draft-freeairconditioningwithlownoiseanddisturbance.Samsung’s 360Cassetteistrulyaperfectblendofdesignandevencoolingor heating,makingitidealforBabushka.

Stylishandpowerful

Theestatealsofeaturesacarshowroom,displayingaprivatecollection ofrarevintagecars,whichrequiredanairconditioningsolutionthat seamlesslyintegratedintothisluxuriousspacewhilemeetingthe performancerequirements.TheSamsung4-WayCassetteswere specifiedandinstalledintheshowroomastheycomplementthe interiorandalsodeliverpowerfulcoolingandheatingperformance.

Atotalof10(14kW)SamsungWindFree™4-WayCassettes connectedtoaDVMSheatpumpoutdoorcondenserwere immaculatelyinstalledbyAirwise.Withdesignflexibility,comfort,and outstandingperformance,theSamsungDVMSairconditioningsystem wastherightsolution.Theshowroomdesignisbefittingforthe SamsungWindFree™Cassettesduetotheiruniquecapabilitiesto deliverlongairflowinhighceilingapplications.Theclienthaspeaceof mindknowingthattheyhavesmartcontrolled,eco-friendlyHVAC systemsaswellastechnicalback-up-allthankstoFourways,Airwise andSparqConsulting

Maintainingtheintegrityofanyhistoricbuildingisnotalwayseasy. Judgingfromtheresults,thesolutionallowedtheclient,Hazendalto enhancetheirguests'experiencethroughtemperature-controlled spaces,withoutcompromisingontheirinteriordesign.

Bladeless design, all-round comfort.

The Circular Airflow feature of the Samsung 360 Cassette air conditioner ensures that air reaches every corner of a room evenly. Its circular outlet blows cool air in every direction. The bladeless design keeps the interiors comfortably cool without creating a cold draft and, without blades blocking the airflow, it expels 25 % more air even further.

The 360 Cassette has been designed to be intuitive and enabled to deliver optimal functionality and indoor comfort. With its sleek and modern design, and the added option of black, white or custom panel colour choices, the 360 Cassette is intended to harmoniously blend into the interior design of any space.

SMART WIFI CONTROL*

EASY INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

ENERGY EFFICIENT

Samsung’s digital inverter technology optimises power usage when cooling, which reduces energy consumption, while providing a perfect indoor climate. Exclusively distributed by Fourways Group- accredited distributors of all Samsung air conditioners. Contact us to discover the entire line-up and how you can incorporate the 360 Cassette into any Samsung air conditioning system.

360º

Booster Fan

Conventional 360 Cassette

360° HEATING/COOLING

THOUGHTLEADERSHIP

SCALINGUPSOLARIN SOUTHAFRICA

ThecaseforrenewableenergydevelopmentinSouthAfricaisundeniable–specifically,the climateoffersobvioussolarpowerpotential.Lookingattheentirecontinent,accordingto theInternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),Africahas60%oftheworld’sstrongestsolar resources,butonly1%ofsolargenerationcapacity,highlightingaclearuntappedopportunityfortheregion.Ontheothersideofthecoin,itisclearthatSouthAfrica’stransitionfrom fossilfuelsmustbeaccelerated.Currently,80%ofthecountry’selectricityiscoal-generated, andcorrespondingly,SouthAfricaistheworld’s13thlargestGHGemitter.

SouthAfricahasannouncedthedecommissioningofitsageingcoalpowerplantsinthree progressivestages:5.4GWby2022,10.5GWby2030and35GWby2050,further demonstratingitsgrowingpoliticalambitionfortheenergytransition.Toreplacecoalenergy generation,andaspartofeffortstoreachanet-zeroeconomyby2050,SouthAfricancan feasiblytapintoitsstrongrenewablepotential.

Keystepsforward

Alongsideincreasinggenerationcapacity,facilitatingprivatesectorinvolvementingridstrengtheningandextensionprojects isacrucialstepinSouthAfrica’senergyevolution–with twinbenefits.Forcitizensandbusinesses,themove wouldhelptackleloadshedding.Withoutincreased investmentinexpandinggenerationcapacity,and thecorrespondingrequirementsofnationalgrids, powersupplywillcontinuetobeunreliable. Unreliablepowersupplyishavingadetrimental impactonbusinessesandthewiderSouthAfrican economy,withcitizenshavingtoplantheirlives aroundloadshedding.Astrongergrid,designedto hostincreasingamountsofdistributedandflexible powergenerationcapacity,willbecrucialtosupport therolloutofSouthAfricanrenewables.

ofGlobalAffairsat SolarPowerEurope

Gridimprovements, supportforPPAsand auctionwinners, ensuringthegreen workforce,and evolutionofEskomwill allbecrucialtosupport

SouthAfrica’s renewabletransition

MátéHeisz,Director

Withastrongergrid,theenergylandscapecanbuildonthisyear’simportantdevelopmentsforSouthAfrica’scommercialandindustrial(C&I)solar sector.Recentlegislativechangesexemptsmall-scaleprojectsunder100 MWlikerooftopsolaronwarehousesorfactories,orembeddedgenerationprojectsinminingactivity,fromapplyingforgenerationlicenses.Draft legislationcurrentlytabledinparliamentwillremovethe100MWlicensingthresholdandpavethewayforgreaterprivatesectorinvolvementin afuturecompetitivepowermarket.Consequently,therearenowmany opportunitiesforcorporatepowerpurchasingagreements(PPAs)with largefirmsheadquarteredinSouthAfrica.

UntilMay2021,themainroutetotheenergymarketforIndependent PowerProducerswasthroughSouthAfrica’ssinglebuyerEskomandRenewableEnergyIPPProcurementProgramme(REI4P).Wecanseethisis nowchangingthroughtheemergenceofPPAs,whichhelptoreduce bottlenecksandtheadministrativeburdenonEskom,aswellasboostingeconomicdevelopmentbyloweringprices.Companieshavealready startedtotakeadvantageoftheopportunitiesthatnewlegislative changeshavecreated.Inwhatcouldprovetobeamajorbreakthrough intheSouthAfricanPPAmarket,two100MWsolarpowerplants achievedfinancialcloseinSeptember2022.Theywillservefivesites ownedbytheUS-basedtitaniumproductssupplier,Tronox.Encouragingly,thesolarprojectsare100%SouthAfricanowned,financed, constructed,operated,andmanaged.

Morerecently,inearlyOctober,Frenchcompany,Voltalia,signedaPPA withRichardsBayMinerals,asubsidiaryoftheRioTintominingcompany,thatwillincludethedevelopmentofa148MWsolarpowerplant. Voltaliaareworkingtoensurethattheprojecthasapositiveenvironmentalandsocialimpact,planningtoemploy700peoplelocallyfor constructionandcreating50full-timerolesoncetheplantiscompleted. InaboosttothewiderSouthAfricanrenewablesvaluechain,Voltalia havealsosaidthattheyplantosourcegoodsandserviceslocally.These threeinitialsuccesses,reflectingcommitmenttolocalownership,financing,andvaluechaindevelopment,andthecurrentdraftlegislation, showsthatthefutureisbrightfortheSouthAfricanPPAmarket.Thiswill helpsupportSouthAfrica’sdecarbonisationandaccelerateenergygenerationcapacitygrowth.

Thegovernmentcanalsoleanonitsexistinginitiatives,suchasprioritising supportingREI4Pauctionwinnerstoclosefinancingfaster,andhelp Broad-basedBlackEconomicEmpowermentbyincreasingparticipationof BlackSouthAfricansintheenergysector.Oneofthecoreobjectivesofthe REI4Pprogrammeisdevelopinganinclusiveandfairdomesticindustry. This,inturn,isalreadyboostingREI4PbidswithSouthAfricanowned EPCsandO&Ms.

Intermsofrollingoutrenewablesontheground,SouthAfricacouldintroducenationaltrainingschemestoscale-upthenecessaryskilledworkforce,whichpresentsakeyopportunitytoincreasetherepresentationof BlackSouthAfricanworkers.TheEU-SouthAfricaJustEnergyTransition Partnershipprovidesanidealplatformforco-operation,reducingbarriers toinvestment,andforupskillingnewworkforces.SouthAfrica’sindustry association,theSouthAfricanPhotovoltaicIndustryAssociation(SAPVIA),

alongsidekeystakeholdersingovernmentandtheprivatesectorcould playacriticalroleinthedevelopmentofastrong,inclusivedomesticindustry.whichcanplayaconstructiveroleinamoreinclusiveapproachto renewableenergydevelopment,aswellasbroadereconomicgrowth. Eskom’sevolutionwillbecriticalinrealisingSouthAfrica’ssolarpotential. Currently,withthesignificantfinancialchallengesthatEskomfaces,governmentguaranteesforrenewableprojectsareoneofthemainwaysto ensuretheirbankability–thoughthishasbeenchanging,withthemarket tappingintonewmechanisms.Takingitfurther,completingEskom’sunbundlingwouldhelpsupportitsstatusasareliableoff-taker,evenina scenariowithoutagovernmentguaranteeforREI4Pprojects.Eskom shouldstarttradingontheSouthernAfricanPowerPoolmoreactivelyas awayofavoidingthecurtailmentofrenewableplants,andimprovingtheir balancesheet.

SupportandPartnership

SouthAfricanactors,industrybodiessuchasSAPVIAthroughitsmembershipbase,arebestplacedtoadvanceSouthAfrica’ssolarandrenewable transition.Aspartnersintheglobalenergytransition,SolarPowerEurope standsreadyexchangeinformationandexperience,andsupporttheSouth Africansolarjourney.In2021wewerepleasedtocollaboratewith SAPVIAtodelivertailoredO&MBestPracticeGuidelinesforSouthAfrica. InMarch2022,wealsolaunchedourEPCBestPracticeGuidelines:subSaharanAfricaEditionwiththesupportofGET.Invest.Bothreportsarefree todownload,andwehopeactasusefultoolstosupportthepracticalrolloutofhigh-qualitysolarinSouthAfrica.

Tocomplementourwrittenpublications,ourGET.invest-supportedpodcastseries‘SolarSuccessinAfrica’,showcasesarangeofinspiringand innovativesolarprojectsfromacrossAfrica,highlightingthebenefitsof solar’saccelerateddeploymentintheregion.InSeptemberwewerealso pleasedtoco-organisealandmarkmomentinthecontinent’srenewable transition–thefirstannualAfricaRenewablesInvestmentSummit,heldin CapeTown.

Whatnext?

Gridimprovements,supportforPPAsandauctionwinners,ensuringthe greenworkforce,andevolutionofEskomwillallbecrucialtosupport SouthAfrica’srenewabletransition.Crucially,aStellenboschUniversity studyestimatesthatSouthAfricawillneed$250billionoverthenext30 yearstotransitiontogreenenergysourcesandclosedownitscoal-fired powerplants.Thepotentialandpathforwardisclear–nowwemust movetogethertocatalysegame-changinginvestmentanddeliverthe SouthAfricanrenewabletransition.

writteninconsultationwiththeSouthAfrican PhotovoltaicIndustryAssociation(SAPVIA)

AFrameworkforaJustTransitioninSouthAfrica

SouthAfricaisinapartoftheworldthatisseverelyimpactedby climatevariability.Thecountryfrequentlyexperiencesdroughts,floods, andotherextremeweatherevents,withevidencethatthefrequency andintensityofsucheventsareincreasingbecauseofclimatechange (IPCC2022).

Theseeventshavealreadycausedenormousdamagetoinfrastructure, ecosystems,lives,andlivelihoods,anddisplacedthousandsofpeople, andcontinuetobeastarkreminderthatitispoorercommunities–womenandyoungpeople,theunemployed,thoselivingininformal settlements–thataremostvulnerabletoclimatechange.

Climatechangealsoplacessignificantstressonfoodsecurityand SouthAfrica’salready-constrainedwaterresources,creatingknock-on impactsinothersectors(DFFE2019;NPC2020).

ClimatechangeexacerbatesSouthAfrica’striplechallengesof poverty,unemployment,andinequality.SouthAfricaisoneofthe mostunequalcountriesintheworld;thedividebetweentherichand thepoorislargerthanever;currently,theunemploymentrate,atover 35percent,isatrecordlevels(StatsSA2022).Thehealthimpactsfrom theburningoffossilfuels(amajordriverofclimatechange)also impactspoorercommunities,furtherhighlightingtheseinequities (Gray2019;Madonselaetal.2022).

ThePCC’scommunityengagementsintheearlypartof2022 identifiedthehardshipsthatmanySouthAfricansareexperiencing. Workers,jobseekers,andcommunitymembershavespoken passionatelyandarticulatelyabouttheunfairnessoftheircurrent situations,theinequalitiestheyexperience,andtheirvisionsfora moreequalandmoreinclusivesociety(PCC2022).

Atthesametimethecapacityofthestatetorespondtothese challengeshasneverbeenweaker,andcommunitieshaveexpressed theviewthatthestateisfailingthem.

