Ms Nomalungelo Gcina, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation,
Speaking at SANEDI’s 2nd annual energy conference Deputy Minister of Technology, Science, and Innovation (DTSI), Ms Nomalungelo Gina expressed the importance of innovation and good science in informing the Just Energy Transition (JET) while stressing that the “human element” is crucial to this transition. Outlining that South Africa is following the global trends Deputy Minister Gina says “South Africa’s JET is globally aligned with energy initiatives worldwide, but it is also our own, it is in our hands, and we have a unique responsibility to ensure that our transition is balanced and for the betterment of everyone in South Africa.”
Collaboration for balanced transition
The Department of Technology, Science, and Innovation holds a key role in this balanced transition, and there are a number of initiatives that highlight the inherently collaborative nature of this project. “When we speak of a transition, we cannot speak of it in isolation. The Department of Energy and Mineral Resources relies on my department, and vice versa, and in turn we rely on the National Treasury, The Department of Infrastructure and so on. We have set up an inter-departmental committee that ensures collaboration from every angle,” adds Gina. One of the most important extensions of this collaboration is the DTSI Energy Secretariat, a programme managed by SANEDI that is tasked with the “effective monitoring of energy policies specific to the energy landscape and DTSI flagship programmes.”
These four flagship programmes are:
- Coal CO2-X
- Energy Storage
- Hydrogen South Africa (HySA)
- Renewable Sustainable Energy (RSE) Hub and Spokes.
The Deputy Minister adds, “The energy secretariat has proven to be effective in working with public and private spheres that have found success in hydrogen, CO2 capture, and the broader energy sector in South Africa. The projects that the department supports are for the real betterment of the country”
Kelvin Power Station, where a pilot CoalCO2-X technology was tested
Real inclusion
While science is the guiding mechanism that will grow South Africa’s energy sector, the JET is rooted in a very human guiding philosophy. “We do not speak of an ‘energy transition’ but we speak of a ‘just energy transition’. This means that as a country, and as a sector, we have the responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind. This transition means economic growth, jobs, and a more secure future. Our labour force must be represented in this. From gender equality to the marginalised to the unemployed. The goal is to have a real inclusive society where everyone is represented and catered for.” Her comments are echoed by the theme of the SANEDI conference, ‘A Balanced Energy Transition: For Energy Security, Affordability and Inclusiveness’ where no one is left out of the future of South Africa.
