Transform SA Digital Issue 29 - Magazine - Page 21
INDUSTRY FOCUS
A
mong a range of measures to stabilise
South
Africa’s
electricity
needs,
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced
that renewable energy will be one of them.
Janine Espin, Managing Director at Economic
Development Solutions believes renewable
energy should be prioritised to bring about
economic stimulation. Speaking to TransformSA,
Espin advised that it’s crucial for all South Africans
to embrace the changes that will be brought by
the renewable energy sector.
“The renewable energy sector is crucial for how we
move forward to have an energy mix as a country,”
said Espin.
She revealed that the construction of South
Africa’s latest round of renewable energy facilities
being built by the Independent Power Producers
(IPPs) is near completion.
“We can’t be reliant on coal. A coal mine employs a
lot of people but it is at a high cost. And we know
that Eskom doesn’t have the necessary financial
resources to buy coal. Also, Eskom doesn’t have
the money to start its own coal mines,” she added.
There is another opportunity for tourism,”
communities. We sit with our constructors and
advised Espin.
say to them: what are your scope of work for
construction? So, if the constructors that we
Unions representing mine workers are up in
are working with have any scope of work or
arms about Eskom signing renewable energy
opportunity for local suppliers, they subcontract
contracts with the 27 independent power
the work to them. For instance, if you need civil
producers. According to the unions, the adoption
engineers you will need people who have XYZ
of renewable energy would mean that Eskom
experience and certain equipment. So, instead
will require less coal fired electricity, which might
of having one construction company do all
lead to the closure of coal fired power plants
the work, we subcontract to local companies,”
and cause job losses that would impact at least
revealed Espin.
30,000 families.
“We also do community engagement. We explain
“There needs to be an honest diaogue with
to people what is going to be available upfront.
the unions. To understand where we are as a
If you have a construction business, we say to
country and reach some form of agreement with
you get your papers ready. Once you are on the
renewable energy projects,” said Espin.
ground, we also have a process where you are
She continued: “It’s understandable that they are
will create a database and everybody who has
concerned about employees losing their jobs
a business in that area comes and register. And
but the reason for them to lose those jobs has
they only work within that database. That works
nothing to do with renewable energy projects but
in some areas but in other areas you need to
invited to tender. In some projects our clients
The renewable energy
sector is crucial for how we
move forward to have an
energy mix as a country.
has more to do with the life cycle of the mines
be more flexible because people change,” she
coming to an end. Something that is inevitable. It
continued.
was going to happen. It is by sheer chance that
renewable energy is being developed to form part
Asked what will be the staff complement for each
of the resource plan and the energy mix now.”
renewable facility, Espin said: “If you have a wind
Construction is a seasonal business, today you
site but it can be less if it’s a smaller wind farm. You
employ a number of employees, tomorrow
might need people that will come on an ad hoc
farm you will need 15 permanent employees on
Espin said there are about 27 renewable energy
projects, in Mpumalanga, Western Cape, Northern
Cape and the Eastern Cape. Of all the 27 projects,
none are in the urban areas. “The construction of
those projects is now reaching completion which
will present opportunities to the community at
large. As long as there is renewable energy, for
instance, you will always need accommodation
in the form of guest houses because people will
be coming from different parts of the country.
there is no work for them. Espin said her clients
basis to do things such as landscaping or repairs.
understood that the process of building the 27
At a solar farm you can employ at least 13 up to
IPPs in rural areas was never intended to provide
15 people. But if you have a concentrated solar
long-term employment opportunities. She
you can need up to 30 people. If it’s biomass you
said throughout the construction of renewable
will need 200 people because you need to source
projects opportunities were available for skill
your biomass supply.”
development and for local businesses as well.
In the near future, centralised power generation
“The projects that we are involved in have a
mechanism where we put posts within the
plants are expected to be phased out in favour of
renewable energy sources that are eco-friendly.
Volume 25 • 2020
19