ItisinSouthAfrica’snationalintereststojointheworldincombating climatechange,inaccordancewithnationalcircumstancesand developmentpriorities.Thisisnotonlyanenvironmentalimperative, butaneconomiconetoo,ascountriesaroundtheworldstart toshifttowardlow-emissionspolicies,affectingglobaltradeaswell asdemandforgoodsandresources.

Addressingclimatechangemeansstrengtheningadaptation measurestoimprovetheresiliencetoimmediateevents(e.g.,extreme weather,disasters)aswellaslong-termclimaticshiftsthatimpact watersecurity,foodsecurity,andhumanhealth(DFFE2019),witha particularfocusonvulnerablegroups,particularlyruralcommunities, thepoor,women,theyouth,andchildren.

Addressingclimatechangealsonecessitatessharpreductionsin greenhousegasemissions–theharmfulpollutantsthatdriveclimate change.ThescaleofthechallengealsodemandsaneffectiveState, significantgovernmentcapacity,andtrustamongallstakeholders, whichhasbeensignificantlyerodedinrecentyearsbecauseoftheloss ofaccountabilityandprofessionalethoslinkedtostatecapture(The Presidency2022).

Tacklingclimatechangewillrequireurgent,significant,and transformationalchangesacrossallsectorsoftheSouthAfricaneconomy.

Itwillrequireinnovationsinurbanandinfrastructureplanning;a massiveshifttocleanenergysources;andchangestohowweuseour land,water,andobtainourfood(IPCC2022).

Thechangeswillbedifficultforsome,particularlytheworkersand communitieswhoselivesandlivelihoodsaretiedtofossilfuel industries,aswellasthewomen,theyouth,andthepoor,whoare alreadydisproportionatelybearingthebruntofSouthAfrica’s hardshipsandtriplechallenges.

Managingthetransitionwillrequirestrategiesthatbothdealwiththe unavoidableburdensarisingfromthetransition,aswellasstrategies thatseizetheopportunitiesofferedbythegreeneconomy,withwide sharingofbenefits.

Peoplemustbeatthecentreoftheclimatechangeresponse(ILO 2015;DFFE2022).Indeed,theaimisajusttransition:seizingthe opportunitiesandmanagingtherisksassociatedwithclimatechange, withanoverarchinggoalofimprovingthelivesandlivelihoodsofALL SouthAfricans,particularlythosemostimpacted.

Thescopeofajusttransitioniswide,bothinthefocusonpeople,and onthetimescalesofactionanddelivery.

Improving water and sanitation infrastructure through SADC Water Fund

Southern Africa’s water supply is unequally distributed, with 70% of water resources shared between different countries. Transboundary water management is crucial for regional development. WASA speaks to the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) about its strategic partnership model to strengthen the implementation of various water and sanitation programmes within the SADC region.

What is the SADC Water Fund?

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Fund for Water Infrastructure and Basic Sanitation (SADC Water Fund) is the financing facility for the development and integration of the water and sanitation sector in the Southern African region. The SADC Water Fund finances infrastructure projects to improve the supply of drinking water and water for agricultural use for the poor.

SADC member countries established the SADC Water Fund mainly as a regional development financing facility, with the mandate

of strengthening the coordinating function of SADC by funding projects to improve regional water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as facilitate information and knowledge sharing.

What is the DBSA’s role within the SADC Water Fund?

The DBSA, together with the SADC secretariat and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Development Bank, entered into a financing and project management agreement in December 2012. The DBSA is the mandated lead arranger that is responsible for managing its regional fund for water.

As the project executing authority, the DBSA’s Infrastructure Delivery Division is responsible for the overall programme management and implementation of the Fund. This allows the Fund to leverage the bank’s institutional capacities and promote synergies with the DBSA’s other activities, such as receiving co-funding from the bank’s other product offerings.

Objective:

To achieve development, peace & security, economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of peoples of SADC, support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration

What are some of the key objectives of the Fund?

Receipts & expenditures

SADC relating to of SADC region.

RDF shall be main instrument for development and of SADC region

Water-Energy-Food

The Fund’s development objectives are to:

X Border WASH

• promote and support strategic transboundary and pro-poor water supply and sanitation infrastructure development in the SADC region

Improve water and sanitation transboundar y infrastructure along major trade corridors in the region key to promote regional integration and address rapid urbanization due to increased cross-border trade and traffic volumes

• promote climate resilience in the water supply and sanitation sector in the SADC region

• facilitate the application of integrated water resources management principles for infrastructure development.

How does the dedicated Fund Management Unit work?

The Fund identifies bankable projects and provides support through the entire value chain. The SADC Water Fund supports the following activities:

• identification and selection of bankable water and sanitation project proposals (quality feasibility studies must be available)

facilities. However, these urban statistics generally exclude the urban poor living in informal settlements. That’s why there’s such a huge need for water and sanitation infrastructure in urban and rural areas in SADC. Infrastructure needs to be developed, rehabilitated, expanded and climateproofed to be resilient to floods and droughts. The recent Covid-19 pandemic is a strong reminder of the importance of access to WASH facilities, especially for the poor, to ensure community resilience to adverse events such as outbreaks or the effects of climate change.

• provision of support to the applicants in finalising project documentation

• contract and procurement management under the Fund

Addressing such a huge need also presents a challenge and opportunity for innovation in infrastructure technological approaches, financing and implementation models.

• raising of additional funding from other development partners

• facilitation of cross-border coordination and agreements during project preparation and implementation

The Fund’s sustainability and growth strategy is anchored on:

• a diversified portfolio of projects within the water and sanitation sector

• post-implementation monitoring and evaluation.

• diversified and innovative funding instruments

• diversified international and local development partners.

Why is a Fund like this essential, especially for the SADC region?

More than a third of people in the SADC region do not have access to safe drinking water and over half of the region’s population do not have access to improved sanitation

To achieve this, the Fund has developed a programmatic approach with three programmes that have a nexus approach. These are backed by an immediate financing pipeline of about €120 million (R2.1 billion).

FIGURE 1 How the SADC Water Fund works

SADC Development Fund SADC- Southern African Development Community

As the project executing authority, the DBSA’s Infrastructure Delivery Division is responsible for the overall programme management and implementation of the Fund. This allows the Fund to leverage the bank’s institutional capacities and promote synergies with the DBSA’s other activities, such as receiving co-funding from the bank’s other product offerings.

SADC- Southern African Development Community

Objective: To achieve development, peace & security, economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of peoples of SADC, support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration

What are some of the key objectives of the Fund?

The Fund’s development objectives are to:

SADC Regional Development Fund RDF

Receipts & expenditures of SADC relating to development of SADC region.

RDF shall be main SADC instrument for socio-economic development and integration of SADC region

Improve water and sanitation

promote and support strategic transboundary and pro-poor water supply and sanitation infrastructure development in the SADC region promote climate resilience in the water supply and sanitation sector in the SADC region facilitate the application of integrated water resources management principles for infrastructure development.

transboundar y infrastructure along major trade corridors in the region key to promote regional integration and address rapid urbanization due to increased cross-border trade and traffic volumes

facilities. However, these urban statistics generally exclude the urban poor living in informal settlements.

How does the dedicated Fund Management Unit work?

The Fund identifies bankable projects and provides support through the entire value chain. The SADC Water Fund supports the following activities: identification and selection of bankable water and sanitation project proposals (quality feasibility studies must be available) provision of support to the applicants in finalising project documentation contract and procurement management under the Fund raising of additional funding from other development partners facilitation of cross-border coordination and agreements during project preparation and implementation post-implementation monitoring and evaluation.

That’s why there’s such a huge need for water and sanitation infrastructure in urban and rural areas in SADC. Infrastructure needs to be developed, rehabilitated, expanded and climateproofed to be resilient to floods and droughts. The recent Covid-19 pandemic is a strong reminder of the importance of access to WASH facilities, especially for the poor, to ensure community resilience to adverse events such as outbreaks or the effects of climate change.

Addressing such a huge need also presents a challenge and opportunity for innovation in infrastructure technological approaches, financing and implementation models.

The Fund’s sustainability and growth strategy is anchored on:

• a diversified portfolio of projects within the water and sanitation sector

• diversified and innovative funding instruments

Why is a Fund like this essential, especially for the SADC region? More than a third of people in the SADC region do not have access to safe drinking water and over half of the region’s population do not have access to improved sanitation

• diversified international and local development partners.

To achieve this, the Fund has developed a programmatic approach with three programmes that have a nexus approach. These are backed by an immediate financing pipeline of about €120 million (R2.1 billion).

SADC Regional Water Infrastructure and Basic Sanitation Fund

Key financing facility for development & integration of water sector in SADC region. SADC Water Fund’s long-term vision is to become a special “water sector window” of RDF.

Water Fund hosted in DBSA

Regional Water Innovation for Resilience

Investment in pilot projects (locally relevant innovative technology, financing and governance models) for resilient water sector in major cities in transboundar y catchments

What projects are currently being financed under the Fund?

As part of its programmatic approach, the Fund has the several ongoing activities:

• Cross-border infrastructure for water supply: By 2042, approximately 76 000 people living below the poverty line and without access to water will benefit from the Kazungula Water and Sanitation Project in Zambia, as well as the Lomahasha and Namaacha water supply projects in Mozambique and Eswatini.

• Innovation for climate resilience: The Ramotswa (in Botswana) Transboundary Aquifer – where in situ groundwater remediation typifies a conjunctive approach for improved water resource use and management – will boost water security for about 30 000 people in communities in Ramotswa. Through implementing innovative remediation and sanitation technology that combines in situ groundwater remediation with improved sanitation, thereby protecting this water resource, groundwater can be used as potable water after minimal treatment.

• Regional transboundary water information systems: The Climate Resilience Information Systems Project (part of the overall Regional Water Investment Programme) will support sustainable investments

Objectives:

•Strategic pro-poor WASH infrastructure development

• Climate resilience in WASH sector

•Application of IWRM to infrastructure development

Transboundar y

Suppor t to transboundar y hydrological and metrological data collection &, development of information for sustainable infrastructure, risk preparedness and climate adaptation.

for reliable climate information and early warning systems. This will encourage investments that promote water resilience.

Any final thoughts?

Achieving sustainable financing for investments in water supply, sanitation and for the development, protection and restoration of national and transboundary water resources is the core focus of the SADC Water Fund. Current institutional arrangements are often inadequate, and the financing of water investments is often unsustainable. Also worth noting is low public capacity to finance required investments in the development and management of water resources, including protection and restoration. Lack of investment in water infrastructure has led to significant, economic, social and environmental losses. For the SADC region to see improvement in the performance in the water sector, facilities such as the SADC Water Fund are important. www.dbsa.org

Water-Energy-Food NEXUS

Water Information System

X Border WASH

FIGURE 2 SADC Water Fund framework

CIRCULARECONOMY|FIBRECIRCLE

Makeabigdifferencetotheenvironmentbymaking Smallchangestoyourcompany’srecyclingculture

Inthequestforagreenerplanet,wasteseparationandpaperrecycling aretheeasiestwaysforcompaniestolessentheirwastefootprint.

Althoughmanycompaniesmightarguethattheyarepaperless,paper productsarestillpartofeverydaylife:cardboardboxesthatprotectnew computerequipment,groceryandtake-awaypaperbags;foodand beveragepackaging,andeventheinconspicuoustoiletrollcore.

Bymakingsmallchangestotheirrecyclingpractices,businessescan makeabigdifferencetothecirculareconomybyreducingthereusable paperfibregoingtolandfillandsustainingjobs.

Whilemanybusinessesmayhavewastemanagementandrecycling practicesinplace,thereisoftenalotofcontaminationthattakesplace betweenthetimethepapergoesintothebinanditbeingseparatedfor recycling–ifitevengetsthatfar.

Sixthingsthatanybusinesscandotokeeppaper

intherecyclingloopandoutoflandfill

1.MAKERECYCLINGEASYANDEFFICIENT

Nobodylikestowalktoofartothrowsomethingaway.Numeroussocial experimentshaveshownthatplacingrecyclingbinsnearwherepeople workandmoveincreasesrecyclingrates.AnAustralianstudyshowed thatpaperrecyclingrosefrom28%withonebinperoffice,to94%when papertrayswerelocatedondesks.

•Eachdeskneedsapaper-onlybinorbox,butmakesurethat employeesknowitisonlyforcleananddrypaperand paperpackaging.

•Installwell-marked,paper-onlybinsinkeylocations:printing/copying stations,meetingandbreakrooms,kitchenareasandreception.

2.SEPARATEANDEDUCATE

Paperneedstostaycleananddrytobeviableforrecycling,and separation-at-sourceisthefirststepinthegreaterrecyclingprocess.Wet waste–food,coffeegrounds,teabags,cigarettebuttsandsoiledtakeawaycontainers–contaminatesthepaperandcansetoffthenatural degradationprocess.

