Page 3 - Energize November 2022

FROM THE EDITOR:

All clear!

by Roger Lilley, Now Media

he restrictions and regulations concerning social distancing reduce the amount of noxious gases emitted into the atmosphere by
imposed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus were electricity generators, chemical companies, and other large industries
Trepealed in June this year. This followed a fairly wide-spread in every industrialised country.
vaccination process with feedback from hospitals and other medical South Africa has not escaped notice. According to one report, the
facilities that showed that fewer people had symptoms of the virus, province of Mpumalanga is one of the world’s “hotspots”. The city of
and even fewer were dying from the disease. eMalahleni has been described as having the “dirtiest air in the world”.
Businesses involved in hosting exhibitions suffered greatly during Since it is situated close to Gauteng, South Africa’s most densely
the period of the pandemic and, when the “all clear” was announced, populated province, poor air quality is imposed upon many more
were quick to throw open their doors to companies, associations residents than just those who live in the city of eMalahleni.
and organisations which wanted to reengage with their industries by South Africa is a signatory to the Paris Accord, which commits its
means of trade shows. members to doing everything within their power to limit the rise in
A number of energy-related events kicked off almost immediately. atmospheric temperature to 1,5°C above pre-industrialisation levels.
The ever-popular Power and Electricity World Africa conference and The ongoing burning of fossil fuels for industrial processes, for power
exhibition welcomed delegates in August; the massive Electra Mining generation, for domestic heating and cooking, and for transportation
Show opened its doors in September and was, according to the purposes, make this goal an impossible dream.
organisers every bit as busy this year as it had been in the years before Making the change to low-carbon primary energy alternatives is
the pandemic put the proverbial spanner in the works. This was true expensive and could have negative socio-economic consequences for
too for the Africa Energy Indaba and Windaba events which were held those who work in the industries which rely on coal, oil and gas as
in October. sources of energy.
Another of the industry’s most important annual events, the How could a country like South Africa, which relies so heavily on
AMEU Convention was held in October too. This event was different to coal, possibly afford to migrate to cleaner technologies? And what
the others because of its focus on technical presentations which were about the millions of people whose livelihoods, either directly or
designed to assist engineers, technicians and electricians working in indirectly, are dependent upon fossil-fuel powered industries?
South Africa’s municipalities and metros. The only way out of the conundrum is for wealthier countries to
Despite, or perhaps because of, the ongoing power interruptions provide the finance necessary for us to make the transition. And such
imposed upon us, the focus of these events was on future technologies financial support is available. South Africa has been offered more than
and systems. The buzzword in most of these gatherings was “JET” US$8,5-billion in assistance. However, the transition cannot happen
rather than “load shedding”. overnight, and it cannot be done in a manner which will result in vast
The industry seems to have come to terms with the fact that South numbers of people losing the livelihoods.
Africa’s electricity future will be very different to what it is at present. Therefore, the focus has to be on a transition which is just. That
While some die-hards still cling to the rhetoric of “clean coal”, most is, it must take the obvious social implications into account and make
people in the know seem to accept that the days of coal as a highly provision for those who cannot be employed elsewhere. Skills transfer,
dominant primary energy source are numbered. training, small business development, and other approaches must
The future system will use a mix of primary energy sources accompany the transition to cleaner technologies.
including coal, nuclear, wind, solar, storage and gas. The future system But we can do this. South Africans have shown themselves to be
will also be characterised by having numerous suppliers. The state- capable of successfully adapting to changing situations. This was true
owned power utility will face competition from private generation during the period of lockdown as the Covid-19 virus wreaked havoc in
companies, and all will have to bid for space on the same transmission many families and is true now during lengthy periods of load shedding.
and distribution networks. Just as we currently weather the storm of load shedding and find
Much of driving force behind this dramatic change has come – ways to work around power outages, so too we will manage to solve
and will continue to come – from the international community. The the challenge of transitioning to cleaner generating technologies.
frightening changes to the world’s weather patterns have forced We look forward to the day when we can honestly say that South
authorities all over the world to address the situation by working to Africa’s air is all clear.

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