•Foreverypaper-onlybin,thereshouldbeabinforotherrecyclables andawetwastebinalongsideit.

•Educateemployeesaroundwhatisrecyclableandwhatisnot,and whythereareseparatebins.

•Empowercleaningteamswiththecorrectrecyclingknowledgeso thatrecyclablesarenotmixedwithwetwasteattheendofthe workingday.

•Visitors,suppliers,andcustomersshouldknowthatyourbusiness recyclessotheycansupport–andnotderail–yourefforts.

•DownloadFibreCircle’shandyprintableposterstodisplayinkey areas.[LINK]

3.KNOWYOURRECYCLABLES

Thesepaperproductsarerecyclable:

•Browncardboardboxesandpackaging

•Moldedfibreprotectivepackaging

•Copyandprintingpaper

•Notebooks(minuswirebindingandnon-recyclablecovers)

•Paperpackagingfromcereal,tea,sugar,andotherdrygoods

•Papercoffeeandsoftdrinkcupsandbowls

•Moldedfibretake-awaycupholders

•Magazinesandnewspapers

•Milkandjuicecartons

•Papergrocerybagsandtake-awayfoodbags

•Pizzaboxesandburgerclamshells–nofoodresidue!

•Tubingfromkitchentowelrollsandtoiletrolls

Whilethelistofrecyclablepaperproductsisvast,therearealsoseveral paper-baseditemsthatshouldnotberecycledastheycancause problemsinapaperrecyclingmill:

•Tissuesandtoiletpaper

•Papertowelandpapernapkins

•Dirtypaperplates

•Cigarettebutts

•Laminatedpaper

•Carboncopypaper

4.APPOINTARECYCLINGCHAMPION

Yourrecyclingchampionneedstodriveandmonitortheprogramme,and makechangeswhenthingsarenotworking.

Ifyoudon’thaveawastemanagementcompany,partnerwitharecycling collectionagent–abigcompany,asmallerbusiness,oraninformal collector.Youcouldalsosupportalocalschoolorcharity’srecycling fundraisinginitiative.

Itisimportantthatyourrecyclablesgettowheretheyneedtobe–back intotherecyclingloop.

5.RECYCLEMORETHANPAPER

Wheretherearepeople,therewillalwaysbewastebutthereisalways abetterwayofmanagingit.

•Plastic,cansandglassesaswellasinkcartridgesande-waste shouldalsobeseparatedforrecycling.

•Consideracompostingsolutionforfoodwastesuchasaworm farm,bokashibinsorevenindustrialcompostingunits.

•Plasticbottletopscanbecollectedforinitiativesthatfund wheelchairsforunderprivilegedindividuals.

6.BEWAREOFTHEGREENWASH

Thepaperlessmovementisoftenalittlemisguidedinthatitisbelieved thatelectroniccommunicationisgreenerthanpaper-based communication. Whileonlineenvironmentsandcloud-basedsystemsarequintessential intoday’smodernbusiness,theystillconsumeenergyandhaveacarbon footprint.

Emailsignaturesaskingrecipientstoconsidertheenvironmentbynot printingisanotherformofgreenwash.

Paperisarenewableproduct,madefromsustainablyfarmedtreesor recycledpaper.Onlyasmallpercentageoftreesareharvestedeachyear, andnewtreesareplantedtoreplacethem.Thismeanstherearealways treesatdifferentstagesoftheirgrowthcycle,andasustainablesupply foryearstocome.

Treesalsostorecarbon,whichstayslockedupinpaperandwoodproducts. Recyclingensurethatthecarbonremainsintactinthepaperproductfor longer;incardboardthiscanbeasmuchas25timesaccordingtoastudy conductedbyGrazUniversityofTechnologyinAustria.

FIBRECIRCLEISTHEPRODUCERRESPONSIBILITYORGANISATIONFOR THESOUTHAFRICANPAPERANDPAPERPACKAGINGSECTOR. www.fibrecircle.co.za

PawelCzerwinski

Nationalgovernmentprogrammecelebrates 20-yearsofIndustrialEfficiency

InSeptember,theNationalCleanerProductionCentreSouthAfrica (NCPC-SA)officiallycelebrated20yearsofoperations.Twodecadesof assistingindustrytodomorewithless,bymovingtoaresourceefficient andsustainablebusinessmodel.

TheNCPC-SAwassetupatthe2002WorldSummitonSustainable Development(WSSD)inpartnershipwiththeUnitedNationsIndustrial DevelopmentOrganization(UNIDO).Itwasestablishedwithinthe CouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearch(CSIR),whichstillmanages theCentretoday.

TheWSSDbroughttogethertensofthousandsofparticipants,including headsofstateandinternationalandnationalrepresentativesof business,non-governmentalorganizations(NGOs),religious organizationsandcivilsocietytofocustheworld'sattentionanddirect actiontowardpromotingsustainabledevelopmentglobally.

TheNCPC-SAdrivesthetransformationofindustryto agreeneconomythroughthepursuitofexcellence, empoweringpeople,generatingimpact,and welcomingcollaboration.

OneoftheoutcomesoftheWSSDdiscussionswastheestablishmentofthe NCPC-SA,originallytopromotecleanerproductionprocessesinlocalindustry.

Theinternationalnetworkofcleanerproductioncentreswasledjointly byUNIDOandtheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP). Togethertheysoughttoadvancesustainableindustrialdevelopment andsustainableconsumptionandproduction(SCP)indevelopingand transitioningcountries.

TheNCPCSouthAfricabecameaflagshipcentre;aprogrammethat wouldproactivelyengageindustrytoimproveefficiencies,enhance sustainability,anddrivecompetitiveness.Throughtheapplicationof resourceefficientandcleanerproduction(RECP)methodologyin industry,theCentrehassupportedalmost2000companiestodo businessinamoreefficientandsustainablemanner.RECPcontributes tosignificantresourcesavingswithsurprisinglylittleinvestment–and oftenquickwinscanpavethewaytoevengreatersavings.

TheNCPC-SAmarkedits20yearswithtwosignificantindustryevents. InMay,the5thbiennialIndustrialEfficiencyConferenceshared methodologies,casestudiesandopportunitiesforindustry improvement.On2September,almostexactly20yearssincetheendof WSSD2002,theNCPC-SAhostedacolloquiumofpresentationsby sustainabledevelopmentexperts,examiningthechangingfaceof sustainabilityinthepasttwodecades.

Boththesesessionswererecorded,andvideoscanbeviewedanytime viatheNCPC-SAwebsite,www.ncpc.co.za,undertheResourcesand Toolssection.

Continuednationalrelevance

Followingtheinitial3-yearpilotphasewithUNIDO,theNCPC-SAwas continuedasanationalindustrysupportprogrammefundedbythe DetermentofTradeandIndustry,nowthedtic.

GerhardFourie,ChiefDirector:GreenIndustriesatthedticexplained thatthedepartment’sroleasthecorefunderofNCPC-SA,istoprovide strategicdirectiontoensurethattheNCPC-SAisalignedtothe country’sindustrialpolicyandenvironmentalobjectives.Oneofthe

focusareasoftheNCPC-SA,hesaid,hasalwaysbeentocontributeto theimprovementofcompanies’bottomlinesandproductivityby improvingtheirresourceandenergyefficiency.

“IwanttocongratulatetheNCPC-SAonitssuccessesduringthesetwo decadesandthankitformakingourjobsomewhateasiertogetfunding tosupporttheinitiativegoingforward.ThesuccessoftheNCPC-SAhas encourageddonorfundingfromothergovernments,includingtheBritish, theSwiss,theGerman,andmorerecentlytheGovernmentofFlanders,” Fouriesaid.

ThesuccessofRECPimplementationinindustry bytheNCPC-SAinnumbers

Thisnationalindustrialsupportprogrammehasassistedindustrial companiestosave6500GWhofenergy,whichtranslatesintoR5.3 billioninfinancialsavings.

Throughtheseenergysavings,aswellasover500000tonnesofwaste diversionbyindustrialsymbiosis,8.1milliontonsofgreenhousegas emissionshavebeenmitigated.

Inaddition,theprogrammeresultedin6400professionals,320experts and200localtrainerstrained;aswellassevenoccupational qualificationsregisteredwiththeNationalQualificationFramework;and 13originaltrainingcoursesdeveloped.

Freeindustrytoolsandresources

TheNCPC-SAaimstofurthersupportSouthAfricanindustryand businessesthroughtheRECPjourneybyprovidingtoolsonthewebsite (tutorialvideos,downloadablebooklets,andposters),technicaladvice, assessments,andimplementationofRECPincompanies.

Formoreontheseprojects,casestudiesandtoolsvisit:www.ncpc.co.za.

TheNCPC-SAisaprogrammeoftheDepartmentofTradeIndustry andCompetitionandishostedbytheCouncilforScientificand IndustrialResearch.

ThesuccessoftheimplementationofRECP inindustrybytheNCPC-SAinnumbers

Thisnationalindustrialsupportprogrammehasmanagedtosave 6500GWhofenergy,whichtranslatesintoR5.3billioninsavingsfor industryand6.4milliontonsofgreenhousegasemissionsmitigated throughtheIndustrialEnergyEfficiencyProject.

Inaddition,theprogrammeresultedin6330professionals,314experts and199localtrainerstrained;sevenoccupationalqualifications registeredwiththeNationalQualificationFramework;and13original trainingcoursesdeveloped.

DBSASADC WaterFund

Withmorethanonemillionpeoplein theSADCregionstillwithoutaccess tosafedrinkingwater,andevenmore livingwithinadequatesanitation facilities,theSADCWaterFundis pivotalineffortstofinanceprojects thatwilleffectchangewhereitis mostneeded.

“Thedevelopmentofstrategic transboundaryandpro-poorwater supplyandsanitationinfrastructureis oneofourcoremandates,alongwith thepromotionofclimate-resilient solutionsthatsupportthesocially disadvantaged,throughregionalintegration,”saysMamarinyana Ratsaka,whoheadsInfrastructureProgrammeManagementinthe InfrastructureDeliveryDivisionoftheDevelopmentBankofSouthAfrica.

TheFundwasinitiatedin2012,withafinancingandproject agreementbetweentheSADC,theGermaninvestmentand developmentbankKfW,andtheDevelopmentBankofSouthAfrica. Twoyearslater,afurtheragreementmandatedtheDevelopment BankofSouthAfricatokickstartthefirstphaseofthefund.

“Ourcurrentfocusisontwoongoingprojects,oneinthe ZambianbordertownofKazungula,andacross-borderproject inthetownsofLomahashainSwazilandandNamaachain Mozambique,bothofwhichwilldelivermorereliableand potablewatertotensofthousandsofpeoplelivingbelowthe povertyline,”Ratsakasays.

Q&A

WhatistheSADCWaterFund’sprimarymandate?

“Ineffect,theFundisaregionalwaterfinancingfacilitytasked withthreethings:improvingregionalwaterandsanitation infrastructure,mobilisingandleveragingpartnerfunding towardsthesector,andcoordinatingsuchfinancing.Practically, theroleoftheFundistoidentifyandinvestinpriorityprojects, primarilyinlow-incomecommunities,andtocoordinateand supporttheirimplementation.Inlinewiththewater-related SustainableDevelopmentGoals,theseneedtohavethe capacitytodeliversustainablewaterandsanitationsolutions, formaximumregionalimpact.”

TellusmoreabouttheZambianandMozambiqueprojects, andhowthesespeaktothetransfrontierfocusofthe Fund’sactivities:

MamarinyanaRatsaka, HeadInfrastructure ProgrammeManagement intheInfrastructure DeliveryDivisionofthe DevelopmentBankof SouthAfrica.

“TheEuro6-millionKazungulaWaterSupplyProject,for example,isparticularlyinterestinggivenitsgeographic locationatthenewKazungulaBridgeacrosstheZambezi River,connectingBotswanaandZambia,whichhas superchargedakeytransportcorridor.Withexisting waterandsanitationinfrastructurealreadyinadequate forthe town,whichalsobordersNamibiaand Zimbabwe,thisnewprojectwilladdresstheneedsof bothlocalsandthoseintransitwellintothefuture.

“TheEuro12-millionLomahasha-Namaachacross-border watersupplyproject,meanwhile,willprovidewater servicestothesemountaintopbordertownsinSwaziland andMozambique,thelocationofwhichmakesprovision bothdifficultandexpensive.Inrealterms,theaimisto supplysafedrinkingwaterandsanitationto100000 people,andtoirrigate1000hectaresofland.Notonly willthisboosthealthandeconomicactivity,butalso createemploymentopportunitiesthatwillultimately reducefoodinsecurityandpoverty.”

Canyousharesomeofthefundamentallessons learntsofar?

“Ithinkthefirstisthatimplementationofregional projectsdemandsthecommitmentofnational governmentsandcountrycontributions,intheformof staff,financesandtaxexemptions.Governmentbuy-in andasenseoflocalownershipisacriticalelementfor

long-termsustainabilityandsuccess.Secondly,wehave determinedthatfinancingthroughafundstructure, whichallowsforcollaborationandharmonisationof standardsandbenefitsacrosstheregion,isfarsuperior toapiecemealproject-financingapproach.

“Finally,andprobablyoneofourbiggestlessonsasan executingauthorityoftransfrontierprojects,istheneedto besensitivetothedynamicsofindividualmemberstates.”

Howisthewater-energy-foodnexusembodiedinyour programmaticapproach?

“Therearethreespecificelements:Firstly,improving waterandsanitationtransboundaryinfrastructurealong majortradecorridorsiskeytopromotingregional integration,andaddressingrapidurbanisationdueto increasedcross-bordertradeandtrafficvolumes.The secondisinvestmentinpilotprojectsfeaturinglocally relevantinnovativetechnology,financingand governancemodels.Thiscontributestoaresilientwater sectorinmajorcitiesintransboundarycatchments.

“Thirdly,thecreationoftransboundarywater informationsystemswillsupportrelevanthydrological andmetrologicaldatacollection.Thisiscriticalto informthecreationofsustainableinfrastructurethatis risk-prepared,andcanadapttothevagariesofclimate change.”

SMARTCITIES

Smartcitieswillrevolutionizethewaywelive.

Nowadays,50%ofthetotalhumanpopulationlivesincities.Studiespredictthat 35yearsfromnow,thatpercentagewillriseupto75%.Thatmeansweneedtofind ahometo3billionpeopleinjust35years.

And,ifwewantfuturecitiestobesmartcities,noteverybuildingisgoodenough. Weneedourskylinetobemadeupofbuildingsthatare,amongstotherthings:

•Sustainable:Thebuildingswhereweworkandlivecreatealmost50%ofCO2 emissionsontheplanet.Smartbuildingsaredesignedwithsustainabilityin mind.Thismeansthingssuchaslow-energyhouses,naturalmaterials(like cork,clayorrecycledpaper,)renewableenergyuse,orwastereduction.

•Secure:We’retalkingaboutbuildingswithintegratedfirepreventionsystemsor intrusionandaccesscontrol.Obviously,it’salsoessentialtoprotectthe building’ssystemsfromhackers.

•Cost-efficient:Therearemanywaysinwhichasmartbuildinghelpsitsinhabit antssavemoney.Itdetectsoccupancypatternsandadaptshowmuchenergyit consumes.Coolingandventilationsareregulatedautomatically.Sensorsare abletodetectpotentialmaintenanceproblemsandstopthembeforethey happen.Andsomuchmore.

SustainabilityiskeyinthedevelopmentofanySmartCity,anditiscloselyrelated tosomeotherchallengeswe’vealreadytalkedaboutthroughoutthearticle.We havementionedtrafficorsustainablebuildings.But,hey,there’salotmore:

•Wastemanagement:SmartCitiesneedtofacedifferentproblemsrelatedto wastemanagement,suchasoverfilledtrashbins,unoptimizedtruckroutesor theneedtoseparatemixedmaterialsforrecycling.Well-appliedtechnologycan definitelyhelpsolvethesekindsofissues.Forexample,sensorsattachedto trashbinscanmeasurefilllevel,sendanautomaticalertifitreachesacertain limitandautomaticallyoptimizecollectiontrucks’route.

•Energy:“Thecityofthefuturewilldefinitelybeenergy-efficient.Itmighteven produceenergyinsteadofconsumingit.”Thosearen’tourwords.They’re DaniyarTanatov’s,PartnerAccountManageratSpaceti."Itwouldbegreatif futurecitieswereself-sustainable,meaningthattheyshouldproducethe energytheyconsume.Themainchallengeforthisisconvincingcompaniesand governmentstoinvestmoreinthisarea."Howdocitiesproducemoreenergy thantheyconsume?Turbinesorsolarpanelsonrooftopsareapossibility.Or evensolarwalls-buildingswithsolarpanelsincorporatedintotheirfacade.

•Workinghours:Unexpected,maybe?Currentworkinghourslevelsvastly exceedwhatwecouldconsidersustainable,concludedresearchconductedby thinktankAutonomy.Fewerworkinghourswouldmeanlesscommuting,fewer productsmanufacturedandlessresourcesused.TechnologiessuchasArtificial Intelligencecouldhelpovercomeachallengethat,nowadays,seemsunsolvable.

Photo:FelixFuchs

An

Building owners in a race against time to clock in on Energy Performance Certificates

An Energy Performance Certificate is not new, the Regulation on the mandatory display and submission of the Energy Performance Certificate for buildings is derived from the National Energy Act 34 of 2008. The EPC Regulation was published on 8 December 2020 in the government gazette Notice 700 of 2020 and signed into effect by Mr SG Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of South Africa as a Regulation of the National Energy Act ,1998 (Act no. 34 of 2008). This Regulation obliges accounting officers of organs of states and owners of buildings whose buildings fall within the required occupancy classifications, A1 (Entertainment and Assembly), A2 (Theatrical and Indoor Sport), A3 (Places of Instruction) and G1 (Offices) to comply on or before 7 December 2022, or risk facing penalties of a fine of up to R5 million and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years.

energy efficient building is generally a better environment in which to work and is significantly less expensive to run, so an owner can potentially justify a higher price if they want to sell or impose a higher rental for office space

AnEPC ratesa buildingfrom gradeA – G,indicatinghow efficient abuildingisbeingused bytheoccupants.AD-ratingisa benchmarkwhichisinlinewith theNational BuildingRegulations, indicatingthebestpracticefor buildingsbenchmarkingthe buildingagainsttheaverage figurescontainedintheSANS 10400-XA:2021Standards.The EPC Regulationdoes notpenalise AccountingOfficers orbuilding ownersforanyrating,however, theprimaryobjective inenforcing compliancetotheEPC Regulations istomakeAccountingOfficers orbuildingownersaware oftheir buildingʼsenergyconsumption, this willencouragethemtomaketheir buildingsenergyefficient. Todate over300 EPCs havebeenissued, thisisafractionoftheestimated 250,000 – 350,000 buildings thatneedstocomplywiththe Regulation.

TheSouth AfricanNationalEnergy DevelopmentInstitute (SANEDI) ismandatedbytheRegulationto maintaintheNationalBuilding EnergyPerformanceRegisterin supportoftheDepartmentof Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) thiswillhelpwithrecord keepingofallrelevant building particulars.

AccordingtotheRegulation, anEPC mustbedisplayedat theentrance ofabuildinganda certifiedcopyoftheEPC mustbe submittedbytheaccountingofficer or abuildingownertoSANEDI within 3monthsfromthedate ofissue.Theemailaddressfor submissionsisEPCsubmission@ sanedi.org.za

Inaddition,theEPC Regulation wasalsopromulgatedtoactively implementthetargetsinthepost2015 NationalEnergyEfficiency Strategy (NEES) whichstatesthat buildingsneedtoreducetheir energy consumptionby 16% by 2030.Buildingsalonecontribute about30%to 40%of the worlds carbonemissionstherefore, it isimperativethatgovernment promotesenergyefficiency and climatechangeconsciousness throughtheimprovementof buildingsʼenergyperformance, hence,energyefficiency interventions likeEPCs that supportpolicyformulation. Lastly,accountingofficers andbuildingowners needto complywith thisRegulationby7 December2022whichisonly11 weeksfrom now!

Reaching net-zero emissionsgloballyby 2050isacriticalandformidablegoal

Theenergysectoristhesourceofaroundthree-quartersofgreenhousegasemissionstodayandholdsthekeytoavertingtheworst effectsofclimatechange,perhapsthegreatestchallengehumankindhasfaced.Reducingglobalcarbondioxide(CO2)emissionsto netzeroby2050isconsistentwitheffortstolimitthelong-term increaseinaverageglobaltemperaturesto1.5 C.Thiscallsfor nothinglessthanacompletetransformationofhowweproduce, transportandconsumeenergy.Thegrowingpoliticalconsensuson reachingnetzeroiscauseforconsiderableoptimismabouttheprogresstheworldcanmake,butthechangesrequiredtoreachnetzeroemissionsgloballyby2050arepoorlyunderstood.Ahuge amountofworkisneededtoturntoday’simpressiveambitionsinto reality,especiallygiventherangeofdifferentsituationsamong countriesandtheirdifferingcapacitiestomakethenecessary changes.ThisspecialIEAreportsetsoutapathwayforachieving thisgoal,resultinginacleanandresilientenergysystemthat wouldbringmajorbenefitsforhumanprosperityandwell-being.

Theglobalpathwaytonet-zeroemissionsby2050detailedinthis reportrequiresallgovernmentstosignificantlystrengthenandthen successfullyimplementtheirenergyandclimatepolicies.Commitmentsmadetodatefallfarshortofwhatisrequiredbythatpathway.Thenumberofcountriesthathavepledgedtoachievenetzeroemissionshasgrownrapidlyoverthelastyearandnowcovers around70%ofglobalemissionsofCO2.Thisisahugestepforward.However,mostpledgesarenotyetunderpinnedbynear-term policiesandmeasures.Moreover,evenifsuccessfullyfulfilled,the pledgestodatewouldstillleavearound22billiontonnesofCO2 emissionsworldwidein2050.Thecontinuationofthattrendwould beconsistentwithatemperaturerisein2100ofaround2.1°C. Globalemissionsfellin2020becauseoftheCovid-19crisisbutare alreadyreboundingstronglyaseconomiesrecover.Furtherdelayin actingtoreversethattrendwillputnetzeroby2050outofreach.

InthisSummaryforPolicyMakers,weoutlinetheessentialconditionsfortheglobalenergysectortoreachnet-zeroCO2emissions by2050.Thepathwaydescribedindepthinthisreportachieves thisobjectivewithnooffsetsfromoutsidetheenergysector,and withlowrelianceonnegativeemissionstechnologies.Itisdesigned tomaximisetechnicalfeasibility,cost-effectivenessandsocialacceptancewhileensuringcontinuedeconomicgrowthandsecure energysupplies.Wehighlightthepriorityactionsthatareneeded todaytoensuretheopportunityofnetzeroby2050–narrowbut

stillachievable–isnotlost.Thereportprovidesaglobalview,but countriesdonotstartinthesameplaceorfinishatthesametime: advancedeconomieshavetoreachnetzerobeforeemergingmarketsanddevelopingeconomies,andassistothersingettingthere. Wealsorecognisethattheroutemappedouthereisapath,not necessarilythepath,andsoweexaminesomekeyuncertainties, notablyconcerningtherolesplayedbybioenergy,carboncapture andbehaviouralchanges.Gettingtonetzerowillinvolvecountless decisionsbypeopleacrosstheworld,butourprimaryaimistoinformthedecisionsmadebypolicymakers,whohavethegreatest scopetomovetheworldclosertoitsclimategoals.

Netzeroby2050hingesonanunprecedented cleantechnologypushto2030

Thepathtonet-zeroemissionsisnarrow:stayingonitrequiresimmediateandmassivedeploymentofallavailablecleanandefficient energytechnologies.Inthenet-zeroemissionspathwaypresented inthisreport,theworldeconomyin2030issome40%largerthan todaybutuses7%lessenergy.Amajorworldwidepushtoincrease energyefficiencyisanessentialpartoftheseefforts,resultinginthe annualrateofenergyintensityimprovementsaveraging4%to 2030–aboutthree-timestheaveragerateachievedoverthelast twodecades.Emissionsreductionsfromtheenergysectorarenot limitedtoCO2:inourpathway,methaneemissionsfromfossilfuel supplyfallby75%overthenexttenyearsasaresultofaglobal, concertedefforttodeployallavailableabatementmeasuresand technologies.

Ever-cheaperrenewableenergytechnologiesgiveelectricitythe edgeintheracetozero.Ourpathwaycallsforscalingupsolarand windrapidlythisdecade,reachingannualadditionsof630 gigawatts(GW)ofsolarphotovoltaics(PV)and390GWofwindby 2030,four-timestherecordlevelssetin2020.ForsolarPV,thisis equivalenttoinstallingtheworld’scurrentlargestsolarpark roughlyeveryday.Hydropowerandnuclear,thetwolargestsources oflow-carbonelectricitytoday,provideanessentialfoundationfor transitions.Astheelectricitysectorbecomescleaner,electrification emergesasacrucialeconomy-widetoolforreducingemissions. Electricvehicles(EVs)gofromaround5%ofglobalcarsalesto morethan60%by2030.

Source:InternationalEnergyAgency

SANEDI’SENERGYDEVELOPMENTAGENDA ISAKEYPARTOFOURCOUNTRY’SENERGYJOURNEY

Withtheimportanceofenergy efficiencyacceleratedintheface ofongoingloadshedding,the SouthAfricanNationalEnergy DevelopmentInstitute(SANEDI) hasacriticalroletoplayinthe developmentoffutureenergy systems,andintransforming energyusageatindustrialand householdlevel.

“Thisisnotaproblemthatwecan justleavetosomeoneelseto fix.Wehavetocollectively acknowledgethatourresources arefinite,andcommittousing energyinamoreresponsiblemanner,whileactivelyswitchingto sustainableenergy-efficientsolutions,”saysDrKarenSurridge, SANEDI’sActingGeneralManagerforEnergyEfficiency.

Establishedin2011undertheNationalEnergyActof2008, SANEDI’senergydevelopmentagendaisakeypartofthenationalenergyjourney,focusingoninitiativesthatforegroundtechnologyadvancementsandinnovationsthatreducecosts,anddemandonthegrid.

“Wearefocusedonintegratingtechnologyandchangingbehaviour throughreal-lifedatamodellingthatillustratesthebroadbenefitsof sustainableenergy-efficientsolutions,anddemonstratewhythisis anareathatweallneedtobetakingmoreseriously,”Surridgesays.

Q&A

1.Tellusabouttheworld’savailableenergysources,and whyrenewableenergyissuchapriority?

“Therearethreesourcesofenergy–fossilfuels,renewablesand nuclear.Andwhilethemovetorenewablesisdesirablefroma ‘green’perspective,themoreimportantdriveristhefactthatifwe don’tpursuealternatives,wearegoingtorunoutoffossilfuels. Themorewerelyonthem,thefasterwewillusethemup,sowe reallyneedtobepayingmoreattentiontoalternativeslikesolar andwind,bothofwhichweareveryluckytohaveinabundance inSouthAfrica.Inaddition,solarandwindenergyisalsomore cost-effectiveinthelongerterm,whichshouldboost itsappeal.”

2.Behaviourchangeisverydifficult.Howeasyisit reallyforindividualsandcompaniestobecomemore resourceefficient?

“Firstly,peopleneedtounderstandthatwhentheyconserve electricity,they’resavingthemselvesmoney.Therearesomany thingsthateachofuscandotomakeadifference.Ifeveryper‐son,inaresidentialorcommercialbuilding,justswitchedoffthe lightsandgeyserswhenthey’renotusingthem,thecollective impactonthegridwouldbehuge.Ifthewholecountryswitched offtheirresidentialgeyserswhilethey’reatwork,forexample, thecurrentloadsheddingwouldprobablynotbenecessary.”

3.Whataresomeoftheproactiveenergy-efficiencychanges thatSouthAfricansshouldbemakingathomeandatwork?

“Therearemanyexamples.CompaniescaninstallLEDenergy-effi‐cientcommerciallightsthatcouldevenswitchoffautomatically whenpeopleleavetheroom.Forgeysersandurns,installtimers toensurethey’reswitchedoffoutsideofworkinghours.I’mnot talkingaboutcompletelyrefittingyourcommercialbuilding.When thingsbreakorreachendoflife,makesurethereplacementsare ratedAorhigherforenergyefficiency.Inourhomes,switchtoLED lightingandsolargeysers,whichincombinationwillcutresidential electricityusagebyupto50%,puttingmoneybackintopeople’s pocketsandbenefitingthecountry’seconomyandgrid.”

4.Canyoutellusaboutoneoftheexcitingprojectsthat SANEDIisworkingoncurrently?

“ThroughourCoolSurfacesProject,weareworkingtofulfil SouthAfrica’sneedforanenergy-passive,lowcostandlow maintenancecoolingtechnologyforbuildings.Ininformalsettle‐mentsinCapeTownandTshwane,aswellasacrossmilitaryfacil‐itiesinLimpopo,weareresurfacingwallsandroofswithcool surfacetechnologytoachievesignificantlyreducedindoortem‐peraturesandcarbonemissions.Inaddition,thetreatmentin‐creasesthelongevityofequipmentandincludesfire-retardant properties.inapositivespin-off,issuesofskillsbuilding,gender mainstreamingandSMMEdevelopmentarealsobeingad‐dressed,alongsidethegenerationofscientificdatainSouth Africathatisapplicabletobusinesscasedevelopmentforthe country.ThisisanexampleofhowSANEDIquantifiesbroadbasedimpacttocreatemodelsthatprovethereal-lifevalueof suchinterventions,toencouragebroaderuptakeanduse.”

DrKarenSurridge, SANEDI’sactinggeneral managerforenergy efficiency

GREENERWITHGAS

AsSouthAfricansincreasingly turntogasasamorereliable, andagreeneralternativeinthe faceofthecountry’selectrical energycrisis,theSouthAfrican QualificationandCertification Committee(SAQCC)forGas InstallersandGasPractitionersis enforcingtheessentialchecks andbalancetoassurebothsafety andquality.

“Gasisindeedthatsolidbridge weareseekingforSouthAfricanstotransitiontomoresustainable energysolutions,buttoensureoptimalbenefits,itiscriticalthatthe relevantequipmentisregisteredandapproved,”explainsEddie Cooke,adirectoratSAQCCGas.

SAQCCGasisaregulatoryframeworkmandatedbySouthAfrica’s DepartmentofEmploymentandLabourtooverseetheregistrationof allthecountry’sgaspractitioners,andtomaintainapublicly-accessibledatabaseofauthorisedprovidersinfieldsincludingnaturalgas, liquefiedpetroleumgas,airconditioningandrefrigerationgas,and compressedindustrialandmedicalgases.

“Giventhedepthofthepotentialrisksassociatedwithworkingwith gas,registrationwithSAQCCGasistheonlywayforSouthAfrican gaspractitionerstotakeresponsibility,andtomakeameaningful contributiontotheimprovementofSouthAfrica’sgasindustry,” Cookesays.

Q&A

1.Tellusabitmoreabouttheimportanceofabodysuchas SAQCCGas,andsomeofitstopprioritiesgoingforward?

“Primarily,ourroleistoensurethatSouthAfricanconsumers have100%certaintythatwhentheychooseapractitionerfor theirgasinstallationandrelatedappliancesorequipment, whetherresidential,commercialorindustrial,theycanbe confidentthatthejobwillbedonesafely,anddelivermaximum efficiency.Oureffortstoexcludeanynon-compliantpractitioners fromthegasindustryincludedigitisationofcertificatesofcom‐pliance,whichasidefrombeingasecure,convenientandpaper‐lessonlinesystem,isputtinganendtofraudulentpaperwork.”

2.Practically,howdoesthecentraliseddatabaseofgas practitionersoperate?

“Everyoneworkingongasinthecountryneedstoberegistered inordertobeauthorisedtocallthemselvesagaspractitioner. Licencesareissuedforthreeyears,andinitialregistrationand renewalsbothrequireproofofcompetence.Trainingand refreshertrainingissupportedbythreedifferentassociations: theSouthernAfricanGasAssociationorSAGAS(industrial gases),theLiquefiedPetroleumGasAssociationofSouthAfrica (domesticandindustrialgases),andtheSouthAfrican Refrigeration&AirConditioningContractorsAssociation(air conditioninggases).Ourfourthalliedassociation,theSouthern AfricaCompressedAssociation(SACGA),isresponsiblefor conductingtherequisiteassessments,followingproofof competenceintheoreticalqualification,knowledge,and practicalexperience.,tofindagaspractitionerinyourarea pleasegotowww.saqccgas.co.za”

3.IntheSouthAfricancontext,whatroledoesgas havetoplay,andisthecountrytakingitspotential seriouslyenough?

“ThefirstgasproductioninSouthAfricadatesbackto1892,and theindustryhassincegrownacrossmarkets.Today,theindustry isconsideredestablished,butisofcoursealsoconstantly evolvingintermsoftechnology,productdevelopmentand practitionertechniques.Whilecoalstillaccountsforthemajority ofSouthAfrica’senergymix,examplesofprogressincludethe successfulimplementationofimportingnaturalgasviapipelines fromMozambique,aswellastheCityofJohannesburgconvert‐ingalargeproportionofitsservicevehiclestorunon compressednaturalgas.Thereisalsoalotofinvestmentingas, withverylargeterminalsinRichardsBayandSaldanhaensuring adedicatedsupplygoingforward.”

4.DoweknowwhatpercentageofSouthAfricansare switchingtogas,inthefaceoftheEskomcrisis?

“Asaregistrationbody,whatweareseeingisaconsistent increaseinthenumberofnewpractitionerregistrations.This certainlyreflectsgrowingdemandfortheirservicesamongst SouthAfricansswitchingtogas.”

EddieCooke, DirectoratSAQCCGas

Greenhydrogen: AviableoptionfortransformingAfrica'senergysector

Witheachpassingday,globalalarmsringlouderaboutclimate changethreateningtheplanet.Inaraceagainsttime,momentumfor exploringinnovationsthatwillreducehumanity’scarbonfootprint, especiallyintheenergysector,increases.Notsurprisingly, energy(electricity,heating/coolingandtransport)isthelargest contributortoglobalgreenhousegas(GHG)emissionsat73percent.

FormanyAfricancountries,thequestionisnothowtoreducetheir carbonfootprint,becausethecontinent’soverallcontributionto globalGHGemissionsisalreadylowatlessthan4percent; instead,wemustexaminehowthecontinentcansustainably harnessitsexistingresourcestomeetthegrowingdemandforenergyneededforeconomicdevelopmentandtoliftcitizensoutof poverty,whilefollowingasustainablepathtoanet-zerofuture.

Tostrikethisbalance,someAfricancountriesarelookingtowards greenhydrogenasapotentialtechnology.Theaimistoreducetheir relianceonfossilfuels,accelerateaccesstoelectricityformillions ofAfricansbyincreasingtheexploitationofrenewableenergy resourcesandmeettheirglobalclimatecommitments.

Countriesplanninggreenhydrogeninvestments

In2021,Namibiaannouncedanestimated$9.4billiongreen hydrogenproject,scheduledtoenterproductionin2026.Theinitial targetistogenerate2gigawattsofrenewableelectricityfor regionalandglobalmarkets.

The$8.5billionpromisedattheUnitedNationsClimateChange ConferenceinGlasgow(COP26)tosupportSouthAfrica’sJust EnergyTransitionPartnershiptoalow-emissiondevelopmentpath specifiesagoalto“developneweconomicopportunitiessuchas greenhydrogen.”InFebruary2022,SouthAfricaannouncedplans tosupportapipelineofgreenhydrogenprojectsworthabout

$17.8billionoverthenextdecade.Similarly,Kenya,Moroccoand Nigeriaareatvariousstagesofdevelopingplanstointegrategreen hydrogenintotheirenergymixes.

Thereis,indeed,aglobalracetodevelopgreenhydrogen,andfor thefirsttime,Africaisonthestartinglinewithdevelopedcountries. Governmentsaroundtheworldarepromotingprojectsfor domesticandexportmarketsofgreenhydrogen,andplantoinvest billionsofdollarsoverthenextfewyears.

AccordingtotheconsultancyfirmAccenture,theUnitedStateshas ahydrogenroadmap.Germanyplanstoinvest$10.6billion,while FranceandPortugaleachputforward$8billion.Britainanticipates spending$16.6billionandJapan$3billion,andChina(alreadythe leadinggreenhydrogenproducer)hadinvested$16billionby2020 tomaketheirindustriesgreener.Followingtheenactmentofa hydrogenlaw,SouthKoreagovernment-backedbusinessconsortia in2021pledgedtoinvestatotalof$38billiontoboostthe country'shydrogeneconomyby2030.

Theuseofhydrogenasafuelisnotanewconcept.Itiscurrently widelyusedindifferentapplicationssuchasfuelforcars,refining petroleum,treatingmetals,producingfertilizer,andprocessing foods.Hydrogenreleasesasignificantamountofenergywhen usedasafuel,almostthreetimeswhatcanbeobtainedfrom dieselorgasoline.

Whatisgreenhydrogen?

Hydrogenisproducedbysplittingwaterwithelectrolysis,aprocess thatuseselectricity,aconductingfluid,andametalcatalyst (usuallyplatinum)inafuelcell.Electricitybreaksdownwaterinto oxygenandhydrogen.Thehydrogenreleasedcanbeusedasfuelor mixedwithoxygentocreateoxyhydrogen,whichisappliedin the

weldingindustry,orinhalationtherapyagainstCOVID-19andother respiratorydiseases.Theaddedbenefitisthatthefinalproducts (hydrogenandoxygen)donotreleasecarbonorotherGHGs.

Likeelectricity,hydrogencancarryenergy,butitneedsapower-generationsourcesuchasfossilfuelsorrenewablestocreateit. Therefore,extractinghydrogenintousableformneedsalotofother energy.

Thevariouscolordesignationsthatonehearsassociatedwithhydrogencomefromtheprocessandthepowersourcesusedtogenerate it.Forexample,black/brownhydrogenisproducedfromcoal,and grey/bluehydrogenisderivedfrommethane.Bothusefossilfuels andreleaseGHGs.Tobeconsideredgreenhydrogen,theelectricity requiredforitsproductionshouldmostlycomefromrenewable powersources,suchassolar,windandgeothermal.

Sowhyspendenergytoproduceenergy?Greenhydrogen,being anenergycarrier,wouldactlikeabatterythatallowsthestorage ofexcessenergycreatedbyrenewables,likesolarandwindduring theirpeakcycles.Itwouldreducetheintermittencyofrenewables thatcannotgeneratepoweratallhoursoftheday,ensuringa sufficientandcontinuoussupplyofpowerforgrids.Thisiswhat makesgreenhydrogenattractiveonthefrontiersofdecarbonization—thepromiseofsignificantusableenergywithoutcontributingtoclimatechange.

Likemanyinvestmentdecisions,thequestioniswhetheritisworthwhiletodedicatepartofAfrica’slimitedresourcestodeveloping greenhydrogenasaviablesolutionforAfrica’senergydeficit.It comesdowntothecost,riskandrewardmatrix.ToanswerthisquestionfromanAfricanperspective,onemustfirstlookatthematurity ofthetechnologyitself.

Nextsteps

Thevisionofgreenhydrogen,whilepromisingfromatechnology standpoint,comeswithmanycaveatsforAfricancountries—the obviousbeingeconomicviability.Financingshouldfirstbeavailable todevelopthecontinent’svastpotentialforrenewableenergyand tocapitalize,potentially,onitsendowmentofthemineralsneeded tomanufacturefuelcells.Moreover,onceproduced,hydrogen, greenorotherwise,isunstableandflammableatroomtemperature andpressure.

ThesecaveatsshouldnotdissuadeAfricansfromproducinggreen hydrogen.Theyrequirevisionaryleadership,aspirationalpolicy-makingandsignificantadditionalinvestmentsto:

•Createcollaborativeinnovationplatformstostrengthenresearch andthedevelopmentofsustainabletechnologiesthatcanbe easilymaintainablefromAfricatocontinuouslyimprovethecom petitivenessofthesector

•BuildthehydrogenenergyinfrastructuretosupportH2 productionandefficientstorage,transportandrefuelingfacilities

•Communicatethevalueofgreenhydrogenandpromoteitsuse intheproductivesectors

•Establishorimprovethelegalframeworksforhydrogento supportthewholevaluechain

Asgreenhydrogentechnologymatures,Africamustestablishthe groundworktobeafirstmoverinthesector,includingcreatinga specializedworkforceandinvestinginrelatedinfrastructure.

WhiletheremaybevoicesthattellAfricansthatgreenhydrogenis tooaspirational,giventhecontinent’smyriadpriorities,thewords ofNelsonMandelaremaintrue: “Italwaysseemsimpossibleuntil it’sdone.” (BybitsatYohannes&AronaDiedou)

Ability™eMinedrivesenergy transitionintheminingindustry

Mininghousesareconfrontedwiththesameenergytransitionasother industriesandhaveanurgentresponsibilitytotransformthewaythey minethroughtechnologicalchange.Itisclearthattheenergyneedsof themodernminesimplycannotbemetsustainablywithdiesel machineryalone.TherehastobeatransformationandABBis committedtoworkingwithminestobringaboutthattransformation.

Wecaredeeplyaboutthehealth,safety,andwell-beingofourplanet asmuchaswedothepeoplewhoinhabitit.OurvisionisforCO2-free andenergy-efficientminestohelpcombatclimatechange,creating sustainableprogressfortodayandfuturegenerations.Weworkhand inhandwithourclientsandpartnerstoconvertexistingminesfrom fossilfuelenergytoallelectric.Inthisway,ABBcanassistthemining industrytomeetitssustainabilitygoals,whilestayingcompetitiveand ensuringhighproductivity.

ABBAbilityeMine™makestheall-electricminepossible,withfully integratedelectrificationanddigitalsystemsfromminetoport.The solutionincludesaportfolioofelectrificationanddigitalsystemsto acceleratedecarbonisationintheminingsector.Wesupportthe miningindustryfromtheearlyminedesignstagetoconveythefull benefitposedbyelectrification,assistingwithdesigningthe haulingprocesstooptimiseitwithelectricalsolutionsthatmatch mineconstraintsandhelpmeetproductiontargets.

Thesolutionalsofocusesonsupplyingpowertominingvehicles, withfit-for-purposeelectrificationtoachievethemostoptimised electrifiedprocess.Inaddition,thesolutionintegrateswithABB Ability™applicationstoplan,monitor,andcontrolprocessesto optimiseoperationsandenergyusage.

Akeycomponentofkeepingtheall-electricminerunningis ensuringthattheequipmentperformswhenrequiredandthat

truckscanchargewhentheyneedto.Weprovidechargingstation solutionstomeettheneedsofmodernminingoperationsand interfacewithallvehicles.eMine™isvehicletypeandOEM agnosticinthatitsupportsaninteroperableapproachbasedon provenstandardstoprovideanysolutionneededtochargebattery electricvehicles(BEVs).

AnewpilotinnovationknownasABBAbility™eMine™ FastChargeissettobecometheworld’sfastestandonlyfully automatedchargingsystemforhaultrucks,offeringupto600kW ofpower.Designedfortheharshestenvironments,thisflexible systemcanbeeasilyinstalledanywheretochargeatruckwithout humanintervention,andatthehighestpoweronthemarkettoday tominimisedowntime.

ThesolutionincludesABBAbility™eMineTrolleySystem technologytoreducedieselconsumptionbyupto90%whilehaul trucksareonatrolleysystem,whichalsoreducesenergycostsand environmentalimpact.Inaddition,electrifiedtrucksrunatahigher speedforabetterspeed-on-grade.Currenttrolleytechnologyis basedondieselhybridsandcanbesupportedbyABB’sTrolley Systemtoassistwiththesuccessfultransitiontoanall-electric mine.Thesystemisidealforheavy-dutyvehiclessuchasthoseused forinclinedhauling,anapplicationthatbattery-onlysolutions cannotcaterforatpresent.

Wearecommittedtocreatesustainableprogressfortodayand futuregenerationsbyhelpingourminingclientsthroughtheir energytransition.ABBAbility™eMinemakestheall-electricmine possible,withfullyintegratedelectrificationanddigitalsystems fromminetoport.Fromdesigntoongoingservice,ABBisthe partnerthatcantransformtoday’smineoperationswhile improvingtheworldbeyondthem.

ByErikPretorius,HeadofSales:AfricaandAustralia,ABB

HitachiEnergytoprovideworld’sfirst SF6-free420kVgas-insulated switchgeartechnologyatTenneT’s gridconnectioninGermany

ContributingtoTenneT’scarbonneutralitygoalsto buildasustainable,resilientgridinGermany

HitachiEnergyhasannounceditwillprovidetheworld’sfirstsulphur hexafluoride(SF6)free420-kilovolt(kV)gas-insulatedswitchgear(GIS) technologyandastate-of-the-artmodularprefabricatedgrid connectionsolutionatakeynodeatTenneT’spowergridinGermany, supportingtheleadingEuropeangridoperatortoachieveitscarbon neutralitygoals.

Thisprojectcoversamajorgridconnectionupgradewhichsignificantly extendstheoperatinglifeofexistingpowerassetstoensurethe longevityandcontinuedefficiencyoftheexistingpowerinfrastructure. TheglobaltechnologyleaderwilldeliverinnovativeEconiQ™420 kVGISthatusesagame-changingtechnologythateliminatesSF6with reliableandscalablesolutionsforthelowestcarbonfootprint.

TenneTisamajortransmissionsystemoperatorintheNetherlandsand Germany,supplyingpowertosome42millionhomesandbusinesses inbothcountries.Thecompanyaimstobeadrivingforcebehindthe energytransitionbyinvestingineco-efficienttechnologiestoreduce greenhousegasemissions.Asatransmissionsystemoperator,TenneT isakeyplayeronthehistoricpathtoasafe,reliableandcarbon-free energysystem.

TosupportTenneTonitstransitiontoSF6-freesolutions,HitachiEnergy willcontributepioneeringtechnologies,uniquesystemintegration

capabilities,engineeringexpertiseandextensiveexperiencewithlocal gridcoderequirementstostrengthenthegridconnectionatthe 220-megawatt(MW)Erzhausenpumpedstoragepowerplantnear Hanover.ThisprojectusesBuildingInformationModeling,a consolidatedandcollaborativedigitalworkingmethodthatallows decision-based3Dmodelingandimprovesfacilitymanagementviaa digitaltwinforthelifecycleofthepowerasset.Theentireprojectwill becompletedin2026.

Inthisproject,HitachiEnergywillinstallthreebaysofEconiQ420kV GIStoenablethetransmissionoflargeamountsofelectricityoverlong distanceswhileeliminatingsignificantvolumesofSF6.This eco-efficientinnovationremainssimilarinsizewhilebeing100percent asreliableastheconventionalGISsolutionbasedonSF6.This installationwilleffectivelyavoidtheadditionofnearly2,300kgofSF6, equivalenttoremovingtheCO2emissionsofaround 1,1501passengervehiclesperyear.

“WeareproudtocollaboratewithTenneTintheireffortstoaccelerate theenergytransitionandstrengthenthepowerinfrastructurein Germany,”saidClaudioFacchin,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofHitachi Energy.“AtHitachiEnergy,wearechampioningtheurgencyofthe energytransitionthroughinnovationandcollaboration.Throughour modularprefabricatedgridconnectionsandEconiQhigh-voltage switchgeartechnology,wearesupportingourcustomerstoreduce theircarbonfootprintandenablingamoresustainable,flexibleand secureenergysystem.”

LaunchofAfricaAgribusinessQualification presentedbyAGCOAfricasees20participantsembarkon year-longprogramme

TheAAQprogrammeseekstofillamuch-neededcapacityorskillsgap inagribusinessinAfrica

Johannesburg,SouthAfrica,1September2021:TheAGCOAgriculture Foundation(AAF)skillsdevelopmentinitiative,underthebannerof ‘AdvancementinAgriculturalEducation’,saw20deservingparticipants commencewiththeAfricaAgribusinessQualification(AAQ)on1 September.ThistooktheformofanintroductorysessionattheGordon InstituteofBusinessScience(GIBS)Johannesburgcampuselaborating ontheprogrammecontentandanticipatedoutcomes.

Fully-fundedbytheAAFandimplementedthroughtheAGCOAfrica HeadOfficeinJohannesburg,theAAQprogrammeisfacilitatedby GIBS,togetherwithHarperAdamsUniversityintheUK.Furthermore, technicalexpertiseandsupportareprovidedbyAGCOSouthAfricaand CerealisTechnologyInstituteinSouthAfrica.

“TheAAQisawellthought-out,one-of-a-kindprogrammethatseeks tofillamuch-neededcapacityorskillsgapinagribusinessinAfrica,” commentsAAQProgramManagerDr.BenardNgwene.Itincludesan accreditedmanagementqualification(NQF4)andprovidesparticipants withbusiness,agronomyandtechnicalskillstoenablethemprogress intheircareersand/orbettermanagetheirbusinesses.“TheAAQ programmewillcontinuetoevolveinresponsetotheagri-industry’s trainingneeds,”addsDr.Ngwene.

About270applicationswerereceivedoveratwo-weekapplication period.Thetwo-stageselectionprocesssawapplicantslonglisted basedonsetcriteria.Shortlistedcandidateswereinvitedforanonline interview,followingwhichthe20mostdeservingwerechosen.The selectionprocesstookintoaccountfactorssuchasgroupdynamics andlearnerabilities,soastoensureallparticipantswillnotonlybenefit

fromtheprogrammecurriculum,butalsobeabletosharetheirunique experiencesthroughpeer-to-peerlearning.Participantcapabilitieswill begaugedatanin-depthlevelduringtheprogrammetounderstand howbesttomagnifytheirstrengths,whileidentifyingandworkingon improvinganyareasofweakness.

ThisisactuallythesecondAAQcohort.Theinitial24-month programmewashostedinKenyafromMarch2018toMarch2020and wasopentoparticipantsfromalloverAfrica.Tocushionagainstany uncertaintiesposedbyCovid-19,suchastherestrictionofmovement betweencountries,the2021AAQcallforapplicationswasopento SouthAfricanresidentsonly.ThisincludedotherAfricannationalsliving inSouthAfrica.TheAAQprogrammewillbeimplementedthrougha hybridmodel,with80%onlinedeliveryand20%face-to-faceclasses.

DrNgwenehighlightsthattheAAQprogrammeaimsto:

•Cultivateagriculturalprofessionalismandqualityleadership.

•EnhanceknowledgeoftheAfricanagri-entrepreneurship ecosystem.

•Buildparticipants’capacitytoachievesustainabilityinfoodsystems andagribusinesses.

•InspireinnovationsthatstrengthenAfrica’sproductionsystems.

•Enhanceknowledgeofagriculturalscience,agribusinessand mechanisation.

•Enhancetheabilityofparticipantstodevelopandimplement projects,initiativesandbusinessesinvariousagriculturalvaluechains.

•Increaseexposuretoplatformsthroughwhichparticipantscan contributetopolicydiscussionsandprogrammesthataimat strengtheningAfricanagriculture.

•Producecompetentgraduateswiththecapacitytodeliver effectivelyinjuniormanagement,technicalandspecialistrolesin agricultural-basedcompanies.

The2021AAQcohortparticipantswilltakecoursesacross agronomy,business,salesandmarketing,aswellastechnical training.Theprogrammeisstructuredassixcoremodulesandtwo electives.Thecourseofferinganddesignwasinformedby recommendationsandconsultationswithindustryplayersand variousstakeholders.Alltheimplementingpartnersarerenowned industryleadersofferingqualitytrainingandeducationintheir variousfields.

“ThroughtheAAQprogramme,wehopetoempowerAfricanswho haveapassionfortheagriculturalsector,particularlytechnicaland salesrepresentatives,whocanserveastrustedpartnerstoAfrican farmers,”saysAAFDirectorMettiRichenhagen.

TheAAFisaprivatefoundationcommittedtoendinghunger throughsustainableagriculturaldevelopment.Inordertoextend thecoverageoftheAAQprogrammeandmakeitaccessibletoeven moreyoungpeople,AAFandAGCOinAfricaareinviting organisationsandstakeholdersintheagri-foodvaluechainsto support,collaborateandcontributetotheprogramme.

“Anumberofsupply-sideinterventionsarerequiredfortheSouth Africaneconomytocopewithchangesindemandforcertainskills, especiallywithregardtopost-secondaryeducation.Webelievethat theAAQprogrammeisasteppingstonethatwilladequately prepareparticipantstofurthertheireducationinagricultureorto becomeentrepreneursinthisfieldthemselves,”saysAGCO ManagingDirector:AfricaDrDominikReus.

TheAAQprogrammewillcontributetoAfrica’sAgenda2063and thefollowingSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)2030ofthe UnitedNations:Goal1:NoPoverty,Goal2:ZeroHunger,Goal4: QualityEducation,Goal5:GenderEqualityandGoal8:Decent WorkandEconomicGrowth.

Zutarirenewsitsfocusonmining, petrochemicalsandmanufacturing undertheresourcesumbrella

24October2022:Whatdomining,petrochemicalsand manufacturinghaveincommon?Theyareallcriticalmarketsectors contributingtosustainabilityandqualityoflifeformillions.Now leadingconsultingengineeringandinfrastructureadvisoryfirm Zutarihastakentheboldstepofcombiningallthreeofthese sectorsundertherubricofresources,headedupbyDr.Eduard VorsterasManagingDirector,Resources:Africa.

ThisformspartofZutari’s‘solutionistmindset’approachtoexpand theboundariesofengineeringinco-creatingsustainable infrastructureforthebenefitoffuturegenerations.“Inthepastwe calledthisbusinesssegmentPetrochemicals,ResourcesandManufacturing.However,wedecidedthenamewasquitecumbersome. Italsodidnotreflectourholisticviewthatmining,petrochemicals andmanufacturingallconvertnaturalresourcesintoend products,”explainsDr.Vorster.

“WhatdifferentiatesZutariisthatwenotonlyserveanicheportion withintheprojectvaluechainlikesomecompetitors.Weoffer completesolutions.Thisisduetothediverseskillswehavewithin thecompany,whichallowsustoapplyourexpertisetocreatean engineeredimpact,”saysDr.Vorster.

Miningaccountsforthelion’sshareofZutari’sworkunderthe umbrellaofresources,withtheautomotiveindustrythelatest additionundermanufacturing.Coreskillsinminingrangefrom advisingonoperationalexcellencetocontractmanagement, quantitysurveying,contractmanagement,procurementandprojectmanagement.Morespecialistskillsincludebulkmaterials handling,civils,geotechnical,structural,mechanical,electricaland controlsandinstrumentation,aswellasauniqueheavy-haulrail capability.

“Whatletsusstandheadandshouldersabovetherestoftheindustryistheservicesweprovideoutsidethegatesofthosemining facilities.Forexample,wehaveadeeppassionandskillinEnvironmental,SocialandGovernance(ESG).Ourin-houseenvironmental teamsdonotfocussolelyonlicencingandcompliancebuttakea broadviewofourclients’sustainabilitystrategiesandassistthem tosculptthoseaccordingly,”saysDr.Vorster.

Zutari’sstrengthintheESGarenarelatestoenergy,waterand socialimpacts.Inmanyinstancesclients’businessoperations impactlocalcommunities,whichrequiresastrategicresponseto socioeconomicimperativesaswellassustainabilityinitiativessuch asachievingnetzeroanddecarbonisation.“Thatmuchbroaderapproachcertainlymakesusdifferent,”notesDr.Vorster.“Itisour corestrategyinthewaywedealwithclients.”

HereZutariadoptsaselectiveapproachtoclientsandprojectsit canembarkonajourneywith.“Thisstrategyfitseasierwith entitieswithmultipleassetbasesasitcementsourrelationship fromaCSuitelevel,whereprovidingstrategicadviceisparamount, toanoperationallevelwherewelookattheoverallday-to-dayrunningoftheoperationsthemselves,”explainsDr.Vorster.

Zutariwillconsidervaluableprojectsforotherentitiessuchas single-assetminersifitalignswithitsvisionofco-creatingan engineeredimpact.“Wehavetofeelthatwecanaddsignificant value,oritwouldnotbeworthwhileforusortheclienttopursue,” saysDr.Vorster.ThisiswherethefocusonESGissoimportant,as theenvironmentalaspectrunsthegamutfromdealingwithnatural resourcesinasustainablemannerthroughtoworkingwiththe hostcommunities,evenwhenthelifespanoftheminingoperation isover.

“Thecommonalitywhetheritispetrochemicalsorminingor manufacturingisthatdrivetocreatemoresustainablevalueby makingimpactwhilealsodoinggoodbusiness,”saysDr.Vorster.All theseindustrieshavecoreprocesseswheresustainabilityissues suchaswatertreatmentandenergyefficiencymustbeconsidered. Zutari’sprocessengineershavethecapabilitytounderstandthe clients’corebusinesses.“Weapplythoseskillsintheinfrastructure spacetoassistthemtodotheirbusinessmoreefficientlyand sustainably.”

Thedifferencebetweenminingandmanufacturinginsome instancesisthatthemanufacturingenvironmentiscompetitiveto startwithandveryefficient,henceitneedsitsownfocus.It employspeopledifferentlyandprocuresdifferently,whilethe projectsdifferintermsofsizeandspeedofexecution.Mining

differsinthatthesizeandscopeofprojectshereissomuchbigger.

“Thethinkingrequiredisdifferent.Hence,weliketospecialise peopleinallthreeindustriessotheycanfamiliarisethemselves withtheclients’needsanddeliverqualitysolutions.Obviously, ourlearningsfromalltheseindustriescanbeappliedcross-sectorally,”saysDr.Vorster.

“Theonefeedstheother.Thecommonalityistheapplicationof data,whichaddsvaluebyembracingdigitaltransformation.For Zutari,thismeansacommonapproachtoaclientlikeAnglo AmericanaswellasCocaCola,forexample.Itisallabout creatingeffectiveandspeedysolutionsbyutisilingallthedata thatisavailableandapplyingitforfuturebenefit.Thisisthemindsetweadopttoassistourresourcesclientsaseffectivelyaspossible,”concludesDr.Vorster.

Effectivetransportsystemsmust besustainable,resilientandsmart

20October2022:GloballytrustedinfrastructurefirmAECOMhas playedakeyroleindevelopinga25-yearintegratedtransportplan forGauteng,theeconomicheartofSouthAfrica,inadditionto beingtheleadconsultantfortheGautrainproject.“Youcannot buildyourselfoutofcongestionwithroads,”commentsChrisBritz, Director:Transport,Africa.

“Howdowedeveloptheprovince’spublictransportsysteminan integratedmannertoaddressthetransportchallengesfacedat thatstage,whichweremainlyassociatedwithcongestion.Since then,therehasbeenagrowingrecognitionofthetransportsector’s contributiontogreenhousegas(GHG)emissions,themaincontributortoglobalwarming,”explainsBritz.

Onaverage,thetransportationsectorcontributes8%to10%of SouthAfrica’stotalGHGemissions,afigurethatskyrocketsto40%

inurbanareas.Inaddition,60%ofroadtripsundertakenarein privatevehicles.

Therefore,sustainabletransportsystemshaveseverallegs: reducingtravel,facilitatingshiftsintravelpatternsfromprivateto publicandfrommotorisedtransporttonon-motorisedtransport, andfromroadtorail,bothintermsofpeopleandfreight,although freightposesabiggerchallengeasnotallcargocanbetransported efficientlybyrail.

Otherfactorscomingintoplayaresmartcitiesandintelligenttransportsolutionstomanagetransportsystemsmoreeffectivelyand thedemandfortravel,especiallyinpeakperiods.Thetransitionto newpropulsiontechnologies,suchaselectricandpotentiallygreen hydrogenpropelledvehiclesisalsoessential.Thegreenhydrogen marketisviewedasasignificantopportunityforeconomicgrowth

andjobcreationinSouthAfricaandsomefeasibilitystudiesare alreadyunderway.“Theinitialthinkingregardinggreenhydrogen forvehiclepropulsionisaimedatfreightvehicles,”notesBritz.

Researchhasidentifiedhydrogenvehiclesasanincreasinglyviable alternativetobatteryelectricvehicles(BEVs).Theenhancedrange andrapidrefuellingcomparefavourablywithBEVs.Thesepositives haveledtosignificantinvestmentbycarmanufacturers,including Hyundai,ToyotaandBMWandshouldtranslateintoincreasingly popularproductsoverthenextfiveyears.However,thechallenges withgreenhydrogenremainstorageanditstransportation.“Itsviabilityasanalternativesourceofpropulsionislikelytoincrease significantly,”predictsBritz.

Asfarase-mobilitygoes,amajordriverasmanycountriesplanto phaseouttheinternalcombustionenginesoon,Britzarguesit presentsamajoropportunityforSouthAfrica’sautomotive manufacturingindustry.ThisisasignificantsectoroftheSouth Africaneconomyasitexportslocallymadeelectricvehiclesand partstodevelopedcountriesandbeyond.Inthebroaderpicture, VolkswagenAfrica’sBusinessDevelopmentDirectorSerge KamuhindahasbeenquotedasstatingthatAfricahasabundant greenenergytoshapethefutureofmobility,whichstandstobecomeaneconomicimperative.

WhiletheJustEnergyTransitioninSouthAfricarelatesmainlyto thetransitionfromcoal-basedpowergeneration,Britzarguesitis equallyapplicabletothetransportsector.“Intheend,thesolution toreducetravelistheintegrationofeconomic,landusetransport andtransportdevelopment,whichrepresentsthebiggestmediumtolong-terminterventionwestandtomakeinthisregard.However,itisnotgoingtohappenovernightandwilltakemanyyears tobearfruit.”

ThechallengeofdeliveringeffectivetransportsystemsinSouth Africaiscompoundedbypre-1994urbanplanningandconurba-

tion.Thisconcentratedtheworkingclassintosettlementsand areasfarremovedfromthemajorurbancentres.“Thestarting pointisintegratingtransport,landuseandeconomicdevelopment. Ifthatisnotdoneinanoptimallyintegratedmanner,thenthe transportsystemsbydesigncannotbeeffective,”cautionsBritz.

TransportsystemsmustalsoberesilientandcapableofwithstandingextremeweathereventssuchastherecentcatastrophicfloodinginKwaZulu-Natal,whichdealtamajorblowtotheeconomyof theprovinceandthecountry. “Howdoyoulookatinfrastructure fromtheperspectiveofresilience?Whatareyourcontingency planstomitigatetheeconomicfalloutfromsuchevents?” questionsBritz.

Anothercriticalfactorinthetransportsectorisjobcreationand socialcohesionanddevelopment,alllinkedtogenderandyouth equityandsafetyandsecurity. “Theseareissuesthatcutacross manysectors,butwhichremainhighlyrelevanttothetransport sector:Ontheonehand,intermsofitsoverallroleasan economicdriver,andontheother,howthedevelopmentof effectivetransportsystemscanaddressandalleviatethese challenges,” saysBritz.

“Thetraditionalapproachtotransportplanningwastoonlyregard theribbonofblackbitumen,butnowthetrendistolookatthe entireroadreservefromedge-to-edgetoaccommodateallthe requirementsofpedestrians,cyclists,publictransportandprivate andfreightvehicles.

“Itisessentialtolookatthefullcross-sectionoftheroadand thentoconsidertheimportanceofuniversalaccess,especially forpeoplewithmobilitychallenges.Publictransportfacilities areoftenperceivedasanadd-onbutplayacriticalrolein designingtheurbanframeworktocreateasafeandsecure environment.Thisnewviewoninfrastructuredesignisquite important,” concludesBritz.

Energy-SavingInWaterSystems: TheKeyToCuttingCostsAndAchievingNetZero

Industrywideadoptionofmodern,high-efficiencytechnologies willenabletheindustrytomeetitssustainabilitycommitments andequipittoserveagrowingpopulation.Energyaccountsforan averageof45%ofthetotalcostofprovidingwater,soutilities thatadoptmoreefficienttechnologieswillbeabletomaintain profitability.

Herearesomeactionablestepsthatutilitiescantaketomake operationsmoreefficient.

Whenseekingenergyreductionandefficiency, startwithyourpower-hungrypumpsandthe motorsthatdrivethem.

Manyofusareluckyenoughtobeabletoturnonatapandhave cleanwaterstartflowing.Behindthis,andallsortsofother domestic,business,andindustrialapplicationsthatenableour modernworld,utilitiesmustmoveandprocessincrediblevolumes ofwater.Movingthismuchwaterisextremelyenergy-intensive. Expertsestimatethataround4%oftotalglobalenergyproduction goestowardwaterandwastewaterprocessing.That’sapproximatelyequivalenttothetotalenergyuseofAustralia.

Astheglobalpopulationgrowsandthetrendtowardurbanization continues,demandsonwaterandwastewatersystemswillalso grow.Thisincludessubsegments,suchaswaterandwastewater treatment,desalination,andirrigation,allofwhichrequire significantamountsofenergy.

Fortunately,evenseeminglysmall-percentageefficiencyimprovementsinthesevitalindustriescanadduptohugeenergysavings onaglobalscale.

WhyAreUtilitiesSeekingGreaterEfficiency?

Thecurrentapproachisnotscalableorsustainableinthelong term.Meetingdemandreliesonmakingwaterandwastewater infrastructuremoreenergy-efficient.Thisisinlinewiththesocietywidepushforsustainability.LegislationsuchastheEU’sGreen Deal,forexample,setsminimumefficiencystandardsformultiple industries,includingthewaterindustry.Achievingnetzerowill requireacombinedeffortfromallindustries,andeffortstoincrease efficiencyareavaluablecontribution.

SwitchToHigh-EfficiencyMotors

Centrifugalpumps,theheartofmostoperationsinthewatersegment,aredrivenbyelectricmotors.Thesemotorsareresponsible forover90%ofelectricityuseinwaterfacilities.

Often,utilitiesrunmotorstotheendoftheirworkinglife.This meansthatolder,lessefficientunits,suchasIE1andIE2efficiency classmotors,canbekeptinplacefordecades.Inthetimesince theywereinstalled,technologyhasadvancedandmotorshave becomemoreefficient.EachnewIEclassmotorreduceslosses significantlyoveritspredecessor—anIE4motor,forexample,has 20%lowerlossesthananIE3motor.

Manyutilitiesarealreadyusingultra-premiumIE5synchronous reluctancemotors(SynRMs),whereverfeasible,inordertoenhance theiroperationsefficiency.Further,thereturnoninvestmenton suchadvancedsolutionsistypicallyachievedwithintwoyears.

AdoptVariableSpeedDrives

Inmanycases,themotorsthatdrivecentrifugalpumpsandother keyequipmentdonotneedtoruncontinuallyatmaximumspeed asthedemandforwatervariesduringa24-hourperiod.Peakuse occursduringdaytimehours,whiledemandisloweratnight.

Toreducetheflowofwater,mechanicalmethodssuchasvalves andthrottlesareoftenused.Thisissimilartoadriverapplyingthe brakesinavehicletoregulatespeedwhilekeepingtheotherfoot ontheaccelerator.

Anefficientandwell-provenalternativeistouseavariablespeed drive(VSD)thatregulatesthespeedandtorqueofthemotor–and

thus,thepumpoutput–thatequalstheflowofwater.Thisflow controlwithVSDswouldreduceconsiderableenergy consumption,asthepowerconsumedbythecentrifugalpumps isproportionaltothecubeofitsspeed.Moreover,improvedflow controlwithVSDswouldensurethepumpoperatesatitsbest efficiencypoint(BEP).

ModernVSDsalsoincludeflow-measurementandenergy-monitoringfunctions,enablingfacilitiestodevelopaclearer understandingofenergyuse.Reducedenergyusecanbe calculatedintermsofkilowatt-hours,aswellasinCO2 emissionseliminatedandmoneysaved.

drivesthroughoutitsfacilities.Thechangesreducedtheutility’s electricityconsumptionby25%.

Thenewwaterandwastewaterdriveshaveintelligentmultipump functionality.Thismeansthattheycancontrolmultiplepumps simultaneouslytomeetflowandpressurerequirementsbasedon real-timedatafromsensors.Theyalsoinstalledremotecondition monitoringtoolsatfourinletwaterpumpingstations.

OsmarQualhatoJúnior,Saneago’senergymanagementsupervisor,saidthatby“beingapioneerinutilizingthistypeof technologyinLatinAmerica,wehavemovedSaneagointothe eraofdigitalization…thishassavedusmuchtime,money,and trouble.”

AcrosstheAtlanticinNorthRhine-Westphalia,Germany,the Bocholtsewagetreatmentplantwasalsolookingtocutenergy use.Itusedsixpumpsatapumpingstation,butanalysisdeterminedthattheycouldbemademoreefficient.

Thewastewaterfacilitymadesignificantchangestotheimpeller geometry,whichimprovedboththeelectricalandmechanical efficiency.Asaresult,thedemandcouldbemetwithjustfourout ofsixpumps.Inadditiontoreducingthenumberofmotors,the Bocholtfacilitydecidedtousehigh-efficiencySynRMs,which mustbepairedwithVSDs,tofurtherreduceenergyusage.

TheseenergysavingsaresosubstantialthatthereturnoninvestmentonVSDsistypicallypaidoffwithinonetotwoyears.Inaddition,byensuringthesoftstartingandstoppingofthesystem, VSDshelpminimizemechanicalandelectricalstressesand,in turn,extendthelifeofmotorsandpumpsandimprovethe plant’soverallproductivity.

IncreasingEfficiencyTheWorldOver

Theseenergy-efficiencybenefitshavebeendemonstratedworldwide.IntheBrazilianstateofGoiás,theutilitySaneagoprovides drinkingwatertoover5.7millionpeople.Thecompanyhireda consultantandidentifiedthatelectricitywasconsistentlyoneof thecompany’stopexpenditures,andthatmostofitwasgoing towardpoweringpumps.Tosavecosts,Saneagosetouttoreplacethesemotors.

SaneagoworkedwithABBtoinstallhigh-efficiencymotorsand

Thesystemcannowautomaticallyadjustreturnsludgeflow basedonhydraulicload.Anytimethatthepumpsarenotoperatingatfullcapacity,thefacilityisusinglesselectricityandsaving money.Thankstothismodernization,theBocholtsewagetreatmentplanthascutenergyconsumptionby40%.

EfficiencyMakesBusiness AndEnvironmentalSense

Energy-intensiveprocessesarerequiredthroughoutwaterand wastewaterfacilities.Optimizingthesesystemsforimproved energyefficiencysavesmoneyandreducesemissions.

Animpactfulchangethatfacilitiescanmakeisadoptingmodern high-efficiencymotorswithVSDs.Thisalonecutsenergyuseup to25%ormore,takingamajorchunkoutofafacility’soperating expenditures.Theresultingenergysavingsquicklyexceedthe costoftheimprovements,leavingthefacilitywithlowerenergy costsandbringingtheindustryclosertonetzero.

BySurendraMuppana

WaterpumpsattheSaneagosite.

REDUCE–REUSE–RECYCLE

Ifyouhaveheardofsomethingcalledthe“wastehierarchy,”thenyoumaybewonderingwhatthatmeans.It istheorderofpriorityofactionstobetakentoreduce theamountofwastegeneratedandtoimproveoverall wastemanagementprocessesandprograms.Thewaste hierarchyconsistsof3R’sasfollows:

Commonlycalledthe“threeR’s”ofwastemanagement,thiswastehierarchyistheguidancesuggestedfor creatingasustainablelife.Youmightbewonderinghow youcanincorporatetheseprinciplesintoyourdailylife.

Theyarenotthathardtoimplement.Allyouneedisto bringasmallchangeinyourdailylifestyletoreduce wastesothatlessamountofitgoestothelandfillthat canreduceyourcarbonfootprint.

Itmakesabigdifferencetorecycle.Itmakesabigdifferencetouserecycledproducts.Itmakesabigdifference toreusethings,tonotusethepapercup–andeach timeyoudo,that’savictory.

~EmilyDeschanel

AsperMissouriDepartmentofNaturalResources, “ThethreeR’s–reduce,reuseandrecycle–allhelp tocutdownontheamountofwastewethrow away.Theyconservenaturalresources,landfillspace andenergy.Plus,thethreeR’ssavelandandmoney thatcommunitiesmustusetodisposeofwastein landfills.Sitinganewlandfillhasbecomedifficult andmoreexpensiveduetoenvironmentalregula‐tionsandpublicopposition.“

Byrefusingtobuyitemsthatyoudon’tneed,reusing itemsmorethanonceanddisposingtheitemsthatare nolongerinuseatappropriaterecyclingcenters,you cancontributetowardsahealthierplanet.

Evgenykarchevsky

FreeportSaldanhaIndustrialDevelopmentZone(alsoknownas SaldanhaBayIndustrialDevelopmentZone–SBIDZ)hassigneda memorandumofunderstanding(MOU)withSasolSouthAfrica Limited(Sasol)tofacilitateagreenhydrogenhubinSaldanhaBay.

MsKaashifahBeukes,FreeportSaldanhaCEO,AlanWinde,Premier oftheWesternCape,andCouncillorAndréTruter,ExecutiveMayor ofSaldanhaBayMunicipality,werepresentwhentheannouncementwasmadeattheopeningofAfricaEnergyWeek,inCape Towntoday,18thOctober.

UnderthetermsoftheMOU,thepartiesagreetocollaborateand providesupportinestablishingagreenhydrogenhubthatwillunlockneweconomicopportunitiesintheregionandWesternCape, andindoingso,seektocollaborateontheprojectidentification, preparation,pre-feasibilityandfeasibilityassessmentswithaview ofachievingabankableandimplementableproject.

TheMOUfollowsontheheelsofajointdevelopmentagreement (JDA)signedbetweenSASOLandArcelorMittalSouthAfrica (AMSA)onaprojectaimedataddressingemissionsreduction targetsandexploringnewvaluepoolsthroughsustainableproduct streams,includingtheSaldanhagreenhydrogenandderivatives project.TwoofSouthAfrica'sbiggestindustrialoperators,SASOL andAMSA,seektoachievenetzerocarbonemissionsby2050.

Beukessaid,"SaldanhaBayhasastrongstrategicfitwithSasol's ambitiontobealeadingdriverandcontributortothedevelopment ofSA'sgreenhydrogeneconomy.Inaddition,FreeportSaldanhais

astrategicpartnerforSASOLandAMSA,addingvaluetotheirexplorationofnewmarketsbybringingtogetherseveralstakeholders todrivecatalyticinvestmentsinsustainableindustrialisationand productstreams."

AMSA,whichisgloballycommittedtorampingupits'green'steel production,aimstobethefirstAfricangreenflatsteelproducer andwillserveastheanchorcustomeroftheenvisagedfacility, usinggreenhydrogentoproducedirectreducediron(DRI)will significantlyreducetheprocesscarbonfootprint.

Thearea'sfavourablerenewablesendowment,agrowinglocal renewablesindustry,establishedworld-scaleindustrialcompanies –likeAMSA–andadeveloped,operationalfreeportanddeep-waterportarepartofthereasonsSaldanhamakesasensibleinvestmentlocationforthisnewmarket.“Butmoreover”,saidBeukes, “theFreeporthasthebackingoftheWesternCapeGovernment andtheSaldanhaBayMunicipalitytoacceleratebreakout, inclusiveeconomicgrowthintheWesternCapeandutiliseitsassets,onebeingtheSEZ,toachievethataim.

“IwelcomethesigningofthisexcitingMoUbetweenSasolandthe FreeportSaldanhaIndustrialDevelopmentZone,asitlaysthe foundationforthedevelopmentofanimpressivegreenhydrogen hub,righthereintheWesternCape,whichhassignificantpotential toincreaseenergyresilience,attractinvestmentandtocreatemuch neededjobsintheprovince.”

AddedMinisterMireilleWenger.

FreeportSaldanha,aWesternCapeSEZ,signsMOUwith SASOLtoestablishgreenhydrogenhubinSaldanhaBay